England: From the Fall of Rome to the Norman Conquest takes you through the mists of time to the rugged landscape of the British Isles. Over the course of 24 sweeping lectures, Professor Jennifer Paxton, of The Catholic University of America, surveys the forging of a great nation from a series of warring kingdoms and migrating peoples. From Germanic tribes to Viking invasions to Irish missionaries, she brings to life an underexamined time and place.
England: From the Fall of Rome to the Norman Conquest
From the waves of migration to the flourishing of arts and literature, delve into the remarkable story of Anglo-Saxon England.
Rated 5 out of
5
by
AndyG from
A more focused study early England
This excellent learning program focuses on a narrower time period than does its cousin program "A History of England". This program examines the period starting in the early 5th century and ending around the year 1100. The lecturer offers up a great deal of useful information, insight and, occasionally, thoughtful opinion, but the presentation never seems to lag and bits of light humor are timely sprinkled into the mix as well. The repetition of names attaching to the persons featured in the story can make one confused, but the lecturer never is and the student comes away from the course much better informed on the history of this time and place.
Date published: 2024-02-05
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Fiorella from
Excellent overview of Anglo-Saxon English history
Dr.Paxton is very articulate, well organized and professional. She covers a wide range of Early Medieval history in England which includes Anglo-Saxons and Scandinavians (Vikings) and Normans (descendants of the Danish Viking Rollo, who founded Normandy in France). Dr.Paxton explains this clearly and in a balanced fashion, identifying areas that may be controversial or legendary. The graphics are attractive, but personally I think this course could have been enriched by more graphics - for instance, more photos of the Sutton Hoo treasure or the Staffordshire Hoard or illuminated manuscripts or Scandinavian art objects/jewelry.
Date published: 2024-01-18
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Kurt C from
Excellent course!
This is my 6th Great Courses History course. They were all excellent but this one really stands out. Excellently prepared and lectured, knowledgeable and enthusiastic lecturer, this course brings a relatively poorly documented, obscure, and complicated period of history to life in an engaging and accessible way.
Date published: 2024-01-13
Rated 3 out of
5
by
GNRW from
The Great Courses continues to dumb down
This shift of the GC from college level courses to courses more suited for middle school is a real disappointment. GC must be trying to capture a wider audience, but it has almost reached a point where I feel like I am attending the library story hour. And this is true across the gamut of courses, where the vocabulary, the concepts, the specifics barely skim the surface. And as I noted from previous reviews, the production is just plain weird, with the 'professors' being seated, often staring blankly, expressionless, never using their hands, never underlining or highlighting points with the pitch or timbre of their voice, and we get these random changes in camera angle shots. One should check out the older classes, for though the production values are crude, the quality of the content is much higher.
Date published: 2024-01-09
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Slimokie from
Great History of England
I had listened to the course about 1066 several years ago by this professor. This course began with Roman England, and went through the Norman conquest. The professor covers a lot of history and kept the content interesting.
Date published: 2023-12-20
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Bnise from
I have purchased two of this presenter's courses. The other had to do with the history of the "Celts". Her style is professional and enthusiastic, without being overly gushing. One of the ways in which I judge a presenter is by how much they relish the subject matter itself. While not hesitating to present her own conclusions about points which remain unresolved in history, she always seems to acknowledge the possibility for error and alternative interpretations of events.
Date published: 2023-11-05
Rated 5 out of
5
by
RJMANDA from
Great History by a Great Presenter
I have written reviews of Professor Paxton's other course dealing with English history and this one is a super addition. I actually finished it sometime ago but still go back and pick up some of the lectures that are of interest. Somewhere my Anglo-Saxon ancestors are pleased to be so ably represented.
Date published: 2023-08-02
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Robbo253 from
Very Interesting and well presented
I am only 11 lectures into this series however I highly recommend the content and the delivery. Jennifer Paxtons' presentation is clear and engaging - she clearly knows this material inside out. I particularly enjoy the clues and connections, but these are also important threads for the themes which run through the series.
Date published: 2023-06-24
Overview
About
Jennifer Paxton is a Clinical Associate Professor of History at The Catholic University of America. She is also the Associate Dean of Undergraduate Studies and director of the University Honors Program. She was previously a Professorial Lecturer in History at Georgetown University, where she taught for more than a decade. Jennifer received her PhD in History from Harvard University, where she also taught and earned a Certificate of Distinction in Teaching. She is a widely published, award-winning writer and a highly regarded scholar, earning both a Mellon Fellowship in the Humanities and a Frank Knox Memorial Fellowship.
Jennifer lectures regularly at the Smithsonian Institution and serves as an expert on Scotland and Ireland for Smithsonian Journeys. Her research focuses on England from the reign of King Alfred to the late 12th century. She is particularly interested in the intersection between the authority of church and state and the representation of the past in historical texts, especially those produced by religious communities. She is completing a book that examines how monastic historians shaped their narratives to project present polemical concerns onto the past. She is also working on a project that examines changing views of abbatial leadership across the Anglo-Norman world in the 11th and 12th centuries.
Trailer
01: Exploring How England Came to Be
Step back to Anglo-Saxon England to see what makes this period of history so captivating. After a brief survey of the traditional scholarship across the ages, Professor Paxton outlines how we will be forming our picture of the Anglo-Saxons, including written evidence, literary sources, archaeological artifacts, “paleopathology,” and more.
32 min
02: The Rise and Fall of Roman Britain
When the Romans arrived in the British Isles, the empire was already on the decline, and it was in the crucible of this decline that England would be forged. Explore the impact of the Romans on Britain, from Hadrian’s Wall to the city of London. Consider the role of Christianity, the state of language, and the collapsing economy during this time.
32 min
03: The Germanic Migrations to Britain
Generations of school children have learned about three primary invasions of Germanic people: the Angles, the Saxons, and the Jutes. Reflect on the accuracy of this narrative, and then see how varying sources as well as DNA and archaeological evidence paints a much more complex picture of Germanic migrations.
31 min
04: The Britons Resist: The Legend of King Arthur
A survey of medieval Britain might make it seem as though the myriad Germanic migrations were all peaceful, but was there any resistance among the locals? Here, the answer can be viewed through the legendary King Arthur and his knights of the round table. Was he a real person? Who was he based on? And what impact did he have on the history of Britain?
29 min
05: Everyday Life in 6th-Century Britain
Pause in this fascinating period between the decline of Roman Britain and the rise of a new Anglo-Saxon order. What was everyday life like for average citizens? Meet some of the ethnic groups that made up 6th century Britain, explore their settlements, and examine some of the era’s hardships that can be seen today in the bones of the people who lived through it.
29 min
06: The Birth of the Anglo-Saxon Kingdoms
Thus far we have seen that thanks to migration and the fusion of Germanic and native British cultures, a coherent population—the Anglo-Saxons—was emerging. The political vacuum left by Rome was filled by a series of smaller kingdoms across England. In this lecture, tour several of these kingdoms and how they came into being.
30 min
07: The Papal Mission to Britain
At the same time that Anglo-Saxon kingdoms took over the political landscape, Christianity was spreading through the population. As you will see, this story of conversion is the story of Christianity coming from Ireland and from continental Europe. Meet Pope Gregory the Great and learn from the Venerable Bede about the spread of Christianity in England.
30 min
08: Sutton Hoo and the Early Anglo-Saxons
Archaeology is one of the most important ways to study the past, and here you will delve into one of the most iconic sites in the world. On a small hill in Suffolk, the graves at Sutton Hoo can tell us about the people and economy of the early Anglo-Saxons. Professor Paxton offers a fount of information about Sutton Hoo’s discovery and excavation.
30 min
09: Irish Missionaries and Christianization
In a previous lecture, we saw how the Romans successfully converted Southeast England to Christianity, but the Northumbrians relapsed. Here, Professor Paxton picks up the story and shows how Irish missionaries played a decisive role in converting the whole of England, solidifying Christianity across the island. Learn about King Edwin, Penda, and others.
30 min
10: Kings of the North: Northumbria’s Ascent
Delve into the Northumbria region in the 7th century. Here, you will start by considering the ebb and flow of Anglo-Saxon hegemony in the north and northwest. Find out about some of Northumbria’s great leaders, the economy around lifestock and herding, and the importance of the city of York.
30 min
11: Northumbria’s Century of Renaissance
Continue your study of northern England with an exploration of the so-called Northumbrian Renaissance. Review some of the major literary manuscripts from the period, including early translations of the Gospels into Old English. Then shift your attention to the Venderable Bede, one of English history’s most important scholars.
30 min
12: Rise of the Midlands: Mercia’s Hegemony
In this lecture, you will transition from Northumbria to the kingdom of Mercia in the midlands. The Mercian hegemony is important to English history because during an era of political expansion and consolidation, Mercia connected England to the European continent. Dig into the reign of two major kings and their role in Mercia’s success.
30 min
13: Anglo-Saxon Law and Warfare
You have seen how a series of Anglo-Saxon kingdoms filled the vacuum left by the Romans. In this lecture, you will dive into the role of law and warfare in forging these kingdoms. Find out how war was waged in this period and explore a few military tactics and weapons. Then turn to the rise of legal codes and charters.
29 min
14: Fury of the Northmen: The Vikings Arrive
The Vikings—seafaring raiders, settlers, and traders from Scandinavia—burst onto the British scene in the 8th century with terrifying power, and they posed an existential threat to the newly minted Anglo-Saxon kingdoms. Witness this invasion and examine how the Vikings helped shape and define the country we know as England.
28 min
15: Alfred the Great: Defender of England
In this lecture, Professor Paxton discusses arguably the most important ruler in the history of Anglo-Saxon England. In addition to saving the island from being overrun by Vikings, Alfred the Great kicked off an intellectual and religious renaissance. Here, you will focus on Alfred as a military leader and defender of England.
28 min
16: Alfred the Great: Builder of Institutions
Continue your study of Alfred the Great, who in addition to being a great military leader also tended to the spiritual and intellectual well-being of his people. Review Alfred’s efforts at educating the populace, and then watch as he tries to extend the power of Wessex and position himself as the English Charlemagne.
31 min
17: Beowulf and Anglo-Saxon Literature
Literature is one of the true glories of Anglo-Saxon culture, and perhaps nowhere is this more apparent today than the great poem Beowulf. After giving an overview of Old English poetry, Professor Paxton revels in the adventures of the warrior Beowulf and his story of mayhem and plunder.
31 min
18: Together at Last: Wessex Unites England
After the death of Alfred the Great, the major question was whether his successors would be able to build on his legacy. Go back to 10th century England to meet the rulers of this new kingdom, which was beginning to coalesce into a united “England.” Explore the uniformity of law and administration that was emerging.
30 min
19: Monastic Reform: A Tale of Three Saints
As you have seen, political change often paralleled religious upheaval. In the middle of the 10th century, while the kings of Wessex were forging a united England, a trio of monks took over leadership of the church and instituted a number of reforms. Meet the bishops and archbishops who led these monastic changes.
29 min
20: The Golden Age of Anglo-Saxon Art
England in the 10th century enjoyed both peace and prosperity, which created a golden age of art. From lavishly illustrated manuscripts and precious metal engravings to paintings and lavish textiles, this period saw visual triumphs in every medium. See some of the masterpieces that have survived and learn about the story behind them.
30 min
21: Unfinished Business: The Vikings Return
As is the case in all of history, peace and prosperity only last so long. In the 10th century, trouble began in England around who would succeed Edgar the Peaceable. In the wake of this succession crisis, the Vikings returned and struck with great force. Delve into this bloody invasion and gain a sense of an England beseiged.
31 min
22: Cnut the Great and the Danish Conquest
After years of strife, 1016 was a momentous year in English history. Witness the events that led to the Danish invasion, and see how these new conquerors successfully ruled for several decades. Find out how King Cnut reshaped the English aristocracy, and then explore the fallout of the succession crisis after his death.
31 min
23: 1066 and the Norman Conquest
By the 1060s, England had faced nearly a century of political tumult. A series of succession crises eventually led to William, Duke of Normandy, invading England at Hastings. King Harold rushed to defend the city, but the Battle of Hastings changed the course of English history. Go inside this world-shaping moment.
31 min
24: Aftermath: From Anglo-Saxon to English
This course began with the arrival of new settlers who transformed Britain. Here, the course ends with the last gasps of English resistance against Normans in the 11th century. Meet the rebels and witness the battles that led to a new synthesis of Norman and English cultures, resulting in what would become one of the most stable and enduring kingdoms in Europe.
32 min
