THE MIDDLE AGES
"Gesweðrung sy se weg æt wela."
(Failure is the path to success.)
(Failure is the path to success.)
I. The Early Middle Ages
Modern Europe Map |
The Origins of EnglishDuring 55 B.C., the Romans resided in Britain due to Julius Caesar's invasion. The Romans were under constant attack of the Picts (North) and the Scots (East). At this moment, the Romans have brought their religion and language to Britain. Soon after (376-475), the Visigoths of Gaul begin attacking Roman territories, which forces the Romans to abandon Britain to protect their land. After the Romans abandon Britain, .the Britons ask the Saxons, who come from Northern Germany, for help against fighting the Picts and the Scots. With the continuous invasion of different cultures, the Britons adopted Celtic dialects (Scotts, Gaelic, and Welsh). The Jutes and Angles began settling on the Southern part of Britain. This resulted in the mixture of people and languages; one which is well-known as Anglo-Saxon (Old English).
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Old English and Its Modern Cognates
A Lost Fragment
The following poem is a lost fragment from Beowulf. My partner, Alex, and I wrote about how Queen Wealtheow and King Hrothgar came to be a couple. It is filled with sorrow, war, and possibly a happy ending? I hope you enjoy!