Frank Carlson Library

With this exciting and historically rich six-lecture course, experience for yourself the drama of this dynamic year in medieval history, centered on the landmark Norman Conquest. Taking you from the shores of Scandinavia and France to the battlefields of the English countryside, these lectures will plunge you into a world of fierce Viking warriors, powerful noble families, politically charged marriages, tense succession crises, epic military invasions,

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Watch as the one- or two-boat raids of the late 8th century grew into vast armies of 50 ships or more by the middle of the 9th. Intent on settling permanently, the invaders' influence in eastern England would be profound, with patterns of landholding, legal institutions, and even language altered forever.

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.

Learn why the 10th century is often referred to as the Golden Age of the Anglo-Saxons. It produces not only vernacular literary masterpieces like "Beowulf" and "The Battle of Maldon" but inspiring sermons, monastic reform, and an artistic renaissance encompassing book production, metalwork, and needlework.

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.

Celtic religious beliefs included divination, reincarnation, and human sacrifice. Along with these practices, discover the ancient religious figures known as druids who served as holy men, soothsayers, and even lawyers. Enjoy this insight into the Celtic version of one constant that appears in all civilizations - the sacred.

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 besieged.

Why does the Norman Conquest matter? Take a closer look at the relationship between the Normans and the English in the generations immediately following the conquest, with a focus on the myriad ways that Norman and English culture intermingled. You'll realize the ultimate legacy of this vital year: the transition of England into the European mainstream.

Experience the disastrous reign of King John. His technical violation of a feudal oath to the French king led to the loss of Normandy and several expensive efforts to regain his lost land - efforts that ultimately led to the signing of the Magna Carta.

Grasp how both religious frustrations and economic grievances stemming from the dislocations of the Black Death combined to bring about the most significant event in Richard II's early reign: the Middle Ages' most serious revolt against the English crown.