3.1 why did a develop his program of learning? Flashcards
What is Alfred ultimately frustrated about?
That he isn’t allowed to learn as King, he is talented and intelligent.
How does Alfred show practical application?
Translates into English instead of Latin.
When does Alfred begin translating for himself?
Who is this important for?
What is he able to show?
Additionally, what did he make fashionable?
890 - Important for historians
Gives Alfred’s direct view
His propaganda views
Made reading fashionable
What did Alfred not limiting himself to?
Was this usual?
Christian texts, unusual.
4 Key reasons to why Alfred developed his program of learning?
-Irritated by the poor education, saw it as a barrier to effective leadership.
-Better education>superior knowledge of tactics and strategy>defeat the Vikings.
-Satisfy his own interests in the arts.
-Felt that the most intelligent were not being stretched>improve learning>new discoveries.
3 Religious reasons to why Alfred developed his program of learning.
-Believed God was on his side, important to him that his supporters understood.
-God’s word could be used as a moral law, if learnt>living a good life in God’s eyes.
-Learning to read and write in Latin and English was key to living a good Christian life>people reading the Bible.
2 Legal reasons on why Alfred developed his program of learning?
-Enable administrators to produce a fair legal system.
-More educated a legal official>better they could understand how laws should enforce>make morally correct judgments.
What was the ‘renaissance’?
The programme of learning that Alfred instigated, a revival of learning.
What could potentially explain why the West Saxons faced so many challenged?
Alfred felt learning had been neglected by consecutive Saxon Kings since the ‘golden age’ of literacy in the 17th century.
What happened in the lead up to the to the creation of the programme for learning?
-Scholars were brought to the court from outside Wessex with new ideas
-Libraries were updaed and restokced partly to replace materials that many have been lost to the Vikings.
How had Alfred’s role as the planner of an educational system been exaggerated?
-Educational provision did not become as widespread as Alfred may have intended.
-Attention that Alfred paid to raising literacy standards>written documents were increasingly used in the administration and governance of England.
-Little evidence for an increase in religious schools and wider circulation of translated Christian works.
What did Alfred send once he had decided that learning had been improved?
-Emissaries to employ a group of intellectuals to carry out his plans.
These men were gathered from different parts of Europe.
Who were Alfred’s 4 court intellectuals?
Western Mercian Contingent (WMC)
Bishop Asser from St David’s
Grimbald of Rheims
John of Saxony
What is paleography?
Identification of hand writing using established texts.
What is the difference between being foreign vs continental?
Foreign=not from Wessex
Continental=from the continent (europe)
What is a psalm?
A prayer that is sung.
Out of the four court intellectuals, who is foreign and who is continental?
Foreign= WMC and Asser
Continental= Grimbald and John
Who was the most prominent member of the WMC?
How do we know he was important?
-Archbishop Plegmund of Caterbury.
He was made archbishop of Christianity and originally came from Wessex.
What does WMC stand for?
When did they arrive in Alfred’s court?
West Mercian contingent.
Early 880s (885)
What did the WMC seem good at?
Example of this
Why might this be the case?
What did this mean they could maintain? (2)
-How to read and write Latin
-E.g. Worcestor charters show high levels of skill in Latin because:
-West Mercia haven’t been raided by the Vikings the same way other kingdoms have.
-Their libraries without the fear of them being plundered and their education without disruption.
Apart from Archbishop Plegmund of Canterbury, who were the other scholars of the WMC?
-Bishop Waerferth of Woscester
-Aethelstan
-Werwulf
Why is Bishop Waerferth of particular interest?
Why is his name significant?
He arrived in Alfred’s court with a reputation for being a talented translator.
Bishop of Woscester, Woscester=Capital of Mercia, he is SENIOR
What was Grimbald’s arrival the result of?
A communication between Fulco, Archbishop of Rheims and Alfred.
Rheims=region in France
Grimbald: What was Alfred’s concern?
What went with Alfred’s request?
To have the word of God made more accessible in Saxon society.
Present of hunting dogs>royal gift: expensive and uncommon.
Grimbald: What was Fulco’s monastry called?
What would’ve happened if Grimbald stayed in Flanders?
St Bertin’s monastry in Flanders.
Granted as a bishop by Fulco
How do we know Grimbald was well educated?
When do we think Grimbald arrived?
He was a high standing scholar.
886
How much do we know about John of Saxony?
How is he referred to?
Very little
‘the Old Saxony’
Where was John of Saxony originally based?
What was his job? Explain
Kingdom of Franks (present day France)
Religious figure and scholar (monk), tells people how to run monastries
When did John of Saxony arrive in Wessex?
How do we know he was highly rated by Alfred?
886 (same time as Grimbald)
Alfred made his bishop of Athelney
How did many view the Viking raids?
How does this impact the Programme of Learning in Alfred’s England?
Punishment for ignorance of learning
There will be a big focus on religion
Why did Asser focus on Charlemagne?
Why might Alfred want to be compared to Charlemagne?
Had many achievements in religious reform.
He focused on external foes and military achievements.
