Bede

Question 1

Medieval Historiography

Answer 1

The study, interpretation and writing of history concerning the medieval period in Europe, roughly spanning from the fall of the Western Roman Empire in the 5th century to the Renaissance in the 15th century.

1. Early Historiography
   
   • Dominated by religious narratives and chronicles (monks, clergy)
2. Medieval Chroniclers
   
   • Narrative-rich chronicles that depicted events, politics, and social life of heir times

Some issues with Medieval historiography include the inability to separate past from the present and anachronism, causing struggles to see the clear breaks between times in the past.

Question 2

Times of Bede

Answer 2

The Anglo-Saxon period in England refers to the era between the end of Roman rule in the early 5th century and the Norman Conquest in 1066.

Summary of key aspects:

• Migration and Settlement
  
  • Various Germanic tribes migrated to the British Isles, gradually settling and establishing independent kingdoms
• Anglo-Saxon Society
  
  • Society was hierarchal (kings, nobles, freemen (thegns), and slaves (thralls))
  • Kinship ties were crucial and loyalty to one’s lord was paramount
• Conversion to Christianity
  
  • Pagan beliefs dominated but conversion to Christianity began, and monasteries became centres of learning and religious life
• Intellectual Revival
  
  • Preservation and transmission of knowledge, often centred in monasteries
• Viking Invasions
  
  • England faced invasion by Vikings from Scandanavia, whose raids caused widespread disruption, battles and eventual establishment of the Danelaw
• Political Consolidation
  
  • Anglo-Saon kingdoms initially operated independently, often competing or warring with each other

Question 3

Personal Context

Answer 3

Bede was a Benedictine monk dedicated to life and learning, and the teaching/spreading of the Christian Gospel. It was an extrememly violent time period so he travelled very little, but he was declared venerable in 836 and a saint in 1899.

He is considered one of the greatest Anglo-Saxan scholars, a few of his accomplishments including:

• Writing around 40 books
• Establishing AD (anno domini)
• Being the first person to attempt to translate the Bible to English

Question 4

Perspective

Answer 4

Bede was unhappy with the ignorance worldliness and corruption of contemporary scholar men.

He has a deep religious context that gives him a linear sense of time (Biblical).

Question 5

Bede’s Purpose

Answer 5

“The truth for Bede was not some sort of neutrality marked by objectivity; nor was history a method of letting the past speak for itself. It was the Christian truth, and in the truth of history was God’s plan revealed.” (Hughes-Warrington)

• Said that he was writing for the ‘instruction of posterity’ for future generations
• Spread the correct teaching of the gospel as he saw himself as a teacher and sort of a propagandist for Christianity (included miracles etc.)
• REAL PURPOSE: guide the pagan to the true faith and help grow Christian faith

Question 6

Works of Bede

Historian Quote

Answer 6

“One only has to imagine his works as non-existent to realise how much of our knowledge of Early English history, political as well as ecclesiastical is dependent on him.” (Levison)

Question 7

The Ecclesiastical History of the English People

Works of Bede

Answer 7

Originally written in Latin in 731AD

• Ecclesiastical history and political developments between 597 and 731AD, of which there are very few sources
• Religious and political history of the Anglo-Saxons from the fifth century

Question 8

Other Works (3)

Works of Bede

Answer 8

• Computus: studied time and the calendar
• De Temporibus: argument for a system of dating revolving around Christ’s birth
• De Temporum: chronicles of world history

His works additionally discussed the role of women in society, generally portraying them as in need of guidance, especially from males with religious authority.

Question 9

Methodology

Answer 9

“…the Ecclesiastical History owes its lasting reputation to Bede’s ability as a historian. His grasp of historical method was unique in the Middle Ages. It appears in his chronology and in the competence in which he has collected data…Bede exploited all resources. He ransacked the library and archives at Wearmouth/Jarrow, asked his friends to search for documents, and questioned people he met. Unlike most medieval writers, he meticulously named most of his sources of information, literary documentary and oral. (Antonia Grandsen)

• Spoke to primary sources
• Library archives
• Cited names and sources
• Acknowledges errors and limitations
• Describes both sides of the argument (personal values VERY obvious)
• Acknowledges loss of meaning through translation
• Shows rational analysis but recounted miracles as fact