Osweo
05-26-2010, 10:38 PM
I am interested in widening my knowledge a little. I know the basic stuff for the foundation of the modern European nations, mostly from Gibbon actually, but he was writing in the 1700s, so I suppose I could do with a bit of an update. :p
I'll give an idea of what I would like you to contribute by listing the important ancient sources for my people;
EARLY ENGLAND:
Perhaps most important is The Ecclesiastical History of the English People, by the Venerable Bede, writing in the 730s. He was a monk from the northeast of England, a great scholar, and highly conscientious historian (if also an unashamed apologist for the Roman Church). His work covers the establishment of the Heptarchia - the seven Kingdoms of Anglo-Saxon England - and the Conversion of our people.
Additionally, we have the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle - a year by year account of political life in England that was begun in the 900s and kept up until the final death of Old English literacy in the early Norman period.
Welsh sources give important background to these too, especially Gildas's Ruin of Britain, which was used by Bede himself. This was an extended sermon written in Latin, probably in the 600s or thereabouts. The Welsh Bishop Asser rose to prominence at King Aelfred's court, writing his important Life of King Aelfred on the Anglo-Danish wars of the period.
Old English literature was rich in hagiography, and many of these Lives of Saints give important historical information.
Many charters have survived too, leaving much detail for future historians to puzzle over regarding economic matters and tenure.
There are other sources too, but how would you make an analogous list for other European countries? From the top of my head, I can think of the following;
RUSSIA:
The so-called Primary Chronicle or Повѣсть времяньныхъ лѣтъ;- the annals compiled by the Monk Nestor in Kiev in the 1100s...
FRANCE:
Gregory of Tours's History of the Franks from the late 500s...
GERMANY:
Tacitus's Germania, naturally. But what of the early mediaeval period???
BRITAIN/WALES:
Tacitus's Agricola,, Nennius's 9th Century History of Britain, the Cambrian Annals, Gerald of Wales's 12th Century Journey through Wales...
IRELAND:
Lebor Gabala or 'Book of Invasions', Gerald of Wales's History and Topography of Ireland...
****
My list is woefully incomplete. Please help fill it out!
I'll give an idea of what I would like you to contribute by listing the important ancient sources for my people;
EARLY ENGLAND:
Perhaps most important is The Ecclesiastical History of the English People, by the Venerable Bede, writing in the 730s. He was a monk from the northeast of England, a great scholar, and highly conscientious historian (if also an unashamed apologist for the Roman Church). His work covers the establishment of the Heptarchia - the seven Kingdoms of Anglo-Saxon England - and the Conversion of our people.
Additionally, we have the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle - a year by year account of political life in England that was begun in the 900s and kept up until the final death of Old English literacy in the early Norman period.
Welsh sources give important background to these too, especially Gildas's Ruin of Britain, which was used by Bede himself. This was an extended sermon written in Latin, probably in the 600s or thereabouts. The Welsh Bishop Asser rose to prominence at King Aelfred's court, writing his important Life of King Aelfred on the Anglo-Danish wars of the period.
Old English literature was rich in hagiography, and many of these Lives of Saints give important historical information.
Many charters have survived too, leaving much detail for future historians to puzzle over regarding economic matters and tenure.
There are other sources too, but how would you make an analogous list for other European countries? From the top of my head, I can think of the following;
RUSSIA:
The so-called Primary Chronicle or Повѣсть времяньныхъ лѣтъ;- the annals compiled by the Monk Nestor in Kiev in the 1100s...
FRANCE:
Gregory of Tours's History of the Franks from the late 500s...
GERMANY:
Tacitus's Germania, naturally. But what of the early mediaeval period???
BRITAIN/WALES:
Tacitus's Agricola,, Nennius's 9th Century History of Britain, the Cambrian Annals, Gerald of Wales's 12th Century Journey through Wales...
IRELAND:
Lebor Gabala or 'Book of Invasions', Gerald of Wales's History and Topography of Ireland...
****
My list is woefully incomplete. Please help fill it out!