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An Introduction to Anglo-Saxon Manuscripts
Fathom
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| Seminar Introduction |
Between the late fifth century CE and the Norman Conquest of 1066, Anglo-Saxon England was one of the most sophisticated states of the medieval world. Renowned for its ecclesiastical and cultural achievements, it was a society in which books--such as the Lindisfarne Gospels and the writings of the early historian Bede--were of central importance. In this richly illustrated seminar, Michelle P. Brown, curator of  illuminated manuscripts at The British Library, provides a guide to the beauties and mysteries of Anglo-Saxon manuscripts.
The Anglo-Saxons conquered England in the final years of the Roman empire. Centuries later they faced invasion by the Vikings. Theirs was the time of Alfred the Great, King Cnut and Edward the Confessor. Manuscripts offer keys to understanding this distant, deeply religious world, but only if we appreciate who made the manuscripts, who were their audiences, and why they were created.
Michelle Brown explores the questions posed by medieval manuscripts with illustrations of some of the most notable documents. She also considers how the manuscripts were made and she traces their visual development from the earliest survivors through to the spectacular creations from the years around the first millennium. Often visually glorious, frequently puzzling, invariably fascinating, Anglo-Saxon manuscripts are one of the most important sources for our understanding of the medieval world.
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| Learning Objectives |
- Understand the historical and cultural contexts of Anglo-Saxon England.
- Describe the makers and audiences of English medieval manuscripts.
- List the uses to which manuscripts were put in the medieval world.
- Identify the main techniques for the creation of medieval manuscripts.
- Evaluate the visual development of Anglo-Saxon manuscripts from the sixth to the eleventh centuries.
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| Sessions |
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| Credits |
Copyright The British Library.
This seminar is adapted from Michelle Brown's book Anglo-Saxon Manuscripts, published by The British Library.
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| Technical Requirements |
To appreciate this seminar experience, it is critical that you have the appropriate software, plug-ins, and network connections. Please take the time to download the latest versions of the plug-ins mentioned below if you do not already have them.
Browser: Netscape versions 4.x up to 4.76, or Internet Explorer versions 4.x or later. Your browser must be JavaScript-enabled and must be set to accept cookies.
Network Connection: The recommended minimum connection is 56Kbps with a throughput of 34Kbps or more. A faster connection is encouraged to take better advantage of the media elements in the seminar.
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