Women in Anglo-Saxon England

The Anglo-Saxons ruled England for 600 years. The role of women changed over that period and they often held important posts in politics and religion. The class will include a visit to the British Museum.

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Key course information

Date
21/04/12

Day(s)
Sat

Duration
1 week

Time
10:30 - 16:30

Fees
Full fee: £37
Senior fee: £23
Concession: £11

Venue
KS - Keeley Street

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Course code
HH121

Availability
This course has finished

This course has finished

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Still got questions?
humanities@citylit.ac.uk or call 020 7492 2652

Course outline

What is the course about?

The course will examine the lives of women throughout the Anglo-Saxon period from the early settlers in the Fifth Century up to the Norman Conquest. We shall look at both the everyday lives of ordinary women as far as they can be reconstructed from the limited sources available and the role of more important women in society such as abbesses and queens. The last hour of the day will be spent at the British Museum looking at the archaeological evidence for women in Anglo-Saxon England including some of the stunningly beautiful brooches but also items that can be associated with.

What topics will we cover?

The sources for Anglo-Saxon women include archaeology, looking at grave goods buried with women during the pre-Christian era. This shows the different tastes in brooches; cross-headed for Anglian women and Saucer shaped for Saxon women. This is an excellent source for determining where the different groups settled. There is also a difference in the quality and value of grave goods depending on the status of the woman and whereabouts she was buried. Grave goods also give an insight into the sort of work women did in the home. Moving into the Christian era the evidence comes from written sources such the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, Bede’s Ecclesiastical History and Charters. These give the stories of abbesses such as Hild of Whitby who hosted the Synod which decided whether the Anglo-Saxons would follow the Roman or the Celtic church. They also give evidence of how women became important political figures especially in the Mercian court with Aethelflaed becoming the sole ruler of Mercia and a leading figure in the reconquest of the Danelaw.

By the end of this course you should be able to:

Have a greater understanding of the position of women in Anglo-Saxon society
Have learnt about the lives of some of the leading queens and abbesses
Have seen some of the objects owned and used by these women
Compare the lot of women in Anglo-Saxon society with that in other societies.

What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?

This is an `introductory` course and does not assume any previous study or reading although you will need a good grasp of English to keep up with the course. As with most of our history and current affairs courses, an open mind and a willingness to listen to and think about views with which you do not always agree are more important than specific levels of skills.

How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?

Illustrated lectures, discussions, questions, reading and analysis of original texts (in translation), museum visit.

Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?

Please bring pen and paper.

Do I need to have an interview before I can enrol?

No.

What feedback will I get?

You will receive regular feedback from your tutor throughout the course, as and when appropriate. At the end of the course you and your tutor are asked to assess the progress you have made.

How will I be able to give my views on the course?

Please complete the evaluation form at the end of your course. These are monitored and help us to continually improve our courses.

How do I find out if I can get some support for my learning?

You may be interested in: education and careers advice; financial and childcare support; disability support; support for Deaf and hearing-impaired students; dyslexia support; English and maths support; counselling, and library services (supported learning centre). To find out what may be available to you, and how to apply, see page 213 of the 11/12 course guide, or visit www.citylit.ac.uk/students

When I've finished, what course can I do next?

Other 'History Saturday' courses.

General information and advice on courses at City Lit is available from the Information and Advice Shop, open Monday to Friday 12:00 – 19:00 during term time, and Monday to Friday 12:00 – 17:00 out of term time. See the course guide for term dates and further details.

Who can I contact for further information?

Tel: 020 7492 2652

humanities@citylit.ac.uk

Advice times:

During term-time Monday 12.30–13.30 and 17.30–18.30 Thursday 12.30–13.30 and 17.30–18.30

Non term-time Monday 17.30–18.30 Thursday 12.30–13.30.

To enrol on a course, call 020 7831 7831.