The Old English period (449-1100) marks the migration of the English people to Britain, which was previously inhabited by Celts and later influenced by Roman invasions. The arrival of Germanic tribes, particularly the Angles, Saxons, and Jutes, led to the establishment of seven kingdoms and subsequent Viking conquests in the 8th century. Over time, the relationship between the Danes and English evolved, resulting in cultural and linguistic exchanges, as reflected in the four principal dialects of Old English.

1. OLD ENGLISH
THE OLD ENGLISH PERIOD (449-1100)

2. BRITAIN BEFORE THE ENGLISH:
• pre-old English existed in Europe to separate English from their
Germanic cousins. However, recording the history of English
started on the British Isles.
Britain before English:
- English migrated to Britain in 5th century
- Britain was already inhabited by Celts for centuries before
Julius Caesar invasion in 55 B.C.
- Emperor Claudius, a century later, invaded Britain and
changed it to Britannia as part of the Roman Empire.
- Celts kept their language but learned to speak the language of
the Roman rulers.
- Around 410 Roman legionnaires were withdrawn and Picts
from the north and Scots from the west attacked the Celts.
- They were supported by sea raiders called ‘Saxons’ -by the
Romans- and all attacked the Celts.

3. THE COMING OF THE ENGLISH:
- The Roman army included many non-Italians
(some Angles and Saxons)
- Britons (Celts) asked for help from Rome
against Picts and Scots.
- Around 449, more Angles, Saxons, Frisians
and Jutes arrived by boats from the Continent.
- Old English period began around that time.
- The term Anglo-Saxons used for either the
language or its speakers

5. - St. Augustine came at
the end of 6th century
to convert them to
Christianity.
- Britons (Celts) fled to
Wales
- Jutes settled in the
Southeastern part
- Saxons in the South
of the Thames
- Angles in the rest of
England roughly.

6. The English in Britain:
• Germanic settlement consisted of
7 Kingdoms:
Kent, Essex, Sussex, Wessex, East Anglia,
Mercia, Northumbria.

7. THE FIRST VIKING CONQUEST
- The Christian Germanic raiders who took
Britain by force were attacked by other
Germanic invaders (Vikings) in the 8th
century.
- In 865, Viking army landed in East Anglia
and gained Eastern part of England.
- 870, Vikings attacked Wessex, ruled by
Ethelred, his brother Alfred assisted him
and in 878, Alfred won signal victory.

8. - Viking were called Danes by the English
although there were Norwegians and
Swedens.
- Alfred’s son and grandsons (3 kings) were
able to consolidate England in the 10th
century.
THE SECOND VIKING CONQUEST:
- Later in 10th century troubles started again
with new Vikings raiders
- Danes settled and became neighbors with
English.
- Beowulf (OE poem concerned with
Scandinavians) moved English people
feelings towards those Danes.

9. SCANDINAVIANS BECOME ENGLISH:
- Changed feelings towards the
Danes.
- They belonged to the same family.
- Danes and English lived side by
side and settled.
- Old English and Old Norse
(Scandinavians language) had many
words in common.

10. OLD ENGLISH DIALECTS:
Four principal dialects were spoken in Anglo-Saxon
England.
- Kentish, in Kent.
- West Saxon, south of Thames.
- Mercian, in Wales. (Standard Modern English is
Mercian dialect)
- Northumbrian, north of Humber.

11. Thank You
فيصل الشهري ، أحمد المنصور