Bede and Cultural Life in Celtic and Anglo-Saxon Britain Course/Class April 10, 2011

The Venerable Bede, the father of English history, was one of the most prolific and influential writers of the early Middle Ages. While his historical writing has always been highly regarded, his others works are now coming to be more and more appreciated. He was a talented poet and teacher, with a great interest in music, education, science and many other aspects of life. He provides our most detailed knowledge of the golden age of Northumbria (and Britain in general) during the later seventh and early eighth centuries. This course will examine Bede and his writings in the context of the competing Anglo-Saxon and Celtic societies of his time, and will also provide a detailed study of the architecture, sculpture, manuscript illumination and music of his time, charting the development of Gregorian Chant from its origins to the eleventh century.

Official Website: http://www.cce.usyd.edu.au/course/bclc