King Arthur

the Legend, the Symbolism & the History

England

Why do we care?

Why is England – its history, legends and culture -- important to us, as Americans? Why is it important to Europe … the world?

Sure … of course …Not only is this where we, as Americans, have much of

our national history, but the British Empire spanned the entire globe. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bWedTbuAtR4

Plus – King Arthur makes a GREAT tale! The story of Arthur has been told and re-told for centuries in every part of the

European World …

Arthur: The Once & Future King

A Brief Look at Arthur: National Geographic

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pa4v5gH3b18

Arthur: His Cultural Roots

In our search for King Arthur, we will begin with the Roman occupation of Great Britain. As you

will see from the many stories of Arthur, he often represents a coming together of

cultures and traditions: the Romans and the Picts, old ‘Celtic’ Britain and new Roman

Britain, Pagans and Christians.

Wait – who were the Picts?

Geography A Pictish Warrior• http://

www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Sgx2lIUtUQ&feature=related

Pre-Roman England was a mass of individual kingdoms, similar to the Native Americans. There were feuds, truces, wars and alliances among the tribes, but they were fiercely independent.

THE ROMAN INFLUENCE

We will talk more about the Picts later … they gave the Romans a really hard time …

Timeline: Caesar’s Rome

A rowing bireme, as possibly used by Caesar - entirely unsuitable for the stormy and tidal Channel waters.

Deal, England – Site of Caesar’s Invasion AttemptsBeach at Deal, England

Memorial at Deal

Deal, England

Britain AD Video 1/5

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RLpgVEfy4mQ&list=PLtBw8-

A7vr1usU0eZarUFhAhzoNXxws_J

Timeline: The Influence of Trade

As discussed in the video, commerce between cultures can be just as influential as conquest – even more so where society is allowed to grow and thrive. This is what happens during this period, when Rome is influential, but not war-like … for the moment.

Coins minted under Cymbeline … aka Cunobelinus

Evidence of Rome’s truce with the Britons can be found in their relationship with Cunobelinus, whom Rome proclaimed as King of the Britons. Do you recognize his alias, Cymbeline … ?

Sure - Shakespeare

Cymbeline, also known as Cymbeline, King of Britain or The Tragedy of Cymbeline, is a play by William Shakespeare, based on legends concerning the early Celtic British King Cunobelinus.

Timeline: The Invasion

Caratacus

Guerilla leader of the native Briton resistance to Rome. He was tough, smart and a real problem for a very long time in the eyes of Rome.

Timeline: Conquest

Claudius

Timeline: Defeat

Caratacus

Here is a rendering of Caratacus in Rome, captured and in the court of Emperor Claudius.

Timeline: Rebellion

Timeline: Rebellion

Boudicca

Boudicca

Timeline: Occupation

Roman Towns in Britain

http://www.timetrips.co.uk/roman%20towns-towns.htm

Joseph of Arimathea• During the late 12th century,

Joseph became connected with the Arthurian cycle, appearing in them as the first keeper of the Holy Grail. This idea first appears in Robert de Boron's Joseph d'Arimathie, in which Joseph receives the Grail from an apparition of Jesus and sends it with his followers to Britain. Later retellings of the story contend that Joseph of Arimathea himself travelled to Britain and became the first Christian bishop in the Isles.

TimeLine: Scotland

Statue of Agricola erected in Bath, England 1894

More on the Picts?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=029gSw0pZCc&feature=related

Timeline: Containment

Construction Began AD 122

The Walls

THE WALLS• Hadrian's Wall was the first of two fortifications built across

Great Britain, the second being the Antonine Wall, lesser known of the two because its physical remains are less evident today.

• The wall was the most heavily fortified border in the Empire. In addition to its role as a military fortification, it is thought that many of the gates through the wall would have served as customs posts to allow trade and levy taxation.

• A significant portion of the wall still exists, particularly the mid-section, and for much of its length the wall can be followed on foot by Hadrian's Wall Path . It is the most popular tourist attraction in Northern England.

Hadrian’s Wall

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LeosZImCrMY

Timeline: Christianity

The Roman Occupation of Great Britain

Timeline: Departure

What was Camelot … who was Arthur?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YSqcVeQZjSI