3.1 why did alfred develop his program of learning? Flashcards
What is Alfred ultimately frustrated about?
That he isn’t allowed to learn as King, he is talented and intelligent.
How does Alfred show practical application?
Translates into English instead of Latin.
When does Alfred begin translating for himself?
Who is this important for?
What is he able to show?
Additionally, what did he make fashionable?
890 - Important for historians
Gives Alfred’s direct view
His propaganda views
Made reading fashionable
What did Alfred not limiting himself to?
Was this usual?
Christian texts, unusual.
4 Key reasons to why Alfred developed his program of learning?
-Irritated by the poor education, saw it as a barrier to effective leadership.
-Better education>superior knowledge of tactics and strategy>defeat the Vikings.
-Satisfy his own interests in the arts.
-Felt that the most intelligent were not being stretched>improve learning>new discoveries.
3 Religious reasons to why Alfred developed his program of learning.
-Believed God was on his side, important to him that his supporters understood.
-God’s word could be used as a moral law, if learnt>living a good life in God’s eyes.
-Learning to read and write in Latin and English was key to living a good Christian life>people reading the Bible.
2 Legal reasons on why Alfred developed his program of learning?
-Enable administrators to produce a fair legal system.
-More educated a legal official>better they could understand how laws should enforce>make morally correct judgments.
What was the ‘renaissance’?
The programme of learning that Alfred instigated, a revival of learning.
What could potentially explain why the West Saxons faced so many challenged?
Alfred felt learning had been neglected by consecutive Saxon Kings since the ‘golden age’ of literacy in the 17th century.
What happened in the lead up to the to the creation of the programme for learning?
-Scholars were brought to the court from outside Wessex with new ideas
-Libraries were updaed and restokced partly to replace materials that many have been lost to the Vikings.
How had Alfred’s role as the planner of an educational system been exaggerated?
-Educational provision did not become as widespread as Alfred may have intended.
-Attention that Alfred paid to raising literacy standards>written documents were increasingly used in the administration and governance of England.
-Little evidence for an increase in religious schools and wider circulation of translated Christian works.
What did Alfred send once he had decided that learning had been improved?
-Emissaries to employ a group of intellectuals to carry out his plans.
These men were gathered from different parts of Europe.
Who were Alfred’s 4 court intellectuals?
Western Mercian Contingent (WMC)
Bishop Asser from St David’s
Grimbald of Rheims
John of Saxony
What is paleography?
Identification of hand writing using established texts.
What is the difference between being foreign vs continental?
Foreign=not from Wessex
Continental=from the continent (europe)
