Ecclesiastical History of England

Description

Bede's Ecclesiastical History of the English People is a landmark work in English literature and historical writing. Completed in 731 AD, it is one of the most important sources for the early history of England and the Christianization of Anglo-Saxon England. Bede wrote the Ecclesiastical History to record the spread of Christianity in England and to provide a comprehensive account of the conversion of the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms to Christianity. The book covers a wide range of topics related to the history of England from the time of Julius Caesar's invasion in 55 BC to Bede's own time in the early 8th century AD. It includes detailed accounts of the Roman occupation of Britain, the arrival of Christianity in England, the lives of significant figures such as St. Augustine of Canterbury and St. Cuthbert, and the conflicts and interactions between the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms. The work is divided into five books. The first book covers the period from the Roman invasion to the arrival of St. Augustine in 597 AD. The subsequent books provide a chronological account of the history of the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms, with a particular focus on the spread of Christianity and the lives of the saints. Bede drew on a wide range of sources for his history, including earlier chronicles, official documents, oral tradition, and the writings of other historians and theologians. He also conducted interviews with eyewitnesses and consulted manuscripts from libraries and monasteries across England. Bede's Ecclesiastical History had a significant impact on subsequent English historical writing and became one of the most widely read and influential works of its time. It helped to shape the collective memory of the English people and played a key role in the development of English identity and consciousness.

This book has 155,279 words, and 297 pages in the PDF version. This translation by A. M. Sellar was originally published in 1907.

Production notes: This ebook of Ecclesiastical History of England was published by Global Grey in 2018, and updated on the 11th February 2024. The artwork used for the cover is 'Venerable Bede' from an illustrated manuscript.