The paper has since been lost.
So when Bede was mentioned in Medieval History it was like revisiting an acquaintance who you only remember vaguely. I was inspired to revisit The Ecclesiastical History.
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| An image of a copy of Ecclesiastical History held at the British Library https://www.bl.uk/collection-items/bedes-ecclesiastical-history |
Regardless of my personal feelings on Bede his contribution to history is undeniable. He published many works, but I find The Ecclesiastical History of the English People, or more formally Historia ecclesiastica gentis Anglorum has the most meat. Created in 731 The Ecclesiastical History, or the EH (for the purposes of this blog) covers the conversion of the English people to Christianity. Bede's account begins with the invasion of Julius Caesar and spans into the conversion the Anglo-Saxons across the kingdoms of Britain. Bede lived a monastic life in which he published the EH and other works. The British Library considers the EH as "...the chief source of information about English history from the arrival of St Augustine in Kent in 597 until 731" (https://www.bl.uk/collection-items/bedes-ecclesiastical-history) and the Bennett textbook mentions that the EH is, "...historically reliable" (Bennett 46). The lasting nature of the work speaks to Bede's intelligence and careful research. The copy of the EH presented in this blog is not a 'first edition', but an edition produced after Bede's death and one of several copies in the British Library.
All that said, why should we care about a document I once wrote a so-called snooze worthy essay about?
The EC is important to us, Medievalists, because it carefully traces roots of Christianity in England and the transitions that occurred as a result. The EH even gives some insight into the 'medieval experience' although most of those experiences involve the lives of saints. On top of that the diligent documentation and historical accuracy of Bede's work should instill doubt in the strongest believers in the the myth of the dark ages .
So thank you, Bede, for The Ecclesiastical History and for giving us insight into the lives of your contemporaries. May I never again attempt to write a paper on your admirable works.
Sources
"Bede's Ecclesiastical History - The British Library Shop." The British Library. The British Library, 22 Dec. 2014. Web. 12 Sept. 2016.
Butler, Judith M. Medieval Europe: A Short History. 11th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2011. Print.
I really liked the analogy where you compared Bede to an old friend. I think sometimes texts seem distant and that makes history a bit dry, as least in theory. When we actually access the texts it opens up our imagination. The fact that you refer to him on a first name basis reminds me that "our friends" need not be alive today and the central role of text preservation and actual reading!
ReplyDeleteMadison, I loved this post. You bringing up your personal experience of Bede brought life to your excellent overview of Bede's contributions.
ReplyDeleteI think it was cool how you incorporated humor within your blog post. I also like how you were really honest about your feelings regarding Bede's works. Instead of faking your true feelings and thoughts over his work (for example, stating that it was super interesting and that you loved reading about it), you expressed how you truly felt about his work. This shows honesty within your work, because you said that writing about Bede was the most boring experience. Lastly, I like how you incorporated your own personal experiences within your post.
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