Expert: Brenda Martin - 7/28/2004

Question
Thanks so much for your help.  I have a few more questions that I'm having trouble with.  I have some information, but the more the better.
Question one: What was the impact of the Roman departure from Britannia, and the invasion of the Saxons.
Question two: : Estimate the importance of Christian missionaries to the Viking and Danish invaders.

Thanks so much for you time.  Also if you can recommend a few books on church history medieval times, I would appreciate it... Thanks

Answer
WHAT WAS THE IMPACT OF THE ROMAN DEPARTURE FROM BRITANNIA, AND THE INVASION OF THE SAXONS?

Sorry this is all I could find on the subject--

In 55 B.C.E., Roman General Julius Caesar invaded Britannia but failed to establish a permanent settlement. In 43 C.E., Emperor Claudius began a more permanent conquest of southern Britain. Then, in 122 C.E., Emperor Hadrian began to build a wall from the Tyne River to the Solway Firth, marking the northern limit of the Roman Empire. Early in the fifth century, the Roman legions left the island.

“In the sixteenth century,” explained one historian, “England had been a second-rate power. Its wealth was slight compared with that of the Netherlands. Its population was much less than that of France. Its armed forces (including its navy) were inferior to Spain's.” Britain evidently was an insignificant kingdom then. But that was to change.

Britain was once a northwestern part of the Roman Empire. But by the year 1763, it had become the British Empire—the Britannia that ruled the seven seas.

ESTIMATE THE IMPORTANCE OF CHRISTIAN MISSIONARIES TO THE VIKING AND DANISH INVADERS

From out of the darkness shrouding Europe during the Middle Ages burst forth the Vikings from the north. These mighty, Germanic men of Scandinavia mastered the art of naval warfare and designed great, swift galleys that enabled them to spread their power south, west, and east. Norwegian and Danish Vikings sailed to the shores of Britain, Ireland, and continental Europe, while Vikings out of Sweden nosed their prows eastward across the Baltic into rivers and lakes leading to the vast birch forests and steppes of Russia. From the end of the eighth century, and for some 250 years, Viking vessels began to rule northern waterways in quest of trade and wealth.

Vikings believed in war and conquest. Their ferocity moved Alcuin, an English scholar of the eighth century, to lament: “Never before has such terror appeared in Britain.” In the following 250 years many people in Europe prayed: “From the fury of the Northmen deliver us, O Lord!”

Religion had much to do with the warlike nature of the Vikings. They believed that only if they died in battle could they gain entrance to Valhalla, the supposed paradise of the Vikings. It was said to be located in the home of their gods, prominent among whom was Odin, their god of battle and death. Thus the Viking religion encouraged a warlike nature. One source called it a “blood-reeking religion.”

Have Christendom's missionaries measured up to the example set by Jesus? Have they proved to be agents of light as he was, reflecting the light of God's Word, the knowledge of which leads to everlasting life? Or have they left the people in darkness? The answer to these questions should be of interest to all of us because the fruitage produced by professed Christian missionaries over the centuries helps us to identify true religion, as well as false religion.

Many, like those sent to Greenland, translated the Bible or parts of it into the vernacular. Yet, such early missionaries often had interests other than teaching people the Bible.

Christendom's missionaries to Japan, for example, were involved in “educational institutions and schools,” notes the Kodansha Encyclopedia of Japan. It says: “A number of missionaries have distinguished themselves through their scholarship.” They became linguists or professors, teaching subjects like literature, language, history, philosophy, East Asian religions, and Japanese folklore. “Charitable and social welfare institutions were also an important part of missionary work,” adds the encyclopedia.

Preaching the gospel did not have top priority with missionaries in general. Too often they emphasized the satisfying of physical needs rather than spiritual needs. Pursuit of personal interests became their focus. Thus, a missionary of the Church of England sent to Japan in 1889 is today best known as the “father of Japanese mountaineering.”

Shortly after the year 800 C.E., missionaries preaching the Catholic faith descended on the Vikings of heathen Denmark, and by the year 1000 C.E., most Danes had, at least formally, switched over to that religion from their brand of polytheism.

RECOMMEND A FEW BOOKS ON CHURCH HISTORY MEDIEVAL TIMES

The books I took all this information from are written by Jehovah's Witnesses.

All the best
Brenda