Of Bede and birds

Michael Haykin  |  Features  |  history
Date posted:  1 Jan 2021
Share Add       
Of Bede and birds

Last month we looked at the life of Bede (c.673–735), the Anglo-Saxon historian who is best known for his Church History of the English People (Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Anglorum).

Why does this historical work – which traces the history of England from the Roman occupation to 731, the year that it was completed, as well as detailing the conversion of the Anglo-Saxon peoples – merit calling Bede a model historian?

A providential reading of history

Well, two reasons stand out. First of all, Bede read history providentially. In his view, God was at work in history. He saw his work in this regard as a continuation of what Luke the historian did in the Book of Acts.

Share
< Previous article| Features| Next article >
Read more articles by Michael Haykin >>
Comment
VE Day 80 years on: A lasting victory?

VE Day 80 years on: A lasting victory?

After the battle of Waterloo (June 18, 1815), Arthur Wellesley, the Anglo-Irish 1st Duke of Wellington and the commander-in-chief of …

Features
The age of the dilettante

The age of the dilettante

We live in the age of the dilettante, when everyone’s opinion is as good as everyone else’s. The obvious problem …

Subscribe

Enjoy our monthly paper and full online access from just £18/year

Find out more

Give a subscription

Our monthly newspaper is the perfect gift for those who love to think deeply

Give here