The Ecclesiastical History of the English People - Conclusion
Conclusion
Quote
At the present time, there are five languages in Britain, just as the divine law is written in five books, all devoted to seeking out and setting forth one and the same kind of wisdom, namely the knowledge of sublime truth and of true sublimity.
Notes (from the Introduction to the Oxford World's Classics version)
🔥 This book is the first attempt at a national history, even though that was not Bede's real aim.
🔥 Bede's conception of a "nation" (again, not how he would have worded it) was more of a spiritual unity. There were many different people groups and different kingdoms, but they are connected in his history through their connection to the church. In a way, he's writing about the development of the "City of God" in England (following Augustine's idea).
🔥 The Bible was a large influence on his writing, and on how he thought about history - "how divine purposes might be worked out in the apparent randomness of human history."
🔥 Eusebius, another church historian, was also a big influence on Bede, and on his view of the purpose for writing history.
🔥 Bede was very interested in miracles and in the correct way to calcluate the date of Easter. His interest in miracles was normal for the time, but the Easter stuff not so much.
Thoughts
The thing that most scholars say about Bede's book in terms of why it's significant to history, is that it's the first book that's about the history of a nation. That's not really something I would have picked up reading this book on my own. It seems to me to be way more about the development of Christianity in Britain, and really a series of stories and anecdotes meant to inspire and persuade readers that Christianity is the true religion.
It's centered on the kingdoms and peoples living on the island of Britain, which at the time were people of different races and different origins. And some of them get more of Bede's attention than others. But maybe having them all be part of the same story is what makes people say this is the first written history of a nation. I also wonder whether or not it's a coincidence that it's religion which supersedes race and helps create the sense of a unified people. The work of spreading Christianity, ensuring a unified doctrine of beliefs, and pulling people away from their local superstitions or mythologies, are all big parts of this story.
Maybe this book marks an important first in the history of history writing, but as far as history books go, it's not the most interesting one to read. Not to mention the way Bede's own personal obsessions, like with the correct date for celebrating Easter, make it seem as if this issue was one that was occupying all of Britain for so many years. Somehow I doubt that was the case.
But still, Bede was loved and admired during his time, and regardless of my own probably uninformed opinions, he clearly did make a meaningful contribution to the evolution of history and history writing.