Alcuin

Born c. 735

Died 804

English scholar and teacher

St. Anselm of Canterbury
Born c. 1033
Died 1109
Italian-English church leader and philosopher

Thomas à Becket
Born 1118
Died 1170
English church leader and chancellor

William of Ockham
Born c. 1290
Died 1349
English philosopher

Geoffrey Chaucer
Born c. 1340
Died 1400
English author and poet

"Defend me with your sword, and I will support you with my pen."

Promise allegedly made to Emperor Ludwig IV by William of Ockham

Because it is an island and geographically separated from the European continent, England's civilization became quite different from the rest of Europe. Successive waves of invasion gave it many influences, contributing to the broad reach of the English language. Likewise England...