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.
