Anglo Saxon England

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Anglo Saxon England

• 405 1066 AD

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Early History

• Englands first inhabitants unknown
• Left Stonehenge

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Early History

• Perhaps Druids created Stonehenge.
• First recorded history of England by Greeks.
• Romans significantly impacted Englands
  development and history.

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Romans

• Julius Caesar 55 BC
• Claudius 43 AD
• Overcame Celts
• Established Roman rule
• Remained in England for 400 years
• Intermarried with Britons, built towns and roads,
  Hadrians Wall
• Roman Empire collapsed 5th century

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Invasions

• Scots and Picts invaded England from the North.
• Angles, Saxons, Jutes
• Raided Briton
• Became the Vikings

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Angles and Saxons

• Settled in Northumbria, Wessex
• Anglo Saxon society
• Agricultural, semi-nomadic people
• Tribal classes
• Earls kin to nobility
• Churls tribe captives

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Anglo Saxon Society

• Concept of a strong, wise leader
• Warrior very important part of society
• King usually a warrior
• Women unimportant, unless royal
• Art Sutton Hoo burial ship
• Significant artifacts showing heroic society rich
  in gold and craftsmanship
• Evidence of trade with the Far East

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Religion

• Pagan
• Pope Gregory sent Augustine to convert king
• Augustine became the first Archbishop of
  Canterbury
• Pagan traditions
• Yule log, Christmas tree

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Anglo Saxon Characteristics

• Germanic people pushed west by tribes like the
  Huns.
• Worship Odin, god of war
• Faithful, brave, fearless, revered the
  hero-warrior
• Governed by war councils
• Entertainment in the mead hall
• Craftsmen weapons, swords, helmets, mead halls

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Additional Anglo Saxon Characteristics

• Women were generally thought of as
  servants/possessions.
• Males dominated the society.
• Loyalty to the king from the thanes was a
  necessity.(A thane is a royal warrior)
• Disloyalty to the king meant death.

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Fate

• Predetermined a persons life/events
• Destiny without choice/free will
• Very different from Christian beliefs

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Literature

• Most important work is Beowulf
• Story revolves around a great pagan warrior known
  for his strength and courage.
• Considered the national epic of England.
• Author unknown.

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Beowulf

• Part of the oral tradition in ancient literature.
• Emphasis on prowess in battle.
• Concept of Fate/destiny.
• References to Christian ideas and Latin classics.
• Reflects the juxtaposition of church and pagan
  elements.

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Anglo Saxon Terms

• Scop professional entertainer for the king
• Folkmoot town meeting of elders
• Wyrd Anglo Saxon sense of Fate
• Thane warrior
• Mead fermented drink of honey and water
• Mead Hall place of entertainment/story
  telling/bragging about battles
• Lair den or hiding place
• Witan council of elders who ruled when the king
  was absent

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Anglo Saxon Terms

• Freya Goddess of love and marriage (Friday)
• Odin wisest God
• Wodin Wednesday
• Ever present danger of death by accident or
  warfare caused a grim view of death by people
• Fatalistic attitude Because of belief in Fate
• Words are very literal, concrete.

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