The Anglo-Saxon Period 449-1066 A.D.

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The Anglo-Saxon Period449-1066 A.D.
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A Brief History

• Original inhabitants of what is known as England
  were the Celts, the original Britons
• Pagan
• Much of their history is unknown until later

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The First Invasion of the Celts
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The Romans

• Julius Caesar raided Britain in 55 and 54 B.C.

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• Introduced the concept of Christianity

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• Roman rule lasted for nearly 300 years
• During this time, commerce flourished
• Civilization advanced
• Roman rule crumbled in the fourth and fifth
  centuries

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The Romans Built Hadrians Wall

• A great fortification running across the island
  neat the Scottish border
• Built circa 123 A.D. for protection from invading
  Picts and Scots
• Nearly 70 miles long

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The Second Invasion of the Celts The Germanic
Invasion
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• According to history, in 449 the first band of
  people from the North German plain crossed the
  North Sea and settled in what is now known as
  Kent.
• These people were the Jutes from Jutland.

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• After the first wave of Jutes came the Angles.
• Present day England derives its name from the
  name Angle-Land.
• Known as the hook-men.

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• Following the Jutes and the Angles, the next
  invaders were the Saxons.
• Known as the swords-men.

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The Three Tribes Combined to Create Anglo-Saxon
England
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What Were the Anglo-Saxons Like?

• Hardy
• Athletic
• Wandering
• Fierce in personal valor
• Pagan
• Sea-Faring
• Loyal to leader and tribe
• Ruled by fate called wyrd

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They believed in the Norse Gods as part of their
superstitions and religious beliefs.
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Even now, our weekdays are named after their
ancient Norse gods...
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Wednesday for the warlike Woden
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Thursday for Thor, the god of thunder
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Friday for Frigga, the goddess of love and the
home
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Anglo-Saxon Lives

• Divided into tribes and kingdoms
• Each tribe led by a king or chieftain
• Followers of these kings were called thanes
• After hunt and battles, they would gather in a
  mead hall
• Entertained by a scop and gleeman
• Governed themselves democratically
• Decisions made in meeting called folkmoots- the
  term now applies a moot point

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The Mead Hall
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The Scop
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Elements of Anglo-Saxon Literature
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Composed in Old EnglishEach line is divided by
a caesura (a natural pause or break in a
line of poetry, is essential for
rhythm)Incorporates kennings (a metaphorical
phrase used to replace a concrete noun)Usually
includes a blend of pagan and Christian elements
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As the Anglo-Saxons had no written language, they
relied on the following as a means of literary
preservation...
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The Oral Tradition

• Defined as a body of songs, stories, and poems
  preserved by being passed from generation to
  generation by word of mouth.
• Often sung by a scop- a traveling storyteller
  often accompanied by a harp.