The Anglo-Saxons

“Anglo-Saxon England was born of warfare, remained forever a military

society, and came to it's end in battle.” - J.R. Lander

Time-line of Events for Early Britain

300's - Celts called Brythons (Britons) live in Britain

Religion of Celts rich with mythological spirits found in rocks, trees, rivers, ponds, fire, etc...

Spirits controlled all aspects of existence.Druids act as intermediaries between gods and

people.Concerned with lunar and solar cycles, known for

Stonehenge, likely performed human sacrifice.

The Celts

Fight off Invasions from Romans beginning with Caesar in 55 B.C. (p6 EOL)

Romans take control of Britain about 100 yrs later.

Queen Boadicea leads Celtic revolt against Roman invaders 61 A.D. - (p7 EOL)

Romans leaves Britain to fight other Germanic tribes threatening the empire closer to Rome

Queen Boadicea

Westminster Bridge, London.

Celtic & Roman Legacy

Celts Legends of King

Arthur would later inspire one of the most influential collections of medieval literature with a hero who would define the values of English culture.

Romans Left a network of roads

some of which are still used today.

Also left other structures like public baths, villas, walls (like Hadrian's Wall (p7)

Established Christianity as the national faith.

Roman Legacy in England

The Roman Baths, Bath, England. The Roman Baths are located in the city of Bath, in the U.K. It is a major tourist attraction, bringing in more than 1 million tourists each year.

It has had many uses as a thermal spa over thousands of years, most famously by the Romans, who constructed this building in about 60AD and onwards over the next few hundred years. When they left in the 5th Century AD, the baths fell into disrepair.

Changing Tides, Changing Tribes

Angles, Saxons, and Jutes begin invasion of Britain 449

Roman Empire falls 476 AD King Arthur rules Celts and fights invading

Germanic tribes 517 AD – dies at Battle of Camlann 537 AD.

Saint Augustine converts Anglo-Saxon king Ethelbert and establishes a monastery in Canterbury. 597 AD

Beowulf first recorded 700 AD

Changing Tides, Changing Tribes

Warrior Cultures Collide

Vikings (Danes, Swedes) begin invasions of Britain 793 AD.

Alfred the Great becomes king. He is able to unite the tribes of Anglo-Saxons against the invaders.

Normans (Norther French tribe) defeat Anglo-Saxons and rule England 1066 AD.

Anglo-Saxon Life

Sutton Hoo – ship burial unearthed to reveal the imprint of a wooden ship filled with treasure including a belt buckle, a helmet, and jewelry, and more

Sutton Hoo Burial

Anglo Saxon Life

Anglo-Saxon culture is a warrior culture. Law and order is the responsibility of leaders. Fame and success are gained through loyalty to the leader (measured in gifts given to the leader); Successful leaders are those that freely give treasure to reward bravery and loyalty – Comitatus

Anglo-Saxon Life

Lived in single family homes surrounding the Mead Hall.

Anglo Saxon Religion

They did not believe in the afterlife Their faith was dark and fatalistic Had much in common with Norse and

Scandinavian mythology Anglo Saxon religion was more concerned

with ethics, loyalty, generosity, bravery, and friendship than mysticism.

Saxon gods – Tiw, Wodin, & Thor Credit these gods and others for giving us the

names of the week.

Symbolic Animals

The Boar

The Dragon

The Bards: Preserving history Also called Scops Tellers of heroic tales that reflected the concerns

of people constantly under threat of war, disease, and old age.

Powerful because they preserve fame in the collective memory as a way of honoring the greatest of heroes.

The Role of Christianity

Converted Ireland (St Patrick, 430's) becomes a refuge from war for scholars and place for learning.

Offered spiritual hope for the future and an afterlife

Monasteries served as places of learning and Preserved works of both the Ancient world and

popular Anglo-Saxon culture like Beowulf.