Anglo-SaxonsAnglo-Saxons

Notes for the Anglo-Saxon Notes for the Anglo-Saxon UnitUnit

English IVEnglish IV

General InfoGeneral Info Time Period: 449 – 1066Time Period: 449 – 1066 Anglo-Saxon is term applied to the Anglo-Saxon is term applied to the

English speaking inhabitants of English speaking inhabitants of Britain up to the time of the Norman Britain up to the time of the Norman Conquest, when the Anglo-Saxon line Conquest, when the Anglo-Saxon line of English kings came to an end. of English kings came to an end.

Invasions of Great BritainInvasions of Great Britain Celtic in 55 B.C. (Julius Caesar invaded Celtic in 55 B.C. (Julius Caesar invaded

Britain, but did not establish Roman rule)Britain, but did not establish Roman rule) Roman rule was not established until 43 Roman rule was not established until 43

A.D. with Claudius; during this time, towns A.D. with Claudius; during this time, towns grew and prospered, roads were built, and grew and prospered, roads were built, and peace was enjoyed.peace was enjoyed.

As the Roman Empire fell apart, the As the Roman Empire fell apart, the Romans abandoned Britain, leaving it prey Romans abandoned Britain, leaving it prey to other Celtic tribes (Irish, Scots, Picts).to other Celtic tribes (Irish, Scots, Picts).

Britain was ultimately conquered by Britain was ultimately conquered by Germanic invaders from across the North Germanic invaders from across the North Sea – the Anglo-Saxons.Sea – the Anglo-Saxons.

Maps of InvasionsMaps of Invasions

World MapWorld Map

TribesTribes

The Anglo-Saxons were actually three major The Anglo-Saxons were actually three major tribes: the Angles, the Saxons and the Jutes, tribes: the Angles, the Saxons and the Jutes, whose homeland was along the NW coast of whose homeland was along the NW coast of Germany and the Danish peninsula.Germany and the Danish peninsula.

They were pushed out of central Europe They were pushed out of central Europe during the 4during the 4thth and 5 and 5thth centuries (449) and centuries (449) and for a while were Vikings – sea rovers.for a while were Vikings – sea rovers.

In this society that was in a constant In this society that was in a constant state of war, the warrior occupied a state of war, the warrior occupied a prominent position in society. The prominent position in society. The warrior leader and his courage were warrior leader and his courage were greatly admired.greatly admired.

Comitatus BondComitatus Bond

This was a bond that existed between This was a bond that existed between a warrior king and his thanes (free a warrior king and his thanes (free citizens and warriors of a community) citizens and warriors of a community) who in return, promised to be loyal to who in return, promised to be loyal to their king.their king.

Tribe/Community MembersTribe/Community Members Earls – ruling classEarls – ruling class Churls – responsible for Churls – responsible for

hard labor that sustained hard labor that sustained the predominantly the predominantly

agricultural society.agricultural society. Witans – wise men Witans – wise men

who advised the king who advised the king and the scopand the scop

Scop – the professional bard, chief entertainer, Scop – the professional bard, chief entertainer, historian, poet laureate, and press agent for the historian, poet laureate, and press agent for the king and his tribeking and his tribe

Slaves – owned by earls and churls.Slaves – owned by earls and churls.

Anglo-Saxon ReligionAnglo-Saxon Religion

The Anglo-Saxons were polytheistic The Anglo-Saxons were polytheistic meaning they worshipped many gods meaning they worshipped many gods before the advent of Christianity in before the advent of Christianity in 550.550.

Christianity 550 A.D.Christianity 550 A.D.

Introduced by St. Augustine, a Introduced by St. Augustine, a missionarymissionary– Their conversion to Christianity widened Their conversion to Christianity widened

the spiritual and intellectual outlook of the the spiritual and intellectual outlook of the Anglo- Saxons.Anglo- Saxons.

– Schools grew up around the monasteries, Schools grew up around the monasteries, which were homes to devout monks and which were homes to devout monks and institutions of learning.institutions of learning.

– The Anglo-Saxons went on pilgrimages to The Anglo-Saxons went on pilgrimages to Rome to worship and to learn.Rome to worship and to learn.

Alfred the GreatAlfred the Great In addition to being the only ruler In addition to being the only ruler

able to successfully resist Danish able to successfully resist Danish invasions, Alfred was a patron of invasions, Alfred was a patron of learning.learning.

He furthered and encouraged the He furthered and encouraged the education of his people.education of his people.

He invited scholars to his court, and he himself He invited scholars to his court, and he himself translated the scholarly works.translated the scholarly works.

He also helped save Wessex and other He also helped save Wessex and other kingdoms in England from the Danes of kingdoms in England from the Danes of Denmark.Denmark.

He helped to create a cohesive English society He helped to create a cohesive English society instead of one of many kingdoms.instead of one of many kingdoms.

Wyrd/FateWyrd/Fate

Because war was constant in their Because war was constant in their society, Anglo-Saxon life was brief society, Anglo-Saxon life was brief and strife-ridden.and strife-ridden.

As a result, the Anglo-Saxons believed As a result, the Anglo-Saxons believed in the inevitability of fate (wyrd) as in the inevitability of fate (wyrd) as the ruling force in their lives.the ruling force in their lives.

The sense of doom is often reflected The sense of doom is often reflected in Anglo-Saxon literature, as well.in Anglo-Saxon literature, as well.

Three Common Themes in Three Common Themes in Anglo-Saxon LiteratureAnglo-Saxon Literature

The terror of a northern winterThe terror of a northern winter An awareness of the transitory An awareness of the transitory

nature of human lifenature of human life The fear of the sea because of its The fear of the sea because of its

majesty and cruelty.majesty and cruelty.

Three Types of Anglo-Saxon Three Types of Anglo-Saxon LiteratureLiterature

Epics – a long narrative poem that relates Epics – a long narrative poem that relates the great deeds of a larger than life hero the great deeds of a larger than life hero who embodies the values of a particular who embodies the values of a particular society; deals with global political change society; deals with global political change of an entire society rather than a single of an entire society rather than a single family unitfamily unit

Lyrics – short, personal poems which Lyrics – short, personal poems which

are more emotionalare more emotional Riddles – short poems which are often Riddles – short poems which are often

metaphorical in naturemetaphorical in nature

Wergild or Man PaymentWergild or Man Payment According to this code, an Anglo-Saxon who According to this code, an Anglo-Saxon who

killed someone had to pay the price (the value killed someone had to pay the price (the value set for each person) for his deed or accept the set for each person) for his deed or accept the fact that the victimfact that the victim’’s relatives would seek s relatives would seek revenge.revenge.

Each personEach person’’s value was generally based on s value was generally based on social status or class.social status or class.

If you did not have any If you did not have any money or worldly goods, money or worldly goods, often you had to give up a often you had to give up a body part, like a hand or body part, like a hand or a foot, in payment.a foot, in payment.

Crime and Punishment -- Crime and Punishment -- Anglo-Saxon StyleAnglo-Saxon Style

Punishments were doled out according to a specific Punishments were doled out according to a specific code.code.– Hanging – used to publicly punish someone and Hanging – used to publicly punish someone and

serve as a warning to othersserve as a warning to others– Burning or Boiling – the most painful way to die – Burning or Boiling – the most painful way to die –

it often took 10-15 minutes for the person to dieit often took 10-15 minutes for the person to die– Stoning – a bound criminal was hit with stones of Stoning – a bound criminal was hit with stones of

all sizes -- a way for the whole community to get all sizes -- a way for the whole community to get involved with the punishmentinvolved with the punishment

– Drowning – the criminal was tied up and thrown Drowning – the criminal was tied up and thrown into a pond – if he floated he was guilty and if he into a pond – if he floated he was guilty and if he sank he was innocentsank he was innocent

– Beheading – the most spectacular way to die (also Beheading – the most spectacular way to die (also the most humane as it was quick and pretty the most humane as it was quick and pretty painless)painless)

What a Way To Go!What a Way To Go!

1066 (Dum, Dum, 1066 (Dum, Dum, Duuuummm)Duuuummm)

Both Danes and Anglo-Saxons are Both Danes and Anglo-Saxons are defeated by Normans and William defeated by Normans and William the Conquerorthe Conqueror

This ends the Anglo-Saxon periodThis ends the Anglo-Saxon period