Anglo-Saxons:The Truth about the Boasts

449 - 1066

Homes

Made of timber, central hearth, boat-shaped, louver in ceiling to let out smoke, benches and tapestries

Located in villages, near navigable rivers

Food

Ate meat, kept animals in pens, depended on salt for preservation, used only knives

Health Groomed themselves with bone

combs, bronze tweezers, small shears, etc.

Less than 50% reached age 30 82% dead by 40, 98% dead by 50 No cavities, but much osteoarthritis

from squatting

Subject to frequent plagues and epidemics

Relied on herbal medicine Performed some surgery: amputation

of gangrenous limbs, hernias, hare lips

Dress

Wore wool and linen Headbands, gold brocade, brooches,

wrist clasps, leg bandages, long hair Rings with runic inscriptions, earrings,

buckles, functional jewelry

Entertainment

Hunting, falconry, bear- and bull-baiting Athletic contests to sharpen martial

skills Musical instruments: horns, trumpets,

lyres, pipes POETRY Religious feasting, wakes, harvesting Riddles

Industry

Cottage industries: soap makers, charcoal makers, ice skate makers, products of bone, pottery, metal works

Women

Relatively unimportant in a warrior-based society, BUT some were powerful and were active in running large estates

Spinning, weaving, embroidery, domestic economy

Society

Loyalty to lord came before kin (COMITATUS)

Would not leave battle alive if king were killed

Frequent stubborn blood feuds WERGILD: compensation for

death/injury

Classes: king, nobles (earls), freeman (thanes), bonded peasants (churls), slaves (thralls)

King selected and advised by a council of elders (WITAN)

Trial by ordeal after oathing Believed in marriage, divorce Orphaned sons came of age at age 10

Beliefs

Human sacrifice Scandinavian gods Eventually Christianized

Funerals

Cremation Inhumation

(traditional burial) Ship burial