Anglo-Saxon History

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When did the Anglo-Saxon Period begin?

- Tribe living in Britain
- No writing, everything was passed down by words
- Stories were memorized and repeated

Who were the Britons?

- Professional poet, had to know about everything
- sang anglo-saxon literature whenever required
- Passed on their knowledge to another scop before they died

What was a Scop?

- The most important themes or information were emphasized by the strong beat

How did Scops remember their stories?

- Invaded and defeated the Britons
- Briton’s area becomes part of the Roman empire, but they are treated well and peaceful
- In 410, the Romans leave to defend their empire and never come back

The Romans

- First tribe to attack the Britons after the Romans
- Tribe that wants Britons land
- Defeats the brits and takes over

Jutes

- Fight the Jutes and Britons
- take over

Angles

- Fight the Jutes, Britons, and Angles
- win and take over

Saxons

- Created a common language (English)
- Created Anglo-Saxon England (Angleland)
- Reign lasted until 1066 (Norman conquest)

What were the benefits of the Anglo-Saxon Period

- Old English or Anglo-Saxon
- Composed of West German, Dutch

Language

- Northumbria
- Mercia
- Wessex
- Kent

Anglo-Saxon Civilization

- England was not unified
- Could not avoid the Vikings

The Downfall

- Also known as norsemen or danes
- Most groups (Anglo-Saxons), attacked for more land, while Vikings just attacked to attack
- Incredibly hard to defend
- Attacked mostly small communities

The Vikings

- Language
- Heroic Ideal
- Shortness of Life (No modern medicine, Constant war and death)
- Wyrd (Fate, What is destined to happen)

Commonalities Between Anglo-Saxons