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