Week 4: Early Saxon

Migration Period (4th-7th century)

Politics →

• Study region now has many leaders (leaders of each “tribe”)

• Kingdom of Dalriata (or Dalriada) established by 575

Religion →

Succession →

Relations →

• Influx of Saxons, Scots (from Irelands), & Britons leaving to Brittany

  • Connection between northern France & Celtic region from Brittany

Cultural Development →

• Migration from Ireland & around Denmark

• Hayday of migration was 5th-6th century

Anglo-Saxon England (410-1066)

Politics →

• “Tribes” consisted/mostly comprised that of “kin” (family groups)

• Shift from kinship (familiar connection) to kingship (political power/ruling is emphasized)

• Many takeovers of small communities and regions - forming kingdoms

• Development of the Witan - a group of secular & ecclesiastic men who became the core advisors of the king.

• Popes started to gain more power, with them being in charge over a lot in Christian kingdoms such as Dalriata.

Religion →

• Change in religion (Christianity to paganism/polytheistic)

• Incoming Anglo-Saxons were polytheistic (paganism)

  • Similar to Vikings paganism

• They had many shrines & religious art/symbols

• Anglo-Saxons left burial sites, most notably Sutton Hoo

• Christianity was reintroduced

• Conversions of Kent & Northumbria (Dalriata was a Christian kingdom)

• Roman Christianity became the dominant form (over Celtic Christianity) because of the connection between the royal courts & the continent

Succession →

• Descendants of the tribal leaders become kingdom leaders

• Position of king is passed on from the reigning king to other male family relative

  • Not necessarily a son, the throne went to the throne-worthy man (nephew, brother, cousin)

Relations →

• Material being traded from places such as Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Syria (seen in burial material in Sutton Hoo)

• Important kingdoms in study region during this time:

  • Dalriata

  • Northumbria; Bernicia & Deria

  • Merica

  • Wessex

  • East Anglia

  • Kent

Cultural Development →

• Anglo-Saxons become dominant culture in study region

Growth of the Christian Church

Politics →

• Kings had relations and power in churches, as they had control over the church & its affairs

• The king & church worked together to set-up control

Religion →

• Many missions to other continents were occurring during this time, trying to convert them to Christianity

Succession →

Relations →

• While Roman rule over the study region was no longer, Rome still oversaw the Christianizing of regions

Cultural Development →