HISTORY OF ENGLISH LANGUAGEANGLO-SAXON(410-1066AD)

PRESENTED BY:MISS SUMAIRA ASHRAF

ANGLO-SAXON The Anglo-Saxons were good warriorsThe Anglo-Saxons were good warriors

Early Anglo-Saxon Life

• The next invaders of Britain were the Anglo-Saxons next to romans: primarily the Angles, Saxons, and Jutes.

• These invaders were all Germanic tribes. between about 500 and 1066 AD. between about 550

• In their own lands, most Anglo-Saxons were farmers. Many Anglo-Saxons were sailors too. They built wooden ships with oars and sails, for trade and to settle in new lands. .

• the Angles, and the Jutes

01/04/15

Map showing where the Map showing where the Anglo SaxonAnglo Saxonsettle down. settle down.

They conquered a lot of land &settle there.

• The Anglo Saxons took control of most of England although they never conquered Scotland , Wales and Cornwall.

• They settled in England in places near to rivers or the sea, which could be easily reached by boat.

Anglo-Saxon Society

01/04/15

Did you know that ?Did you know that ?

Weapons

Anglo-Saxon Society

• Eventually, the small kingdoms developed into seven large ones: North Umbria, Mercia, Wessex, Sussex, Essex, East Anglia, and Kent. (AD 600)

• Once the small settlements became more established and connected, a more unified language emerged: Old English or Anglo-Saxon (Germanic Origins)

Anglo-Saxon had two alphabets the ROMAN and RUNIC.

Difficult to Translate and understand

• Old English did not sound or look like English today.

• Native English speakers now would have great difficulty understanding Old English.

• Nevertheless, about half of the most commonly used words in Modern English have Old English roots.

• The words be, strong and water, for example, derive from Old English. Old English was spoken until around 1100

Part of Beowulf, a poem written in Old English

Alfred the Great

• Only the Saxon kingdom of Wessex Only the Saxon kingdom of Wessex managed to fight the Danes to a managed to fight the Danes to a standstill.standstill.

• In 871, Alfred ascended to the In 871, Alfred ascended to the Wessex throne.Wessex throne.

• Alfred resisted further Danish Alfred resisted further Danish encroachment.encroachment.

• A 886 truce formally divided England: A 886 truce formally divided England: the Danish ruled the east and north; the Danish ruled the east and north; the Saxons ruled the south.the Saxons ruled the south.

• Alfred translated the Bede’s History Alfred translated the Bede’s History and other works from Latin into and other works from Latin into English to make them more English to make them more accessible, as well as instituted the accessible, as well as instituted the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, a history of Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, a history of England from the earliest days England from the earliest days through 1154.through 1154.

Old English Words

• Cyning, Cyng = King• Ealdorman = Elderman• bone-box – grave or human body• whale-road – sea • sky-candle – stars, moon, sun• light-of-battle – sword • helment bearers – warriors • giver of gold – King • storm-of-swords – war, battle

- To test if a person was guilty of a crime, - To test if a person was guilty of a crime, he had to hold a red-hot iron! If his hand he had to hold a red-hot iron! If his hand healed quickly, he was innocent. If not, he healed quickly, he was innocent. If not, he was guilty.was guilty.

- When the Viking chief Guthrum was - When the Viking chief Guthrum was baptized a Christian, Alfred was his baptized a Christian, Alfred was his godfather.godfather.

- The Anglo-Saxons knew the Earth was - The Anglo-Saxons knew the Earth was round, but wrongly believed the Sun and round, but wrongly believed the Sun and stars went round the Earth.stars went round the Earth.

- The body of the Sutton Hoo king was not - The body of the Sutton Hoo king was not found in his ship-burial. The body may found in his ship-burial. The body may have 'dissolved' in the soil.have 'dissolved' in the soil.

- Cow-stealing was a common crime. - Cow-stealing was a common crime. There are records of people tracking down There are records of people tracking down stolen cows, like detectives.stolen cows, like detectives.

01/04/15