Anglo-Saxon LifeThe Warm Hall, the Cold World

1939- Suffolk, England

Archaeologists discovered a ship that was buried for 1,300 years.

It was filled with different treasures that was buried with a king, or noble warrior.

They could not find a trace of a king or warrior, although they found his sword among many different treasures.

Some of those treasures included: gold, silver, bronze, his purse, coins, a helmet, a buckle, serving vessels, and a harp.

Finding this grave, it reminded everyone of the huge burial in memory of Beowulf.

Anglo-Saxon Society became linked with Europe via religion

Christianity took over old warrior religion Monasteries were established to offer

learning centers and observable preserved works from the Anglo’s older oral tradition

The English language expanded just from the church and became widely spread throughout language and text

Anglo-Saxon Housing They tended to live close to their animals

in single-family homesteads for protection

The homesteads they lived in were made out of wood and surrounded a communal court or a warm, fire-lit chieftain's hall

Anglo-Saxon Housing Not only did this arrangement

contribute to a sense of security, but it also contributed to the close relationship between leader and follower

It also encouraged participation in community discussions and rule by consensus

Anglo-Saxon Society Developed from kinship groups that

were led by a strong chief The strongest ties in society were to

family and lord There was no real concept of patriotism or

loyalty to a cause This made a kingdom only as strong as

their leader

Anglo-Saxon Society Since the Anglo-Saxons were so loyal to

family, if a family member was murdered, one would have to get vengeance for that person Led extensive, violent, and bloody feuds

Anglo-Saxon Society In the countryside, the common thing to

do was farm At first these farms were owned privately,

but then they were condensed into a noble’s estate

The common person would work on the nobles land usually in exchange for protection

Anglo-Saxon Society The Anglo-Saxons were also exceptional

metalworkers Discovery at Sutton Hoo showed level of

sophistication higher than imagined

Anglo-Saxon Barbarians? Anglo-Saxons are most famously

depicted as barbarians in today’s society

This is false all though they did not lead lives of luxury either

Their lives were not dominated by learning and the arts

Warfare was the central focus, it helped keep law and order among the Anglo-Saxons