The Anglo-Saxon Period

449-1066 A.D.

A Brief History• Original

inhabitants of what is known as England were the Celts, the original Britons

• Pagan• Much of their

history is unknown until later

The First Invasion of the

Celts

The Romans...

• Julius Caesar raided “Britain” in 55 and 54 B.C.

The Romans...

• Introduced the concept of Christianity

The Roman Rule...• Lasted for

nearly 300 years

• During this time, commerce flourished

• Civilization advanced

• Roman rule crumbled in the fourth and fifth centuries

The Romans Built Hadrian’s Wall

• A great fortification running across the island near the Scottish border

• Built circa 123 A.D. for protection from invading Picts and Scots

• Nearly 70 miles long

The Second Invasion

The Germanic Invasions

• According to history, in 449 the first band of people from the North German plain crossed the North Sea and settled in what is now known as Kent.

• These people were the Jutes from Jutland.

The Germanic Invasion...

• After the first wave of Jutes came the Angles.

• Present day England derives its name from the name “Angle-Land.”

• Known as the “hook-men.”

The Germanic Invasions

• Following the Jutes and the Angles, the next invaders were the Saxons.

• Known as the “swords-men.”

The Three Tribes Combined to Create

Anglo-Saxon England

What Were the Anglo-Saxons Like?

• Hardy• Athletic• Wandering• Fierce in personal valor• Pagan• Sea-Faring• Loyal to leader and tribe• Ruled by fate called “wyrd”

Believed in the Norse Gods as part of their

superstitions and religious beliefs...

Even now, our weekdays are named after their ancient Norse gods...

• Wednesday for the warlike Woden

• Thursday for Thor, the god of thunder

• Friday for Frigga, the goddess of love and the home

Anglo-Saxon Lives• Divided into tribes and kingdoms• Each tribe led by a king or chieftain• Followers of these kings were called thanes• After hunt and battles, they would gather in

a mead hall• Entertained by a scop and gleeman• Governed themselves democratically• Decisions made in meeting called

folkmoots- the term now applies a moot point (a question that can be argued)

Anglo-Saxon Chieftain or King

Anglo-Saxon Thane

The Mead Hall

The Scop and Gleeman

As the Anglo-Saxons had no written

language, they relied on the following as a

means of literary preservation...

The Oral Tradition• Defined as a body of

songs, stories, and poems preserved by being passed from generation to generation by word of mouth.

• Often sung by a scop- a traveling storyteller often accompanied by a harp.

Elements of Anglo-Saxon Literature

• Composed in Old English• Each line is divided by a caesura

(a natural pause or break in a line of poetry, is essential for rhythm)

• Incorporates kennings (a metaphorical phrase used to replace a concrete noun)

• Usually includes a blend of pagan and Christian elements

Old English Text