The Anglo-Saxon Period:

By: Andrew Rinicella, Michael Nemeth, Anthony Quaranto,

Brian Wessels, & Matt Horan

Religion of Anglo-Saxon Period

• The religion of the Celts (first British settlers) was a form of animism. They believed in spirits who were said to be their "gods" who controlled all aspects of life.

• Celtic priests were called Druids who acted as intermediaries between the gods and people. Druids performed ritual dances and sometimes sacrifices to the spirits.

• The mythology of the Celts influenced many things to become, such as the religion of the Anglo-Saxons.

• The Anglo-Saxon religion was based upon warrior gods, polytheism/paganism, much like the Olympian gods of Greek mythology. (known as pagan gods)

• The most important god seemed to be Odin, the god of death, poetry, and magic. Odin, whose Anglo-Saxon name was Woden, could help Anglo-Saxons communicate with spirits

• Another idol god of Anglo-Saxon mythology is Thunor who they usually called Thor, the Norse god of thunder of and lightning.

• The last god that the textbook mentions is the dragon, which is mentioned in Beowulf, to be the protector of a treasure.

• Essentially, the Anglo-Saxon religion believed in virtues of bravery, loyalty, generosity, and friendship.

Anglo-Saxon Gods

Odin (Woden) Thunor (Thor)

When the Anglo-Saxons migrated to Great Britain, they started to convert to Christianity. Missionaries sent from the Pope in Rome were sent to England to persuade Anglo-Saxons to convert to the new religion. The most important missionary to be sent was a man named Augustine. Augustine travelled to Kent, to persuade the king, King Ethelbert to become a Christian. Over the next 100 years, many Anglo-Saxons turned to Christianity and new churches and monasteries were built throughout the entire country.

Conversion to Christianity

Certain days of the week are named after early Saxon Gods.Monandæg ( Moon's day - the day of the moon ),Tiwesdæg ( Tiw's-day - the day of the Scandinavian sky god Tiw,Tiu or Tig),Wodnesdæg ( Woden's day - the day of the god Woden ),Ðunresdæg ( Thor's Day - the day of the god Thunor ),Frigedæg ( Freyja's day - the day of the goddess Freyja or Frigg, wife to

Woden),Sæternesdæg ( Saturn's day - the day of the Roman god Saturn, whose

festival "Saturnalia," with its exchange of gifts, has been incorporated into our celebration of Christmas.),

Sunnandæg ( Sun's day - the day of the sun ).

Interesting fact!

-The land mass of Britain comprised of several different warlords and kings. (The most noted were the Celts)

- Celts: Are tall blonde warriors. (Called Britons hence Britain)

- Believed in Animism (spiritual life force in everything)

- The romans expanded their power all the over to Britain.

- They provided a network of roads, armies, and a defensive wall spanning 73 miles long (Hadrians Wall)- During Roman rule Christianity took hold and later became a unifying force.

- Romans eventually left. Leaving a country full of separate clans vulnerable to invasions.

1st Historical Event: Julius Caesar invades Britain. (55 B.C.)

- Angles and Saxons came from Germany. (their language became the dominant language)

- Jutes came from Denmark.

- Both drove out the Britons (Celts) from the upper region of Britain.

- England (Anglo)

- Celts eventually fled to Wales. (Welsh chieftain named Arthur who was supposed to be the one true king of Britain)

2nd Historical Event: Angles, Saxons, and Jutes invade Britain. (c. 449 a.d.)

- Still not politically unified (this is where Christianity plays a big part)

- King Alfred led the Anglo-Saxons in battle against the invading danes (vikings)

- Dragon prowed boats.

- They destroyed and plundered everything in their path.

- The danes eventually took over and settled the north east and central parts of England (Britain).

- Irish and Continental missionaries converted the Anglo-Saxon Kings.

- Due to this common belief shared throughout the nation it strengthened, and unified many of the wide-spread monarchies.

3rd Historical Event: Alfred the Great (King Alfred of Wessex) becomes king of England (871 a.d.)

• The Anglo-Saxon language is referred to as Old English

• It was formed when the Northern tribes of Germany, the Anglo and Saxon tribes

• It was a mixture of the germanic tongue and the RomanizedBritains

Development of Language

• complicated language • does not resemble modern English • Some of the same words are: Belt, butter,

chalk, chest, cup, fan, fork, mile, minster, mint,monk, pepper, school, sock, wine, • Similar pronouns are:I, one, man, and woman

Old English

• The four main dialects were Kentish from the south east, Mercian from the midland territory, West Saxon from south west, and Northumbrian from the north.

Dialects in Anglo Saxon society

• There were no authors during the Anglo-Saxon period.

• Gathered around campfires and listened to nonspecific literature and poems.

Significant Literary Happenings

• Most popular poem is Beowulfo published between 8th and

11th centuryo about a hero who travels great

distances to prove his strength against mystic demons and beasts

o still read in many schools to this day

Beowulf

• Many Anglo-Saxons told riddles to amuse themselves

• Lords were expected to entertain their guests, so many of them told riddles to their followers.

• Were commonly told at feasts and gatheringso many people would drink too much so the feasts

would be very noisy and sometimes end up in fights.

Riddles

• Anglo-Saxons thought sons and daughters were equally important, but girls' work was mainly focused on household work.They learned housekeeping skills such as weaving cloth, cooking, making cheese and brewing ale.

• Girls and boys collected sticks for firewood, and collected water from either a stream or a well.

• Only a few girls learned to read and write .During this time period, a girl was considered to be grown up at the age of about ten. At that time, most girls then got married or studied to be a nun in the Christian church. For boys on the other hand, learned the skills of their fathers. They learned to chop down trees with an axe, how to plough a field, and how to use a spear in battle. They also learned to row, fish, collect birds, and hunt deer and wild boar. Not many boys learned to read and write. The sons of kings or rich thanes, also known as land owners, might be taught at home by a private teacher.

Daily Life for Children

• During the Anglo-Saxon time period, grown women were usually looked to as cloth makers and embroiderers in the society

• Women especially had a high mortality rate because of the dangers of pregnancies, miscarriages and childbirth. A lack of iron has also been suggested to as one reason.

Daily Daily Life Women

• Men on the other hand, were traditionally looked to as hunters, and warriors.

• Men were usually the only educated members of the community and were the ones to be look at as monks and Priests.

Daily Life Men

• Not many boys learned to read and write.

• The sons of kings or rich thanes, also known as land owners, might be taught at home by a private teacher. The only schools were run by the Christian Church, in monasteries. Boys went to live in monasteries to train as monks. Communities were also very opened as to others helping each other. Each family contributed to the community, as to contributing for just their own family. In marriages, if a couple had a problem between each other, the community would take it upon themselves to help the couple, and the couple would take it upon the community to help. Although free marriage was allowed, there were many arranged marriages as well. If a woman was born into royalty or inherits land at birth, it was tradition to arrange her marriage with the most skilled hunter or warrior around. Also, if a boy and a girl are both born into loyalty, they are forced to marry one another. It was also not allowed for loyalty to marry one of poverty

Daily Life Continued...

Significant Historical Events: (Brian)

Works Cited:Wormald , Patrick . "Anglo-Saxons: The Making of England." History Today . (1995): n. page. Print. <http://www.historytoday.com/patrick-wormald/anglo-saxons-making-england>.

2) "The Anglo Saxons." BBC. 2012: n. page. Web. 4 Sep. 2012. <http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ancient/anglo_saxons/saxons.shtml>.

3) Daniel , Kathleen. Element of Literature Sixth Course Literature of Britain with World Classics. Austin : Holt, Rinehart and Winston , 2000. Print.

4) "Anglo Saxon England A.D. ." Britannia. 1996, 1997, 1998: n. page. Print. <http://www.britannia.com/history/saxontime.html>.

5) "Anglo-Saxons: Alfred the Great." BBC. (2012): n. page. Print. <http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/primaryhistory/anglo_saxons/alfred_the_great/>.

Works Cited Page:

• Durkin, Philip. "Old English-an overview." Oxford English Dictonary. Oxford University Press, n.d. Web. 03 Sept. 2012. <http://www.oed.com/public/oldenglishintro/old-englisha-very-short-introduction>.

• Anderson, Robert. Elements of Literature: Sixth Course. Austin, TX: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 1989. Print

• "Anglo Saxon Religion - Saxon Gods." Anglo Saxon Religion - Saxon Gods. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 Sept. 2012. <http://primaryhomeworkhelp.co.uk/saxons/religion.htm>.

• http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/primaryhistory/anglo_saxons/stories_and_pastimes/

Works cited page continued