The Anglo-Saxons: 449–1066Introduction to the Literary Period

Interactive Time Line

Milestone: The Celts in Britain

Milestone: The Roman Occupation

Milestone: The Anglo-Saxon Invasion

Milestone: King Alfred against the Danes

Milestone: The Spread of Christianity

Milestone: The Norman Invasion

What Have You Learned?

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The Anglo-Saxons: 449–1066

300s B.C.Celts in Britain

55 B.C–A.D.409Roman Occupation

A.D. 449Anglo-Saxon Invasion

A.D. 400–699Spread of Christianity

A.D. 1066Norman Invasion

A.D.878King Alfred against the Danes

Choose a link on the time line to go to a milestone.

A.D.600

A.D.300

A.D. 1

300 B.C.

A.D.900

A.D. 1200

The Celts in Britain

• Celtic religion a form of animism

Before and during the 4th century B.C.

Stonehenge• Druids were Celtic priests

• Britain named for one Celtic tribe—the Brythons

• Britain home to several Celtic tribes

Stonehenge

• Archaeologists believe it was built anywhere from 3000 BC to 2000 BC

The Roman Occupation

55 B.C. Hadrian’s Wall – North England

Romans evacuate their troops

• Central government breaks down

Julius Caesar invades Britain

Celts defeated by Claudius

A.D. 43

• Romans build walls, villas, baths, roads

Roman ruins

• Britain left vulnerable to attack

A.D. 409

The Anglo-Saxon Invasion

A.D. 449 The Anglo-Saxons push the Celts into the far west of the country.

Angles

Saxons

Jutes

Celts

The Anglo-Saxon Invasion

Angles

Saxons

Jutes

Celts

Why did the Anglo-Saxons settle in England?

England was inviting to outsiders:•Mild climate•Rich easily-tilled soil•Safe anchorage for invading ships

The Anglo-Saxon Invasion

Anglo-Saxon Society

• kinship groups led by strong warrior chief

• people farmed, established local governments, produced fine craftwork

• English emerged as a written language

The Anglo-Saxon Invasion

Angles

Saxons

Jutes

Celts

• Tribal society –warrior kings-led their men into battle

• Always rival warriors within the tribe• King gathered around him a retinue of

fighting men called thanes• Endless feuds between individuals and

between tribes

The Anglo-Saxon Invasion

Angles

Saxons

Jutes

Celts

• Royal living quarters were a small cluster of wooden buildings surrounded by a stockade

• Main structure was the Mead hall• Mead is a fermented drink made of

water, honey, malt, and yeast

The Anglo-Saxon Invasion

Angles

Saxons

Jutes

Celts

• Here the king, thanes, wives, and servants gathered.

• Singer called a scop entertained with stories of heroism.

• Warriors slept here after king retired to a different building.

Anglo Saxon values

• Gold/treasure• Comitatus – king and thanes/warriors

tied to one anotherKing shares spoils of war, warriors

obligated to fight for him• Loyalty• Bravery• Fate = Wyrd

Mead hall

Page from Anglo-Saxon Chronicle

The Anglo-Saxon Invasion

Old English

Exeter book• A tenth-century book or codex which is an

anthology of Anglo-Saxon poetry.• Survived in Exeter Cathedral library• Among the other texts in the Exeter Book,

there are over ninety riddles.

The Anglo-Saxon religion

• offered no hope of an afterlife• valued earthly virtues of bravery, loyalty,

generosity, and friendship

• similar to what we call Norse mythology

ThunorThor

WodenOdin

Day of weekAnglo-Saxon godNorse god

Wednesday

Thursday

The Anglo-Saxon Invasion

• Anglo-Saxons did not believe in afterlife

• warriors gained immortality through songs

Why were the scops important?

The Anglo-Saxon bards• called scops

Anglo-Saxon harp

• strummed harp as they sang• sang of heroic deeds• were often warriors

The Anglo-Saxon Invasion

8th–9th centuries

Vikings called Danes invade Britain

King Alfred against the Danes

878 King Alfred unifies Anglo-Saxons against the Danes.

871 Alfred of Wessex is king of England.

England becomes a nation.

King Sweyn and his Danish troops arrive in England, from a

manuscript (c. 14th century)

Vikings

8th centuryInvaded from across the North sea from Denmark and

Norway867-877 Vikings invaded and took over most of

northeast and central EnglandAngles

Saxons

Jutes

Celts

• Christianity and Anglo-Saxon culture co-exist

The Spread of Christianity

• Christian monks settle in Britain

• British pagan religions replaced by Christianity

Around A.D. 400

597 St. Augustine sent

from Rome by A.D. 699

• William of Normandy crosses the English Channel

The Norman Invasion

The Norman Invasion, Bayeux Tapestry

• French replaces English as the language of the ruling class

1066

• William defeats Harold and Anglo-Saxon army

______ Viking invaders terrorized England.

______ French became the language of the ruling class.

______ England became unified under Alfred the Great.

______ Animism was the primary religious belief.

What Have You Learned?

Indicate whether the following statements refer to the time before, during, or after the Anglo-Saxon era.

during

after

during

before

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