Key Vocabulary

AngleA member of the tribe who invaded and settled in Britain in the 5th century

Anglo-SaxonThe people who invaded and settled in Britain from the 5th century up to the Norman Conquest

century A period of 100 years

Christianity The religion based on the teachings of Jesus Christ

colonisation Settling among, and then controlling a group of people

conquerTo take control or possession of a place or people, by force

deserted To leave a place so it appears empty

JuteA member of the tribe who invaded and settled in Britain in the 5th century

kingdom A country or area ruled by a king or queen

Pagan People belonging to a religion that worships many gods

ruin To destroy everything

SaxonA member of the tribe who invaded and settled in Britain in the 5th century

self-sufficient When you need no outside help to survive well

settlement A place where people live together

VikingA member of a Scandinavian tribe who invaded and settled in Britain between the 8th and 11th centuries

Key Questions

What do I already know about my local history?

Lincoln (known as Lindum Colonia in Roman times) was an important city in the Roman Empire, with a fortress and good trade links by road and on water. The city walls were strong and stretched down the sides of the hill almost to the banks of the River Witham. Newport Arch was one of the main gates into the city and many retired legionnaires had settled in Lincoln.

What was Lincoln like during this time period?

This time period was known as The Dark Ages and it is described as a long period of fierce fighting. We know that the city was eventually taken over by the Angles and, during this time, it was burnt and left as a deserted ruin. The Anglo-Saxon settlers preferred the farms and therefore the city eventually collapsed or buildings were pulled down. We know that they settled to the north and south of Lincoln as there are a lot of places with names ending in ‘ham’ and ‘ton’. Later in their settlement, Anglo-Saxons began to build churches around the city of Lincoln, although they are not standing today.

What was it like to live in Anglo-Saxon times?

The Anglo-Saxons lived in small huts and farmed the land; they were usually near a river or lake so that they had fresh water and fish. The small villages were self-sufficient. Animals were kept in fields and children often had to keep watch for wild animals like wolves. Craftsmen used metal, clay, wood and precious stones to make weapons, tools, pottery, furniture and jewellery. When they arrived in Britain, these people were Pagans, which means they believed in different gods. Over time, they converted to Christianity. They spoke Old English but not many people could read or write this.

AD 410 End of Roman Britain

AD 500-600 Known as the Pagan Period

AD 600-841 The Anglo-Saxon Period

AD 878 AD 1066 The end of the Anglo-Saxon rule

Anglo-Saxon colonisation begins The country is divided into seven kingdoms

The Anglo-Saxons convert to Christianity. In AD 841, the Lincolnshire coast is invaded by Vikings

Alfred, the King of Wessex (the only Anglo-Saxon kingdom left in the UK), agrees to share the country between himself and the Viking leader - Guthrum

The Norman invasion begins

Anglo-Saxon LincolnTo be able to show a developing understanding of chronology, dividing the past into periods of time. To be able to use a range of local history sources. To be able to use appropriate vocabulary to describe the key features of a time period studied.

Anglo-Saxon Lincoln - with Silver Street shown as a diagonal short-cut through the city.