Britain’s settlement by Anglo-Saxons & Scots — Year 5 and 6 (Oak Class)
What should I already know?
The earliest people that lived in Britain made weapons from stones, bronze and iron.
Archaeologists found out about the past by looking at artefacts.
Romans invaded and settled in Britain bringing towns, roads and con-struction.
Key Vocabulary
Angles People from Germany who invaded Britain around 410 A.D. (tribes
from modern-day Denmark)
Anglo-Saxon The name given to people who travelled from Germany and South
Denmark and settled in Britain
Christianity A religion based on the teachings of Jesus Christ
Jutes People from the Jutland peninsula (Germany and South Denmark)
migration Movement from one place to another in order to settle there
missionary A person from a religion sent to spread the faith
Pagan A religion that involves worshipping many gods and goddesses
Picts Ancient tribes who lived in northern Scotland
runes Alphabet consisting of between 26-33 letters used to write Old Eng-
lish
Romans The Romans invaded and settle din Britain for over 400 years
starting with their first successful raid in 54 BC
settler People who migrate to a new place. When people start a communi-
ty, this is a settlement
Saxons German-Dutch tribes who settled in Britain from around 45o AD
Scots People from Ireland, who like the Picts, were fierce and powerful
fighters
Anglo-Saxon Kingdoms (600 AD)
The chief of the village lived in a larger house in the centre of the village. This house might also contain a meeting hall.
Fields for growing crops were ploughed over to prepare them for planting. Oxen would pull a basic plough which was
The Anglo-Saxons positioned their villages near a water source, such as a river or lake, which would provide drinking water and fish to eat.
Some buildings were reserved for specific purposes, such as a space for performing a craft like weaving or as storage units.
Livestock was kept in the village. Children would often be responsible for looking out for wolves, which were wild in Britain during the Anglo-Saxon times.
Family groups lived in smaller village houses.
Pots made from clay were fired (dried out and hardened) on a large open fire.
The Anglo-Saxons believed in lots of different gods
who they believed represented and were responsible
for different things. The people prayed to the gods in
hope they would offer protection and provide them
with the things they needed.
Woden—God of battle and
war
Eostre—Goddess of
rebirth
Frige—Goddess of the household &
childbirth
Tiw — another God of war
Big question: How did the Anglo Saxons shape Britain?
Key Texts Key websites
200 AD 410AD 556AD 597AD 617 AD 779 AD 787 AD 410 — 550 AD (The Dark Ages)
Picts invaded
Ireland
Last of the
Romans left
Britain leaving
it unguarded.
Gaelic speak-
ing Scotti in-
vaded (from
Ireland) de-
scended from
Picts invaded
and claimed
land in Scot-
land
British King
Vortigen asks
his brothers to
come from
Denmark &
help to keep
Picts & Scots
out
Hengest and
Horsa settle in
Britain (Kent)
forcing British
out
Other German-
ic tribes invad-
ed. Biggest
were ‘Angles’
and ‘Saxons’
Anglo-Saxons
Seven King-
doms created
across Britain
St Augustine
brings Christi-
anity to Britain
from Rome
and becomes
Archbishop of
Canterbury
Northumbria
becomes the
supreme king-
dom
Mercia be-
comes the su-
preme king-
dom and King
Offa builds a
dyke along the
Welsh border
to protect
Mercia from
Welsh raids.
Britain experi-
ences it’s first
Viking raid.
A new invader!
Where did the Anglo-Saxons come from?
The Romans left Britain in 410AD due to
fierce tribes attacking Italy and every sol-
dier was needed back at home to defend
the country. Without an army of its own, it
left the country vulnerable to attackers. The
Anglo-Saxons came from Denmark, Nether-
lands and northern Germany across the
North Sea in wooden boats. They con-
quered England but failed to conquer
Scotland, Wales and Cornwall (an area of
south-west England).
A monk from the island of Iona—Aiden was asked by King Oswald (of Northum-bria) to teach his people about Christi-anity. He founded a monastery on the island of Lindisfarne. (610 AD)
A Roman monk—Augustine, was sent by the Pope to tell the Anglo-Saxons abut Christianity. He founded Canterbury Cathedral. (597 AD)
An Irish monk— Columba, intro-duced Christianity to Scotland. He founded a monastery on the island of Iona. (550 AD)
https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/topics/zxsbcdm/articles/zq2m6sg
http://www.primaryhomeworkhelp.co.uk/saxons/when.htm
https://www.history.org.uk/primary/resource/3865/anglo-saxons-a-brief-history
https://www.dkfindout.com/uk/history/anglo-saxons/
https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/members-area/kids/anglo-saxon-england/anglo-saxon-interview/
Conversion to Christianity