The Anglo-Saxons

1. The Anglo-Saxons 449 - 1066

2. An Invaded Island • Great Britain has been invaded and settled many times, and each invading group has helped shape the nation today: • Iberians • Celts • Romans • Angles and Saxons • Vikings • Normans

3. The Celtic Legacy • Their religion seemed to be a form of animism, which emphasizes a belief in spirits – in rivers, trees, stones, ponds, fire, and thunder. • These gods controlled everything and therefore had to be pleased at all times. • Celtic stories differ from that of Anglo-Saxon tales – they are more mystical and oftentimes focus on strong women. • Stories of fantastic animals, passionate love affairs, and adventures

4. A Roman Administration • The Britons (Celts) were conquered by legions of Rome (starting with Julius Caesar in 55 B.C.) • Romans provided armies and organization that prevented further serious invasions of Britain for hundreds of years • Built a network of roads and a seventy-three-mile-long protective wall • Celtic religion began to vanish in favor of Christianity

5. Life after the Romans • Romans started having troubles back home (around A.D. 409), so they left Britain • Left behind the roads, walls, villas, and public baths, but no central government • Britain became overran by separate clans rather than a centralized government • Left Britain ripe for invasion by non-Christian peoples from Continental Europe

6. The Arrival of the Anglo-Saxons • Middle of the 5th century – Angles, Saxons, and Jutes invade and drive out the old Britons • Language of the Anglo-Saxons became dominant • Celts put up a fight before finally retreating to Wales, where traces of their culture can still be found • Anglo-Saxon England was divided into several independent principalities, until King Alfred of Wessex (Alfred the Great) united the Anglo-Saxons against the invading Danes • Danes (Vikings) eventually took over and settled in parts of England

7. The Warm Hall vs. the Cold World • Warfare was the way of life. • Law and order were the responsibility of the leader of any clan • Fame and success were gained through loyalty to the leader, especially in times of war • Success was measured in gifts from the leader • Led to a pattern of loyal dependency • Led to community discussion and rule by consensus

8. Gods for Warriors • One of the most important [Norse] gods was Odin, the god of death, poetry, and magic • Anglo-Saxon name for Odin was Woden • This god of both poetry and death helped contribute to a people who produced great poetry but also maintained a somber outlook on life • Thunor (or Thor) was the god of thunder and lightning • The dragon = protector of treasure • Religion of Anglo-Saxons was more about ethics (bravery, loyalty, generosity, and friendship) than mysticism

9. The Life of a Bard • Communal halls offered shelter and a meeting place, but also a space for storytellers • Sang of gods and heroes • Bards (or scops) were not viewed as inferior to warriors – creating poetry was equal to fighting, hunting, farming, or loving • Since Anglo-Saxon religion offered no hope of an afterlife, fame could only be found through the bards’ ability to preserve a collective memory

10. Vikings and Normans • Scandinavian Vikings started invading and conquering much of England during the 8th and 9th centuries • Tide turned in 878 in the Battle of Edington - won by Alfred, the Saxon king of Wessex - led to a century of peace in England • Peace persisted until 1066, when King Edward died • William, duke of Normandy, claimed the English throne and defeated the Anglo-Saxons in the Battle of Hastings • This ended the Anglo-Saxon era

11. Feudal England • Anglo-Saxons were now subjects of the Normans • William, duke of Normandy, became first Norman king of England • Normans introduced social, economic, and political system called feudalism, under which land (wealth) was divided among noble overlords, or barons • Lesser lords (knights) served the overlords in exchange for use of the land • Serfs (peasants) were at low end of social scale • 1215 - Magna Carta dictates that King John could not raise taxes without the consent of the barons - beginnings of constitutional government in England

12. War and Plague • Beginning in 1337 - English and French fought for control of lands in France • Known as the Hundred Years' War - drained England financially • During Hundred Years' War, the Black Death swept through Europe • Killed almost a third of England's people • Loss of life eroded the feudal system and shifted power to the urban middle class - led to the Renaissance

13. A Warrior Society • Warfare = way of life for early Anglo-Saxons • Each family or tribe had a warrior chief, who served a noble or royal warlord • Warlord / followers formed a close group (comitatus) • Warlords rewarded the bravest followers with treasure • Warriors responded with absolute loyalty • “…to leave a battle alive after their chief has fallen means life-long infamy and shame.”

14. Oral Literature • Anglo-Saxon storytellers created heroic songs about their warriors’ great deeds • Celebrated strength, courage, and loyalty • Minstrels performed these songs in mead-halls • Songs served as literary entertainment • Songs provided models for warriors to emulate and a goal to pursue

15. Germanic and Christian Traditions • Germanic traditions and Christian religion were huge influences on Anglo-Saxon literature • Based on dark, heroic tales of Germanic mythology • Beliefs held no promise of an afterlife • Therefore, warriors’ primary goal was to achieve fame in this life • Christianity came with a belief in an omnipotent God and eternal life • Germanic and Christian elements coexist (as in Beowulf)

16. Importance of Wyrd • Life in early Anglo-Saxon times was brief and full of hardship • A belief develops that fate, which they called wyrd, controlled human destiny • Everyone’s inescapable fate was to die • The hero’s only appropriate response was to face destiny with courage

17. Christianizing England • 596 – Pope Gregory I sent missionaries to convert Anglo-Saxons to Christianity • Most of England was Christian in name by 650 • Celtic monks from Ireland brought Christianity to other parts of England and established England’s first monastery • Christianity brought the beginnings of education and culture

18. Monasteries • As Christianity spread, some chose to dedicate their lives to work and prayer • Monks and nuns joined religious orders • Many demanded poverty, fasting, absolute obedience, and manual labor • Monks established libraries and schools, establishing the importance of written word • Earliest work of this kind was the Venerable Bede’s Ecclesiastic History of the English People