HIST101G D02 Esmeralda S.

Calinagan February 24, 2010

Anglo-Saxons is a modern term referring to the three closely related, but distinct Germanic tribes, Angles, Saxons, and Jutes, that invaded and occupied Britain in the early fifth century after the fall of the Roman Empire (How Stuff Works). According to How Stuff Works, the Saxons worshipped Teutonic gods when they first invaded Britain, but by the end of seventh century, starting with the arrival of St. Augustine in 597, missionaries have converted all of England to Christianity and began Christianitys role in civilizing the Saxons. When Romans left Britain to defend the Roman Empire from invading Visigoths, they left Britain open for other settlers (Saxons, 2009). According to Saxons, Anglo-Saxons didnt keep any Roman legacy, instead replaced buildings and spoken language with their own (2009). Roman stone buildings were replaced with wooden ones and the birth of English language (Saxons, 2009). Jutes, the first important settlers, sailed across the North Sea and established their settlement on the eastern coast (How Stuff Works). The Jutes occupied the Kent region; the Saxons settlements were to the south and west of London; and the Angles occupied from the Saxons territory northward all the way to Scottish lowlands (How Stuff Works). Kings in Anglo-Saxon kingdom were chosen from royal family and confirmed by the kings council called witengamot (How Stuff Works). According to How Stuff works, next to the king, princes and their families were next in class, followed by nobles and chief officials.

The rest of the populations were churls or peasant freemen, which consists mostly of farmers that lived in villages and adjacent farming lands (How Stuff Works). Major occupations were farming, raising livestock, and fishing, but by 1066, iron and lead mining, metalwork, and production of salt improved urban life and the development of trade. Freemen and upper class wore different clothing; freemen wore tunics made of wool and linen, and upper class members wore loose garments sometimes made of silk (How Stuff Works). Anglo-Saxons constantly warring amongst themselves lasted for four centuries after Britains conquest (How Stuff Works). According to How Stuff Works, they were more advanced than Britons and primarily rural people; Anglo-Saxons settled all throughout the countrys small villages and farmed the land. The Anglo-Saxon kingdoms were powerful and were able to conquer weaker neighbors. Out of the seven major kingdoms, three emerged dominantly; first, Northumbrias supremacy prevailed during the seventh century; second, Mercia, under King Offa, during the eighth century; and third, Wessex, during the ninth with King Egbert. According to Saxons (2009), the country was divided to four kingdoms by the ninth century; Northumbria, Mercia, East Anglia, and Wessex. When the Vikings invaded, the Wessex kingdom was the only to survive (Saxons, 2009). According to Saxons, unity started with Egberts grandson, Alfred the Great, King of Wessex (2009). He has strong leadership and his domination was acknowledged and began the unity of all Englishmen (Saxons, 2009). According to Lee (2000), the Anglo-Saxons period made two great historical impact; first, England developed national identity, the emergence from kingdoms to a unified nation and singular head of state, and secondly, the period when English language first appeared in written

form in historical documents and referred to as Old English or also known as Late West Saxon. In 954, England was again united under King Edred when the Vikings ruler, Eric Blooodaxe, was killed by Wessex army (Saxons, 2009). The Anglo-Saxons rule lasted for 400 years which ended in 1066 with the death of Edward the Confessor because he had no heir (Saxons, 2009). William of Normandy was supposedly the successor, but Harold Godwinson was crowned king after Edwards death (Saxons, 2009). According to Saxons (2009), Harold was unable to protect and defend his crown when William and his army invaded to claim the crown. According to Archaeology Expert (2009), Anglo-Saxons agricultural life and dwelling left little for archaeological record. Britains weather, rotten timbers, and rusted iron items were unlikely to preserve any artifacts (Archaeology Expert, 2009). The only beneficial artifacts that can be found were graves and close settlement complex (Archaeology Expert, 2009). According to Archaeology Expert (2009), there were only a few settlements that were built over the top of old Roman towns, which was in contrast to most ancient building practices. After the Harolds defeat by the Normans in October 1066 at the Battle of Hastings, a new era began, thus the end of Anglo-Saxons rule over Britain (Saxons, 2009).

References: Archaeology Expert. (2009). The Anglo-Saxons. Retrieved on February 21, 2010, from http://www.archaeologyexpert.co.uk/TheAngloSaxons.html How Stuff Works. (2008). Anglo-Saxons. Retrieved on February 20, 2010, from http://history.howstuffworks.com/european-history/anglo-saxons1.htm Lee, S. (2000). On-line reference book for medieval studies: The Anglo-Saxons. Retrieved on February 20, 2010, from http://www.the-orb.net/encylop/early /pre1000 /asindex.html. Saxons: A brief history of the Anglo-Saxons. (2009). Retrieved on February 20, 2010, from http://www.saxonsmc.com/anglohistory.html.