Anglo-Saxon History

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When did the Anglo-Saxon Period begin?

- Tribe living in Britain - No writing, everything was passed down by words - Stories were memorized and repeated

Who were the Britons?

- Professional poet, had to know about everything - sang anglo-saxon literature whenever required - Passed on their knowledge to another scop before they died

What was a Scop?

- The most important themes or information were emphasized by the strong beat

How did Scops remember their stories?

- Invaded and defeated the Britons - Briton’s area becomes part of the Roman empire, but they are treated well and peaceful - In 410, the Romans leave to defend their empire and never come back

The Romans

- First tribe to attack the Britons after the Romans - Tribe that wants Britons land - Defeats the brits and takes over

Jutes

- Fight the Jutes and Britons - take over

Angles

- Fight the Jutes, Britons, and Angles - win and take over

Saxons

- Created a common language (English) - Created Anglo-Saxon England (Angleland) - Reign lasted until 1066 (Norman conquest)

What were the benefits of the Anglo-Saxon Period

- Old English or Anglo-Saxon - Composed of West German, Dutch

Language

- Northumbria - Mercia - Wessex - Kent

Anglo-Saxon Civilization

- England was not unified - Could not avoid the Vikings

The Downfall

- Also known as norsemen or danes - Most groups (Anglo-Saxons), attacked for more land, while Vikings just attacked to attack - Incredibly hard to defend - Attacked mostly small communities

The Vikings

- Language - Heroic Ideal - Shortness of Life (No modern medicine, Constant war and death) - Wyrd (Fate, What is destined to happen)

Commonalities Between Anglo-Saxons