A JOURNEY TO THE ANGLO- SAXON PERIOD 
(449-1066)

In the fifth century, Great Britain was invaded by Germanic Tribes which came from the continental Europe. The prominent invaders were Angles, Saxons and Jutes. 

This was an era of conquest. These invaders collectively were known as the Anglo- Saxons. 

MAIN FEATURES OF THIS PERIOD OF TIME

LIFE AND RELIGION

Britain in this period was Politheistic due to the invaders (the Anglo-Saxons) were pagans; they worshiped gods of nature. 

Religion was a means of having succes in material things not in spiritual revelation. The main gods were 

Tiw

Woding(Odin)

Thord

Friya

 KINGS DUTIES

Kings at this period of time were supposed to provide opportunities for plunder and glory to their followers. They were essencially war leaders.

The kings who do not provide land, slaves, or pluder might wake up dead one fine morning

Below the king there were two kind of freemen:

The thanes and the ceorls (churls)

 LORD´S LIFE

The richest lords lived in states with a main rectangular hall surrounded by outlying buildings for living, working and storage purposes. 

The hall was the scene of feasts for the lords´followers, and a lord was expected to be a lavish host.

SLAVERY

How did one become slave?

-Born as a slave

-Conquered tribes 

-If people were not able to pay a fine, they would become slaves.

-Families also could sell a child into slavery in time of famine to ensure the child´s life.

CLOTHING

For men 

For women 

FOOD

WEAPONS 

A Spear made with a seven foot long ash shaft and an iron head.

Shields were round, made of wood covered with leather, and had an iron boss in the centre.

Swords which were about thirty inches long, made of iron made with steel edges. 

The hilts were often elaborated carved and jeweled.

Danish Vakings

Chain mail 

Helmet

Short stabbing sword

WOMEN

For women the Anglo-Saxon period was a golden age of power and wealth, culture and education.

Norman Conquest and the Gregorian reform caused literature to lose touch with reality and women to lose their status in reality. 

LEISURE

Board games

Chess board

Dice

TRAVELLING

Travelling was not common in this period of time because it could be dangerous. If the Anglo saxons did it, they would have make a lot of noice for not being killed. 

FARMING 

In the countryside the majority of people lived by farming.

Ceorls might work the land in return for service or produce, or might work the lord´s land a given number of days per year. 

Later much of this land was consolidated into the large states of wealthy nobles. 

LITERATURE

Beowouf is the most prominent manuscript of that time. It is written in Old English.

As a conclusion this period of time is and will be one of the main important times in England´s history. This period of time settled the basis of the English language we know nowadays. 

BRITISH MUSEUM 

http://www.britishmuseum.org/