Anglo Saxon Civilization

After the Romans left Britain in AD 410 Anglo-Saxons started to occupy the land, and the Angles settled down in East Anglia, the Midlands, and the North. (Wales, 2006, p. 34) In the seventh and eight centuries, Britain was divided into seven kingdoms from which Northumbria was the most powerful. Later this kingdom lost its authority and status as the power started to concentrate around southern kingdoms. (Barber, Beal & Shaw, 2009, p. 108)

Before England was the superpower it is known to be today, it was a small country inhabited by many groups of people over time. First to England came the Celts, then the Romans, and then the Anglo Saxons. The Anglo Saxon’s traveled to England from the northern countries of Germany Norway and Sweden. When they arrived, they brought their gods with them. The Anglo Saxon’s religion consisted of multiple gods and goddesses and their own view of Heaven and what it would be like. The Anglo Saxon’s also loved poetry, and they used it to keep track of the history of their people. Beowulf is an epic poem that was past down by the Anglo Saxons from generation to generation. The poem is infused with multiple elements of their pagan religion.

Anglo-Saxons refers to settlers from the German regions that migrated to Britain during the fall of the Roman Empire. In the story Beowulf, his actions portray him, indeed be an epic hero. Both Christianity and Paganism are both portrayed throughout the epic Beowulf. Beowulf frequently speaks of God throughout the story, while there are also many Pagan elements that are evident throughout the story as well. In addition, "It 's hard to ignore the Christian and Pagan elements in Beowulf. These types of elements are what define the heroic warrior in the epic Beowulf"(Vengeance the Pagan and Christian Inspiration). Throughout the epic Beowulf, while the Anglo-Saxons followed Christianity, they had a hard time letting go of the Pagan beliefs when things got hard.

The Anglo Saxon is a primary source written by an anglican monk who was captured and taken back to Norway. This chronicle is a recount of the brutal and harsh conditions in captivity and slavery. However; it may not be 100% historically correct due to the obvious grudge and biased point of view the monks have against the Viking warriors. The chronicle was originally written in old english and continuously updated for many years between, 1116-1154 AD . 9 copies of the original were made and spread throughout monasteries around england. All of these facts help depict the importance of this book. This source is quoted as being the single most useful old english historical source due to the fact that it helped historians piece together the romanian

The Anglo-Saxon period was a time around 410 AD where settlers from Modern Germany invaded Britain after the failure of the Roman Empire. Anglo-Saxon warriors were hired to preserve the Roman way of life but decided the land was good for themselves. Therefore, Britain became their home. Anglo-Saxons contributed greatly to the foundations of Britain by spreading their culture in ways of their language, literature, religion and traditions in law and government. They were referred to as the “First Englishmen” and left the strongest reminder of their presence in ways such as the Exeter Book. The Exeter Book was literature that expressed all the ways and values of the Anglo-Saxon people. “The seafarer”, “the wanderer”, and “the wife's lament” being part of the Exeter book expressed the central theme of isolationism.

Castles in the medieval time period were more than just a home, but rather a safe haven for the whole town. The first castles were built in the tenth century in Western Europe. Castles played a crucial role in European history. However, by the end of the thirteenth century they had lost their military, political, and social significance and were being abandoned. Castles in the medieval and Anglo Saxon times, especially in European area, were built entirely for proper function towards protection from the outside world.

A difference between the Anglo Saxon people and the American people is the fact that the Americans forget where they come and what they’re about, but the Saxon people never forget their views.

One of the most famous pieces of literature from the time of the Anglo-Saxons is Beowulf. Beowulf is a rather long epic poem about a heroic warrior named Beowulf that defeats a monster named Grendel and its dam as well as a dragon in his later years. The epic is heavily influenced by the Anglo-Saxon culture. Britain was originally pagan and was gradually converted to Christianity around 597 (Moloney). One major aspect

Many people may have heard of the story of Beowulf, but not know who the Anglo-Saxons were. According to an article on BBC History, the term Anglo-Saxon refers to settlers from the German regions of Angeln and Saxony. The Anglo-Saxons made their way over to Britain after the fall of the Roman Empire around AD 410 and the period lasted for 600 years. During this period there where many rises and falls of bishops and kings, as well as many important battles. The Anglo-Saxon warriors had a variety of weapons and armor to defend them. This includes spears, scramaseaxes, swords, shields, helmets, and body armor.

Imagine if one thousand years from now, the American civilization was researched based only on evidence that survived time, such as a singular book or ruin of a skyscraper. These artifacts would serve as the basis of knowledge for all characteristics of the society of the United States. The information now regarded as common knowledge for many ancient civilizations derives from their surviving artifacts that give examples of culture. One such civilization was the Anglo-Saxons, who wrote poems and left behind parts of their material culture that provide insight into their lives. Based on the epic Beowulf and the archaeological evidence, the principles that the Anglo-Saxons valued were loyalty, warrior culture, and wealth.

Life in Anglo Saxon England was more dangerous than you would think. Anglo Saxons could be at risk from famine and epidemics, also diseases including degenerative arthritis, leprosy, and tuberculosis. Archaeological evidence appears to show life expectancy was in the thirties, and high infant deaths. Old English Saxon rulers were productive officials, and law-codes somehow survived the seventh tof eleventh century. Under the seventh-century Kentish law, for instance, the total of 12 shillings was payable for removing an ear, 30 shillings for incapacitating a shoulder, and 50 shillings for putting out an eye. Thumping out a front tooth was surveyed at a higher rate of remuneration than thumping out a back tooth, while a finger was worth twice as much as a toe.

the Native culture. Some may argue that it was for the purpose of creating civilized people out of Native Americans, but, who said they weren’t civilized in the first place? Native Americans were suffering after being removed from their reservations into the boarding schools, and their overall goal of destructing the Native culture.

The Anglo Saxon period is the oldest known period of time that had a complex culture with stable government, art, and a fairly large amount of literature. Many people believe that the culture then was extremely unsophisticated, but it was actually extremely advanced for the time. Despite the many advancements, the period was almost always in a state of war. Despite this fact, the Anglo-Saxon period is a time filled with great advancements and discoveries in culture, society, government, religion, literature, and art.

First is the difference between their language and the language now which is modern English. Anglo-Saxon language is the oldest known form of English language and is also called as Old English. Even though it is referred as old English, their language is far different from modern English and is closer to modern German. The distinction can be seen, for example, on the old English word haftling, to the modern English word prisoner. The similarities to modern German can be seen from the old English haftling, not changing and still being haftling now. Their rich language was used on their great works such as the four manuscripts and, of course, the majestic Beowullf. Old English influenced modern English in some little ways. Old English, as the ancestor, evolved and modified making it less noticeable now but it is actually used in our everyday lives.

The period of time of concerning 500-100AD in British history was characterized by foreign invasions and internal struggles. This resulted within the admixture of many races, tongues and cultures. Once the Romans departed from British Isles in 407 AD fighting continuing between the Picts and therefore the Scots who had lost their common enemy. The fifth century additionally saw conquests and therefore the gradual occupation by Germanic tribes - Angles, Jutes and Saxons - who had rapt north to Scandinavia and from there to Great Britain aside from creating conquests, these tribes most popular agricultural life, had sturdy family and social group ties, and were terribly loyal to their king or chief. The legendary King Arthur defeated the Saxons in 490 AD and for a few decades halted their advance. At the top of the sixth century, the Anglo-Saxons accepted Christianity once Pope Gregory sent Saint St. Augustine to Great Britain in 597 AD. (The Romans had introduced Christianity to the Celts centuries earlier.) This gave rise to some spiritual writings. At the top of the eighth century the Vikings (also called Norsemen or Danes) invaded the country, simply overcame the native inhabitants, and looted their estates. it absolutely was not till the reign of King the good (871 -900) that their advance was stopped.