All about the Anglo-Saxons By Maisie Boyd

What did they wear? Men wore wool or linen hip-length undershirts with long sleeves, and probably loin-cloths. Woollen trousers were held up with a belt threaded through loops. A tunic was pulled over the head, and reached down to the knees. It was usually decorated at the wrists, neck and hem, and was long-sleeved.

Who were they? The Romans invaded Britain in AD43. After that, for 400 years southern Britain was part of the Roman world. The last Roman soldiers left Britain in AD 410, and then new people came in ships across the North Sea. Historians call them Anglo-Saxons. The new settlers were a mixture of people from north Germany, Denmark and northern Holland. Most were Saxons, Angles and Jutes. There were some Franks and Frisians too. If we use the modern names for the countries they came from, the Saxons, Franks and Frisians were German-Dutch, the Angles were southern Danish, and Jutes were northern Danish.

Offa Offa was King of Mercia from AD757 to 796. Mercia was the strongest kingdom in Anglo-Saxon England, and Offa was the most powerful English king. His fame spread to Europe. Offa was treated almost as an equal by Charlemagne, the greatest ruler in Europe at the time. Offa issued England's first penny coins, in silver - known as 'Offa's pennies'. He built an earth wall and ditch for defence along the border with Wales. This bank is called Offa's Dyke. About 80 miles/129 km of it can still be seen.

Where did they live? When the Anglo-Saxons arrived in Britain, most kept clear of Roman towns. They preferred to live in small villages. However, warrior chiefs knew that a walled city made a good fortress. So some Roman towns, like London, were never completely abandoned. Many Roman buildings did become ruins though, because no one bothered or knew how to repair them. Some Saxons built wooden houses inside the walls of Roman towns. Others cleared spaces in the forest to build villages and make new fields. Some settlements were very small, with just two or three families or sometimes more.

How did they make coloured clothes? Women in every house in the village make their own cloth, but they make the colours using plants. And then they soaked them in wee and water. Next they would set up the yarn on a loom, keeping it hanging straight with heavy loom weights at the bottom. Then they would weave the threads together into cloth. They could add simple zig-zag patterns if they want. Anglo Saxons loved eating and drinking

Food Anglo-Saxons loved eating and drinking in fact they would usually have feasts in a big hall where every one in the small village would go to eat. Most Anglo-Saxons were vegetarian. Poor Anglo-Saxons would eat chicken because it was the animal they had most of.

weapons The most feared Anglo-Saxon weapon was a battle axe but the most precious weapon was the sword. The main weapon was the spear, not only for the peasant but also for the professional soldiers. Anglo-Saxon warriors fought on foot during battles they also carried with them spears ,axes , swords ,bows and arrows they wore helmets and carried around with them a shield that was usually made out of wood.