Who Were The Anglo Saxons? A Quick History of England Before 800 BC- 1066 AD

Modern Great Britain = Island comprising of England, Scotland, and Wales Modern United Kingdom = Great Britain, Northern Ireland, and several smaller islands (British Isles) Six groups make up the English: Iberians, Celtics, Romans, Anglo Saxons, Vikings, and Normans

Iberians (Before 800 BC) Came from the Iberian Peninsula (present-day Portugal and Spain)

Celtics (b/w 800-600 BC) 2 groups of Celtics: Brythons (Britons) and Gaets Brythons occupied the main island, Britain Gaets occupied smaller island, Ireland Druids acted as priests, judges, historians, etc. Ultimate leaders Highly respected Mistletoe

Roman Conquest (55 & 54 BC) Julius Caesar made a hasty claim of conquest Then he was off to write his memoirs But while he was gone….spread nasty rumors about the Druids Why did everyone believe him?

Roman Round Two (100 years later ) Claudius came and maintained rule for about 300 years Brought roads (still used today) and a great defensive wall seventy-three miles long Brought Christianity Old Celtic religion began to vanish Then they left…. Troops left Country without a leader/divided What now? What would happen if I suddenly left? Invasion from the north

Angles/Saxons/Jutes: 449 AD and before Invasion from the north Angles and Saxons from Germany Jutes from Denmark Took charge and pushed the Celtics into Whales

Angles/Saxons/Jutes: 449 AD and before When Anglo Saxons first show up, lots of different kingdoms with different kings Ex: Mountain King looks down at Lake King and wants the lake. They fight for the lake, and so forth…keeps going…. Eventually, 7 kingdoms (HEPTARCHY) Kent Northumbria Wessex Merica Sussex Essex East Anglia

Anglo Saxons cont’d About the people: Other gods Believe in “Wyrd” aka God of Fate Ex: Farmers need it to rain right now and it rains, “Dude, that’s so weird.” Today’s weird: “coincidence” Witan: council of elders, chose leader, highly respected Woman had more rights during Anglo Saxon period than after the Norman Conquest in 1066 Other gods God of War & the Sky: Tiu (too) …..Tuesday Woden (God of War)….Woden’s Day…..Wednesday Woden had a wife named Fria……Friday Thor (God of Thunder)….Thursday Sun & Moon = Sunday & Monday Saturn (Roman god)….Saturday

Christianity vs. Paganism (450-650 AD) Christian Irish monks returned to the north to spread Christianity and Roman Christians came from the South By 650 AD Christianity was the main religion (conversion of the various Anglo-Saxon kings) B/c of Christianity men treated their wives, children, and slaves better Warlords couldn’t claim they were descended from the gods Woman were given an active role in the church Church brought education and literature Despite influence of Christianity, the old Anglo-Saxon religion with its warrior gods persisted Beowulf: mentions both—reflects the time -warlords can’t claim they are descended from the gods -this used to make them bada** -before woman were supposed to do everything to please their man, but now women are put on a pedistool & some became powerful abbesses (in charge of large nunneries and monasteries)

Vikings (b/w 9th & 12th centuries) Scandinavians (Vikings) started coming in and conquering everything Why were they so good at this? Tiny boats that could sail all the way to the middle of the country to farms---didn’t just land on the coast Had no interest in sharing land or slaves Destroyed everything

Wessex held strong! Only kingdom to hold off Vikings Ruled by Alfred the Great (Anglo-Saxon) Pushed learning and literacy Unified England Instituted the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle (A lengthy running history of England. Gave England respect) Rebuilt destroyed cities Vikings wanted Wessex! Told Alfred to choose a Viking king or we come back and kill you

Normans (1042) Line of Alfred the Great regained the throne under Edward the Confessor Norman on Mother’s side Close cousin to William of Normandy (William the Conqueror) Death led to the Norman conquest of England in 1066 Battle of Hastings