Anglo-Saxon Background Notes

The Britons and the Celts  The first inhabitants of Britain were the Britons and the Celts.  These tall, blonde warriors, hunters, and farmers were highly religious people who saw spirits in every part of nature.  Their main deities were an earthly goddess found in nature known as the Great Mother, and a male god, known as the Great Father.  The true leaders of these people were their priests, known as the Druids. The Druids elected the leaders of each tribe, served as judges, emphasized a balance between the Great Mother and Great Father, studied the solar systems, composed hymns and poems, kept records, and of course conducted religous ceremonies.

The Britons and the Celts  The name Great Britain comes from these people.  The Celts and Britons used the oral tradition to pass down their history and stories, as most people could not read or write.

The Romans  In 55 B.C., Julius Caesar conquered the Britons and brought roads, walls, and baths to Britain, but he did not bring any central government. The country was still an organization of smaller kingdoms and tribes.  It was also during this time that the first Christian missionaries were able to enter Britain and begin converting its citizens.  These missionaries set up monastaries that become not only centeres of faith but also of learning.  Here monks like Venerable Bede recorded history and the ballads of the Anglo-Saxon people in the official langague of the Catholic Church, Latin.  In 410 A.D., however, the Romans were forced to retreat from Britain to protect Rome from the invading Persians. This left the country weak and open to invaders.

The Anglo-Saxons  The Anglos and the Saxons were the next groups to invade Britain from Baltic Germany and the peninnsula of Denmark.  The Anglo Saxons did not lead a luxurious life, but they were not barbarians.  Their society prized art, poetry, community discussions, close relationships between rulers and leaders, rule by consensus, and above all else, loyalty.  They believed their lives were controlled by wyrd, or fate, and their religion praised several gods much like in Scandanavian mythology.  These gods emphasized bravery, loyalty, generosity, and friendship.

The Anglo-Saxons  Much of the democratic world today traces their political and ethical values back to the Anglo-Saxons.  Their tribes were made up of wooden homes set around a common hall that often served as the residence of their leader or king (as seen in Beowulf). This helped promote a feeling of community.  Days of the week come freom the names of their gods. Thursday comes from "Thor's day". Wednesday comes from "Woden's day". Woden was the god of death, poetry, and magic.