England – England – The The AngloAnglo--Saxon society Saxon society

The decline of the Romans – the rise The decline of the Romans – the rise of the Anglo-Saxonsof the Anglo-Saxons

By the 5By the 5thth c. AD all of the last Roman legions c. AD all of the last Roman legions had left the British Isleshad left the British Isles

The Celts were subdued by the new invaders – The Celts were subdued by the new invaders – the Anglo-Saxonsthe Anglo-Saxons

They arrived from the continent in several They arrived from the continent in several waves (mixture of people from north waves (mixture of people from north Germany, Denmark and northern Holland)Germany, Denmark and northern Holland)

After a century long series of wars, After a century long series of wars, they established their kingdoms:they established their kingdoms:

Who were they?Who were they?

Little is known about their society and beliefsLittle is known about their society and beliefs Most of the historical data date back to the 8Most of the historical data date back to the 8 thth

and 9and 9thth c., all written down by Christian monks c., all written down by Christian monks They are described as savage wild warrior They are described as savage wild warrior

tribestribes They followed the code of bravery and loyaltyThey followed the code of bravery and loyalty

SocietySociety

Overlord/ThaneOverlord/Thane

High lordsHigh lords

LordsLords

WarriorsWarriors

BeliefsBeliefs

Shared beliefs with their Scandinavian cousins Shared beliefs with their Scandinavian cousins – the Norse tribes and the Vikings– the Norse tribes and the Vikings

In contrast to the Vikings` belief system, they In contrast to the Vikings` belief system, they believed in female deities rather than malebelieved in female deities rather than male

Nerthus – the supreme goddess, the Earth Nerthus – the supreme goddess, the Earth MotherMother

The second face of Nerthus is Freya (Frea, The second face of Nerthus is Freya (Frea, Frija) – the goddess of love, lust, friendshipFrija) – the goddess of love, lust, friendship

She was the wife of Woden (Odin) – magic, She was the wife of Woden (Odin) – magic, huntinghunting

Other important gods/goddesses:Other important gods/goddesses:- Eostre – spring, new life, beginnings (hare, Eostre – spring, new life, beginnings (hare,

eggs)eggs)- Thir – Ancestor of trollsThir – Ancestor of trolls- Thunor (Thor) – God of ThunderThunor (Thor) – God of Thunder

Sacred animals, spirits and monstersSacred animals, spirits and monsters

The hareThe hare The boarThe boar ElvesElves Ettins (trolls)Ettins (trolls) ValkyriesValkyries

CustomsCustomsand festivalsand festivals

The `Wild Hunt` - the travel to ValhallaThe `Wild Hunt` - the travel to Valhalla Wild boar sacrifice – New Year resolutionWild boar sacrifice – New Year resolution Geola festival – midwinter festival in Geola festival – midwinter festival in

November, the `blood month`November, the `blood month` Modranect – the mother`s night, today`s Modranect – the mother`s night, today`s

ChristmasChristmas

Festivals cont., priests, holy placesFestivals cont., priests, holy places

Eostre – in AprilEostre – in April Halig monap – September, harvest monthHalig monap – September, harvest month Holy places: not built (opp. to the Celts), but: Holy places: not built (opp. to the Celts), but:

ponds, woods, rivers, glades etc.ponds, woods, rivers, glades etc. Priests existed, but we know nothing about Priests existed, but we know nothing about

them. Only certain is the fact that they were them. Only certain is the fact that they were forbidden to carry arms, weaponsforbidden to carry arms, weapons

Establishment of the kingdomsEstablishment of the kingdoms

By the end of the 6By the end of the 6thth c. there were firmly c. there were firmly established kingdoms with firm bordersestablished kingdoms with firm borders

The strongest kingdom had the title of the The strongest kingdom had the title of the thanethane

By 686 AD Christianity was established in all By 686 AD Christianity was established in all kingdoms, in a modified semi-pagan mannerkingdoms, in a modified semi-pagan manner

INTERESTING FACTSINTERESTING FACTS

Without Roman soldiers to defend them, the Britons Without Roman soldiers to defend them, the Britons were in danger from raids, so some British leaders were in danger from raids, so some British leaders paid Anglo-Saxons to fight for them against the Picts.paid Anglo-Saxons to fight for them against the Picts.

Roman sailors wore blue uniforms and Roman navy Roman sailors wore blue uniforms and Roman navy ships guarding Britain had blue sails. So they would ships guarding Britain had blue sails. So they would not be mistaken for 'barbarians'. not be mistaken for 'barbarians'.

Anglo-Saxons died, their bodies were either cremated Anglo-Saxons died, their bodies were either cremated or buried in a grave. The objects buried with them tell or buried in a grave. The objects buried with them tell us about their jobs (hunting, fighting and farming, us about their jobs (hunting, fighting and farming, making clothes).making clothes).

Favourite PasstimesFavourite Passtimes Feasts, with singing, storytelling, often fightsFeasts, with singing, storytelling, often fightsTheir favourite story was the Beowulf (a heroic prince, Their favourite story was the Beowulf (a heroic prince,

kills the fierce man-eating monster Grendel, and kills the fierce man-eating monster Grendel, and Grendel's equally horrid mother)Grendel's equally horrid mother)

Telling riddles, some of which were written down. Telling riddles, some of which were written down. Here's one riddle. Here's one riddle.

I appear on the ground like a blanket, I appear on the ground like a blanket, and melt in the midday sun.and melt in the midday sun.

Their letters were calledTheir letters were called runes. w/ runes. w/ magical powersmagical powers Men enjoyed rough pastimes, such as wrestling, Men enjoyed rough pastimes, such as wrestling,

weight-lifting (using heavy rocks) and horse-racing, weight-lifting (using heavy rocks) and horse-racing, watergames, and games like hockey and cricket. watergames, and games like hockey and cricket.

Drinking hornDrinking horn

LyreLyre

Part of Part of

BeowulfBeowulf

Silver pennySilver penny

A grave stoneA grave stone

An Anglo-Saxon An Anglo-Saxon househouse

Woman weaving, Woman weaving, making threadmaking thread

PotsPots

Leather shoesLeather shoes