Course Learning

Over 1,500 years ago, a new group of people came to Britain – the Anglo-Saxons! They were farmers, warriors, and craftsmen who settled in England after the Romans left. They changed the country forever, bringing new villages, kings, and even the English language!

The last Roman soldiers left Britain by AD410. New people came to Britain in ships across the North Sea – the Anglo-Saxons. The Anglo-Saxon age in Britain was from around AD410 to 1066.

• The Anglo-Saxons were a mix of tribes from Germany, Denmark and the Netherlands.
• The three biggest were the Angles, the Saxons and the Jutes.
• The land they settled in became known as 'Angle-land', or England.
• They brought Germanic languages and new customs and dress.

If we use the modern names for the countries they came from, the Saxons were German-Dutch, the Angles were Southern Danish, and the Jutes were Northern Danish. They arrived over a number of decades.

Most Anglo-Saxons lived in small villages made of wooden houses with thatched roofs.

🏠 Houses were simple huts made of wood, mud, and straw.

🔥 There was a fire in the middle for warmth and cooking.

🌾 People grew crops and kept animals like pigs, cows, and sheep.

📌 Did You Know? Some Anglo-Saxon houses have been rebuilt at West Stow in Suffolk, and you can visit them today!

The Anglo-Saxons were farmers, so they grew and ate lots of fresh food.

🍞 Bread – Made from barley or wheat and baked over a fire.

🥩 Meat – They ate pork, beef, and chicken.

🌾 Pottage – A thick soup made from vegetables, beans, and herbs.

🍯 Honey – Used to sweeten food instead of sugar.

📌 Fun Fact: The Anglo-Saxons drank ale instead of water because it was safer to drink!

Clothes were made from wool and linen, dyed using plants to create bright colours.

🧔 Men wore tunics with belts and trousers.

👩 Women wore long dresses with a cloak over the top.

💍 Rich people wore jewellery made of gold, silver, and glass beads.

📌 Did You Know? Anglo-Saxons used bone or wooden combs to brush their hair!

The Anglo-Saxons were often at war, fighting to protect their land and kingdoms.

⚔️ They fought with swords, axes, and spears.

🛡️ They carried wooden shields covered in leather.

🏇 Some warriors rode into battle on horses.

One of the most famous Anglo-Saxon kings was King Alfred the Great, who fought the Vikings and helped unite England!

📌 Fun Fact: Anglo-Saxon warriors believed in Valkyries, magical women who took brave fighters to Valhalla (the afterlife)!

The Anglo-Saxons ruled England in seven main kingdoms:

1️⃣ Wessex – Ruled by King Alfred the Great.

2️⃣ Mercia – Famous for Offa’s Dyke, a long wall built to keep the Welsh out!

3️⃣ Northumbria – Home to famous monasteries and scholars.

4️⃣ East Anglia – Ruled by King Edmund, who became a saint.

5️⃣ Kent – The first kingdom to become Christian.

6️⃣ Essex – Ruled by the East Saxons.

7️⃣ Sussex – Ruled by the South Saxons.

📌 Did You Know? The modern counties of England still follow the old Anglo-Saxon kingdom borders!

At first, the Anglo-Saxons believed in many gods, such as:

🌞 Woden – The chief god (like Odin in Viking myths).

⚡ Thunor – The god of thunder (like Thor!).

🌱 Eostre – The goddess of spring (her name inspired the word Easter!).

Later, they became Christians and built churches and monasteries across England.

📌 Fun Fact: Lindisfarne in Northumbria was one of the most famous Anglo-Saxon monasteries!

In the 8th and 9th centuries, the Vikings invaded England!

⚔️ They attacked monasteries and took gold, silver, and treasure.

🚢 They sailed in longships from Scandinavia.

👑 The Anglo-Saxons fought back, and King Alfred the Great made a peace deal.

📌 Did You Know? The Anglo-Saxons called the Vikings “Danes” because many came from Denmark!

Archaeologists have found amazing Anglo-Saxon treasure buried underground!

🛡️ Sutton Hoo (1939) – A huge ship burial filled with gold, weapons, and a famous helmet!

💰 The Staffordshire Hoard (2009) – Over 3,500 gold and silver objects from an Anglo-Saxon kingdom!

📌 Did You Know? You can see the Sutton Hoo treasure in the British Museum!

In 1066, the last Anglo-Saxon king, Harold Godwinson, fought against William the Conqueror at the Battle of Hastings.

⚔️ Harold was defeated, and the Normans took over England.

🏰 The Normans built castles and changed the way England was ruled.

But the Anglo-Saxon way of life, language, and traditions still survive today!

📌 Did You Know? Many of the words we use today, like house, bread, and king, come from Anglo-Saxon English!

The Anglo-Saxons were great farmers, warriors, and kings. They shaped the history of England and left behind amazing treasures, old villages, and even words we still use today!