Anglo+Saxon+England

Anglo-Saxon England By: Bryce M.

During the early 400s CE, many Germanic tribes invaded England, the most important of which from Angle and Saxony. The Anglo-Saxons set the stage for England, the Kingdom of Great Britain, and eventually the English language. Although the Anglo-Saxons met their end to the Normans (1066), they defeated the Danes, and were great warriors. The Three Kingdoms- The three most powerful and largest kingdoms in what is now England were Mercia, Wessex, and Northumbria. Many small battles were fought between the kingdoms. Religion- Originally, the Anglo-Saxons were a pagan society, but, Pope Gregory I sent Saint Augustine to convert England to Christianity. Within ninety years, all of England was christian. Alfred The Great- Alfred was the king of Wessex, which by 878 CE, was the only kingdom not taken over by the Danish Vikings. Alfred defeated the Danes in battle, and agreed to allow them to rule a large part of Eastern England.

Cnut- In 1016 CE, he became king of England, while two more of his sons followed the throne before the Anglo-Saxons regained control.

Edward The Confessor- His death in 1066 CE marked the end of the Anglo-Saxon's rule over England. Harold of Wessex- Harold fought William of Normandy, and was defeated at the battle of Hastings. This marked the beginning of Norman rule over England.

How Anglo-Saxons affected the Middle Ages- If the battle of Hastings hadn't been fought, the Bayeaux tapestry would never have been created, a rich part of culture in the Middle Ages. Anglo-Saxons also introduced a new type of burial, burying people with all their belongings, and in some cases, the entire ship.

How Anglo-Saxons affect the world today- The Anglo-Saxon's rule over England is an important part of England's heritage and culture. Almost every museum in England has an exhibit dedicated to these people. Today, the Anglo-Saxon story Beowulf has been turned into a major film.

Five Facts About Anglo-Saxons- 1. When Anglo-Saxons died, they were either cremated and placed in a pot or urn, or buried with all of their personal belongings. 2. Feasts were often held during cold winter months, and all loyal to the lord were invited. 3. At feasts, people would typically eat roasted meat, bread, fruit, and drink beer or mead. 4. For entertainment, Anglo-Saxons listened to stories and songs, each about brave warriors and adventures. One of their favorite stories was Beowulf. 5. Anglo-Saxons loved music, and one of their favorite instruments was the lyre. This picture shows the Kingdoms of Anglo-Saxon England. Possessions found in an Anglo-Saxon burial site.

Works Cited- 1. Maceachern, Sally. Medieval World. Singapore: Grolier Educational, 2001. 2. The Anglo-Saxons. BBC. 16 April, 2009. <[]