University:
Middlesex Community College
Course:
HIS-131 | World History I
Academic year:

2025
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271

Pages:

1
Author:

customer-8446569

2. The Anglo-Saxons (400 A.D. – 800 A.D.) Vorlesung Who were the Anglo-Saxons and why did they come? - - Germanic settlers from northern Europe o Tribal nation -> no united nation, many tribes in different regions in north Europe (similar to the Celts) They had a fearful reputation (“Pirates”, “Barbarians”) Had royal wealth (buried with armour, weapons, treasures) Reasons for settlement: o 410: Romans left the British Isles because Rome was under attack, and they had to secure the centre -> “The dark ages” followed o 449: Celtic Britain had to defend themselves against the north tribes and invited the Anglo Saxons to defend them -> Germanic conquest o Anglo-Saxons were pushed out of their own region because of i.e., rising sea levels o Wanted to plunder the British and take away their wealth o “Völkerwanderung” How did the Anglo-Saxons develop in the British Isles (450-800)? - - - Came as friends, quickly became enemies o Wanted to take away British wealth o Wanted to conquer the regions Divided todays England into 7 Kingdoms (“The Anglo-Saxon Heptarchy”) o Northumbria o Mercia o Essex o East Anglia o Kent o Sussex o Wessex First English towns developed (Canterbury, York, Winchester, Worcester) Offa’s Dyke: Separation between Anglo-Saxons and Britains Almost no ethnic mixing between Britains and Anglo-Saxons (no union) Describe the spread of Christianity in Anglo-Saxon England. - Anglo-Saxons believed in Germanic gods 597: Pope Gregory sent Augustine to Kent (because the wife of the Kentish ruler already was a Christian) to bring Christianity back (“Gregorian mission”) Conversion to Christianity was a win-win-situation for the Kings and the Churches (empowerment and support for both sides) However: No instant Christianisation of the Anglo-Saxons until 655 The Anointment was introduced to make King and Church more intertwined (King above all others -> like God) There was a “gap” in Christianity from around 430 - 600 4