1. Map of Anglo-Saxon England

Introduction:
"'Anglo-Saxon' is the term applied to the English-speaking inhabitants of Britain up to the time of the Norman Conquest, when the Anglo-Saxon line of English kings came to an end. The people who were conquered in 1066 had themselves arrived as conquerors more than six centuries earlier."[2]

The term "Anglo-Saxon" refers to settlers from the German regions of Angeln and Saxony, who made their way over to Britain after the fall of the Roman Empire around AD 410. The Anglo-Saxons did little to keep the Roman culture alive, but changed and forgot about it. They replaced the stone buildings with their own wooden ones. They also spoke their own language, which is the base of the English that we speek today. Their religion was their own too, but that changed with the coming of Christianity.[12]

Farming Systems
"The open field system developed by the Saxons was widely adopted by 1100AD. Its origin is uncertain but its cooperative nature may have arisen in response to both social and economic factors. Open fields were divided into strips and allocated amongst the community on a changing basis. This gave rise to a ridge and furrow affect across the field where the soil in the strip was continually ploughed back into the centre of itself and away from adjoining strips. During the late Anglo Saxon period a three field system of production was developed. This was a rotation based upon a first crop of wheat, a second crop of an alternative cereal followed by a fallow. This was more productive than its predecessor the two field system where a fallow every other year had left as much as 50% of land unproductive. " [3]

In the intoduction they mention the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. It is thought to be the ultimate timeline of British history from the beginnings up to the end of King Stephens reign in 1154. it is not the complete history and is not entirly reliable.. but it was nontheless a huge help find a clearer idea of what really happend in Britain thousands of years ago. [4]

This is an example of a typical Anglo-Saxon farmstead. (11)

Weapons

These are typical Anglo-Saxon weapons. (5)


This is an Anglo-Saxon helmet. There are only four of these left in museums today. (21)

Anglo-Saxon Dress

Clothing styles varied from region to region and also changed throughout the Anglo-Saxon period. These are the costumes worn by early Angle settlers.
[6]

Anglo-Saxon Entertainment

Throughout the year the Anglo-Saxons would take part in various games, challenges, and tests of skill. Swimming was one of the most popular sports during the time period, but running, jumping, skiing, skating, and horse racing were also popular. More relaxing were the many board games and dice games that the Anglo-Saxons would take part in. It is believed that the Anglo-Saxons played chess, but it has yet to be proven.[7]

Anglo-Saxon Celebration

Births, weddings, and other special occassions were cause for celebration. A major form of celebration in Anglo-Saxon times was feasting. People came together to eat a variety of exquisitely prepared food and drinks. Many feasts lasted an entire day, and great celebrations could last three days. Besides food, they enjoyed stories told by Scops, music, and other forms of entertainment, depending on the wealth of the host. The Christian Church also insisted on certain feasts. Periods of fasting usually preceded periods of feasting and were strictly followed, though there were several different types of fasting. However, feasting was taken just as seriously. In fact, "it was a sin to fast on a feast day 'he who fasts on [a feast] day through self will is to be excommunicated'". [8]

Anglo-Saxon Society

The early Anglo-Saxon society was organized around clans or tribes and was centered around a system of reciprocity called comitatus. The eoldorman expected martial service and loyalty from his thanes, and the thanes expected protection and rewards from the lord. By the middle of the ninth century the royal family of Wessex was universally recognized as the English royal family and held a hereditary right to rule. Succession to the throne was not guaranteed as the witan, or council of leaders, had the right to choose the best successor from the members of the royal house.

[9]

Anglo-Saxon Crafts

Bone and Antler Working

The Anglo-Saxons used bone and antler as we use plastic today. The Anglo-Saxons used bone and antler for so many things such as combs, weapon handles, silverware, game pieces, and many other household and craft objects. Because the Anglo-Saxons were agricultural people most of the bones used were from horses, pigs, and sheep, but they did use bird bones for such things as musical pipes. Many bone and antler artifacts have been found because they were so widely used. [13]



These are reconstructions of typical Anglo-Saxon and Viking bonework. [15]

The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle

The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle is considered by many to be one of the first precursors to the modern newspaper. It was not weekly or comprehensive like today's newspapers, but did attempt to take the events of the time and place them in an orderly fashion to give information. Even more importantly, however, they marked the beginning of the transition from oral to written means for transporting information from one person to another. (14)

The Anglo-Saxon period came to an end in 1066 when Duke William of Normandy came to England and defeated Harold, the Earl of Wessex, in the Battle of Hastings. This was the beginning of the Norman period in English history. [10]

Sources
1. http://www.mnsu.edu/emuseum/prehistory/vikings/angsaxe.html
2. http://www.wmich.edu/medieval/research/rawl/IOE/genintro.html#genintro:who
3. http://www.ukagriculture.com/countryside/history_of_countryside/countryside_history_1100ad.html
4. http://www.britannia.com/history/docs/asintro2.html
5. http://anglosaxondiscovery.ashmolean.museum/virtual_gallery/case12.html
6. http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/anglosaxons/life/lifeind3.shtml
7.http://www.regia.org/pastimes.htm
8. http://www.regia.org/feasting.htm
9. http://www.uta.edu/english/tim/courses/4301f98/oct12.html
10. http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/anglosaxons/whathappened/wh3.shtml
11. http://www.phancocks.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/localhistory/AS%20farmstead.jpg
12.http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ancient/anglo_saxons/saxons.shtml
13.http://www.regia.org/life/bonework.htm
14. www.com.washington.edu/program/courses/ su06/com322/ANGLO%20SAXON%20CHRONICLE%20LECT.DOC (Note: Opens as a Word document)
15.http://www.regia.org/life/bonework.htm
21. http://www.knightsedge.com/armor/anglo-saxon-helm.htm