MB UNIUD

THE ANGLO - SAXONS

The Anglo-Saxons were people who came from the North of Europe, we think from Northern  Germany.

In the late 4^th century they invaded Britain and defeated the original Celtic people who escaped to Cornwall, Wales and Scotland. The country was divided into seven kingdoms.

The Anglo-Saxons imposed their language, later know as "Old English" (subdivided into variety of dialects). It became the English spoken today after several modifications.

Anglo Saxon society was based on the family unit which branched out to the clan and the tribe and it was ruled by a chief or king. Then came the "earls" who were nobles by birth and "thegns" who were the personal companions of the king. All the other people were "freeman", who were obliged to maintain roads, bridges, and provide military service when necessary.

The Anglo-Saxons had a strong military organisation  and a code of values based on a high sense of honour, fidelity, loyalty and courage. In that period, courage was the most important value and the clearest proof of the spirit of sacrifice of all knights.

Today we know about the Anglo Saxon thanks to all that was found in cemeteries. As for example in Sutton Hoo cemetery. It is one of the most famous cemeteries of the kings of East Anglia. It is located in Suffolk and it is famous because a ship made of oak wood is buried there. The object discovered in this cemetery may indicate that the Swedish people settled in that aria.

Bede is an important character who plays the fundamental role in the history of British religion. He tells us the story of Gregory the Great, who was pope for fifteen years, and how he decided to established churches in England through a missionary called Augustine. He built the cathedral in Canterbury which became the main religious place for English Christianity. Saint Augustine became the highest ecclesiastical authority. Monasteries became centres of culture, where monks copied religious books by hand. Manuscripts were "illuminated", that is, their pages were decorated with gold paint and bright colours. 

The Anglo Saxon culture was the fusion of two alien components: the language, the literally form and the arts from Northern Germany, and the moral values and classical literary influences from Rome.