The Anglo-Saxons

The Anglo-Saxons

After collapse of Roman power, the principal danger for Britain came from the east by the sea: at first some Germanic tribes raided the island. The newcomers were warlike and illiterate and used only the runic alphabet. Thus the little information which remains about this period, is in the form of legends.

The only writer of the time known to have attempted to describe the invasion was a Celtic cleric, Glidas.

He referred to the "cities of our country" as "desert and dismantled". The real knowledge of this period is based on "Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Anglorum" written by an English monk named Bede. His story has been proved correct by archaeological evidence.

Bede tells us that by about 450 the invaders came from three powerful Germanic tribes, the Angles, the Saxons, and the Jutes. The Anglo-Saxon migrations gave the larger part of Britain its new name:

England that is "the land of the Angles".

The far west was called:

Wales, meaning the "land of foreigners".

The lowlands became known as Scotland.

The influence of the Anglo-Saxon culture is evident even today in the name of days of the week and in place names.

The Anglo-Saxons established seven kingdoms. In the 7^th century the Christianisation of the country took place.

Pope Gregory I the great sent a monk, Augustine, to bring Christianity back to England. Augustine went to Canterbury and he became the first Archbishop.

But they were the Celtic monks that went out of their monasteries to teach Christianity. These monks lived a simple life. Soon monasteries progressed and became important centres of culture. Moreover the Roman Church contributed greatly to the power of kings. The eldest son of a king did not automatically become a king upon the death of his father.

The Vikings came from Norway and Denmark. They were pirated who raided Northern and Western Europe.