Story of Beowulf: History of the Anglo-Saxon Culture

History of the Anglo-Saxon Culture

Sometime between 400 and 600 AD, people groups from what is now Germany as well as lower Scandinavia migrated to Briton. The Angles, Saxons, Jutes and possibly even the Franks sailed across the thin strip of sea between continent and island. They settled there, building simple wooden houses in agricultural villages. Men were the leaders of the households, while the women were considered second class citizens. Life was particularly hard for women due to the high mortality rate of mothers giving birth. The men chose a dangerous lifestyle, however, because they were almost always warring with their neighbors. The most common weapons they used were spears and round shields, with only the wealthiest carrying swords. A militaristic society, Anglo-Saxon culture greatly valued bravery, loyalty and prowess in battle. When they were not at war, the warriors enjoyed feasts and entertainment at a mead hall in the center of the village. They developed their own styles of art, architecture and pottery and eventually a written language that laid the foundation for the modern English language. The Anglo-Saxons brought their pagan religions with them to Britain but Christian missionaries converted many of them, giving the few writings that survived the centuries a somewhat Christian perspective. As time passed, the newcomers engaged in tribal feuds with the Britons and among themselves, eventually producing seven dominant kingdoms on the island: East Anglia, Essex, Kent, Mercia, Northumbria, Sussex, and Wessex. Viking invasions soon stamped out all of them but Wessex, led by Alfred the Great. Over time, this sect conquered the invaders and all the surrounding peoples to remain in power until the Norman invasion and the Battle of Hastings in 1066.