The Anglo-Saxons

The history, culture, and people of Anglo-Saxon England

A Brief Introduction

The term “Anglo-Saxons” is derived from the Angles and Saxons, two Germanic groups that migrated from present-day Germany to England in the mid-to-late 5th century. The precise date of their arrival remains uncertain.

The period is characterized by significant political, social, and cultural changes in England. These changes were influenced by the influx of new ideas, technologies, and traditions from the Germanic tribes that migrated to England, as well as by the interactions with the pre-existing Celtic and Roman-British cultures.

During the 6th and 7th centuries, the Anglo-Saxons established a number of independent kingdoms in England, including Wessex, Mercia, and Northumbria. These kingdoms were often in conflict with one another, but also cooperated in times of external threat, such as Viking invasions.

The Anglo-Saxons left a lasting impact on English culture and society, including the development of the English language, the establishment of the English legal system, and the formation of the English monarchy. They also left behind a rich body of literature, including epic poems such as Beowulf, texts such as the The Ecclisiastical History of the English People, and legal codes such as the Laws of Alfred the Great.