Anglo-Saxon (410-1066 AD)
Anglo-Saxons is a term that is commonly used to describe a group of people
who lived in Great Britain since the 5th century. The Anglo-Saxons were speakers
of Germanic languages, and they are comprised of the Frisians, Jutes, Saxons,
and Angles. This group of people begin their rise in power once the Roman empired
had been largely diminished. Historians are currently debating the extent to
which the Anglo-Saxons displaced the native population. While some say that
this group totally displaced the natives who were living in the region, others
say the were primarily responsible for making contributions to the existing
culture. The percentage of the population in Great Britain that spoke Germanic
languages during this time is unknown. However, Germanic speaking soldiers were
frequently employed by the Romans.
Many of these people were present in Great Britain, and it is likely that there
cultures begin to merge over time. Some historians believe that the true rise
of the Anglo-Saxons begin with Alfred the Great. It was during the 10th century
that the Anglo-Saxon presence in the area became pronounced. The actual term
"Anglo-Saxon" can be found in many writings from this time period.
The term "Anglo" is derived from the word "Angles," which
were a group of people who lived in the northern region of the country. The
term "Saxon" is used to describe those who came from the region of
Old Saxony.
Many of the writers of this time did not make clear distinctions between the
two groups. It should also be noted that the term "Anglo-Saxon" was
also a part of Old English. This language was spoken in Britain before the arrival
of the Normans, a group of people who spoke French. Despite this, many historians
feel that the modern customs and political culture in England originiated from
the Anglo-Saxons rather than the Normans. However, finding the actual connections
for this has been a great challenge to historians. While many people may think
that the term Anglo-Saxon refers to an ethnic group, this two is the subject
of debate among historians. Some people feel that this term is not useful because
of the many other groups that were present in England during this time, while
others say it is of significant importance.
It is very likely that the Danes and Normans became mixed with the Anglo-Saxon
culture. Over time, it would become more difficult to tell the difference between
these groups.
Original Authors:
Stephen Palmer
Edit Update Authors: None
Updated On: 03/10/2006
