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Anglo-Saxon Life. The Warm Hall, the Cold World. 1939- Suffolk, England Archaeologists discovered a ship that was buried for 1,300 years. It was filled with different treasures that was buried with a king, or noble warrior.
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Anglo-Saxon Life The Warm Hall, the Cold World
1939- Suffolk, England • Archaeologists discovered a ship that was buried for 1,300 years. • It was filled with different treasures that was buried with a king, or noble warrior. • They could not find a trace of a king or warrior, although they found his sword among many different treasures.
Some of those treasures included: gold, silver, bronze, his purse, coins, a helmet, a buckle, serving vessels, and a harp. • Finding this grave, it reminded everyone of the huge burial in memory of Beowulf.
Anglo-Saxon Society became linked with Europe via religion • Christianity took over old warrior religion • Monasteries were established to offer learning centers and observable preserved works from the Anglo’s older oral tradition • The English language expanded just from the church and became widely spread throughout language and text
Anglo-Saxon Housing • They tended to live close to their animals in single-family homesteads for protection • The homesteads they lived in were made out of wood and surrounded a communal court or a warm, fire-lit chieftain's hall
Anglo-Saxon Housing • Not only did this arrangement contribute to a sense of security, but it also contributed to the close relationship between leader and follower • It also encouraged participation in community discussions and rule by consensus
Anglo-Saxon Society • Developed from kinship groups that were led by a strong chief • The strongest ties in society were to family and lord • There was no real concept of patriotism or loyalty to a cause • This made a kingdom only as strong as their leader
Anglo-Saxon Society • Since the Anglo-Saxons were so loyal to family, if a family member was murdered, one would have to get vengeance for that person • Led extensive, violent, and bloody feuds
Anglo-Saxon Society • In the countryside, the common thing to do was farm • At first these farms were owned privately, but then they were condensed into a noble’s estate • The common person would work on the nobles land usually in exchange for protection
Anglo-Saxon Society • The Anglo-Saxons were also exceptional metalworkers • Discovery at Sutton Hoo showed level of sophistication higher than imagined
Anglo-Saxon Barbarians? • Anglo-Saxons are most famously depicted as barbarians in today’s society • This is false all though they did not lead lives of luxury either • Their lives were not dominated by learning and the arts • Warfare was the central focus, it helped keep law and order among the Anglo-Saxons