Anglo-Saxon warfare The period of Anglo-Saxon warfare spans the 5th Century AD to the 11th in England. Its technology and tactics resemble those of other European cultural areas of the Early Middle Ages, although the Anglo-Saxons, unlike the Continental Germanic tribes such as the Franks and the Goths, do not appear to have regularly fought on horseback.[1] Evidence[edit] Although much archaeological evidence for Anglo-Saxon weaponry exists from the Early Anglo-Saxon period due to the widespread inclusion of weapons as grave goods in inhumation burials, scholarly knowledge of warfare itself relies far more on the literary evidence, which was only being produced in the Christian context of the Late Anglo-Saxon period. These literary sources are almost all authored by Christian clergy, and thus do not deal specifically with warfare; for instance, Bede's Ecclesiastical History of the English People mentions various battles that had taken place but does not dwell on them. Battlefield tactics[edit] See also[edit]
Who were the Anglo-Saxons? The Angle, Saxon, and Jute are known as the Anglo-Saxons. The Angles and the Saxon tribes were the largest of the three attacking tribes and so we often know them as Anglo-Saxons. They shared the same language but were each ruled by different strong warriors. Anglo-Saxons The Anglo-Saxons were warrior-farmers and came from north-western Europe. The Anglo-Saxons were tall, fair-haired men, armed with swords and spears and round shields. They loved fighting and were very fierce. Their skills included hunting, farming, textile (cloth) production and leather working. How do we know about skills and occupations of the Anglo-Saxons ? We know about the Anglo-Saxons because of things we have found giving us quite detailed information about their lives. Knives and spears are often found in Anglo-Saxon men's graves. What did the Anglo-Saxons do for entertainment (leisure)? The Anglo-Saxons enjoyed horse racing, hunting, feasting and music-making.
Anglo Saxon life - Food and Drink The Anglo-Saxons loved eating and drinking and would often have feasts in the Hall. The food was cooked over the fire in the middle of the house; meat was roasted and eaten with bread. They drank ale and mead - a kind of beer made sweet with honey - from great goblets and drinking horns. After the feast a minstrel would play a harp and sing songs of battles and heroes. Anglo-Saxons ate what they grew. They grew cereals - Wheat and rye for bread, barley for brewing and oats for animal food and porridge. Exotic foods such as potatoes, tomatoes, bananas, pineapples - fruits and vegetables of the New World, were unknown to the Anglo-Saxons. Drink Barley was used to make weak beer, which was drunk instead of water. Most Anglo-Saxons were vegetarians because they could not get meat very often. Animals Pigs were important for food because they produce large litters, which would quickly mature and be ready for slaughter. Fish The Anglo-Saxons ate fish which they caught in the rivers and the seas.
Anglo Saxon Weapons & Armour - Angelcynn Re-Enactment Society The principle weapon of the Anglo-Saxons was the spear. Spearheads came in many styles (Swanton classified 21 different forms), but were usually leaf- or 'kite-' shaped and had a socket for attachment to the shaft. It was usually diamond-shaped or lentoid in cross section, while the socket which continued from the narrow neck of the spearhead was split on one side and usually had an iron rivet to attach it to the shaft, which was usually of ash. Spears are found in around 86% of the Anglo-Saxon burials that contain weapons. Swanton's Classification for Early Anglo-Saxon Spearheads Type A This type of spearhead has a barbed head with a long metal shank connected to a socket. 'Angons are spears that are neither very short nor very long, but suitable for throwing, should it be necessary, as well as for engagement at close quarters. Suppose a Frank throws his angon in an engagement. Type B2 This type of spearhead is of a mid-ribbed, leaf-shaped form. Scramaseaxes Swords
Anglo-Saxon clothes - women | Tha Engliscan Gesithas 5th to 7th centuries Women wore an under-dress of linen or wool with long sleeves and a draw-string neck. Sleeves were fastened with clasps for wealthier women, or drawn together with braid or string for poorer women. The outer dress was a tube of material, rather like a pinafore, and often called a ‘peplos’. A pair of shoulder-brooches or clasps held this onto the under-dress. A belt was worn, from which various accessories were hung. 7th to 9th centuries Shoulder-brooches and wrist-clasps went out of fashion, and the sleeves of the over-dress now came to just below elbow-length on the arms and calf-length around the legs. 10th to 11th centuries The under-dress was now often pleated or folded, while the sleeves of the over-dress tended to flare towards the wrist. Children seem to have worn very much the same style of clothing as adults, but in smaller sizes. Making clothes was women’s work, and spinning and weaving were among the main activities of women in the Anglo-Saxon period.
Life in Saxon England Everyday life in Anglo Saxon England was hard and rough even for the rich. Society was divided into three classes. At the top were the thanes, the Anglo Saxon upper class. Some churls owned their own land but many 'rented' land from a thane. In early Anglo Saxon Times England was a very different place from what it is today. By the 11th century things had changed somewhat. The Anglo Saxons also gave us most English place names. A Saxon church in Chichester Kinship (family ties) were very important in Anglo Saxon society. At first Anglo Saxon society was relatively free. The vast majority of Anglo Saxons made their living from farming. The Anglo Saxons grew crops of wheat, barley and rye. However farmers could not grow enough food to keep many of their animals through the winter so as winter approached most of them had to be slaughtered and the meat salted. The history of farming Some Anglo Saxons were craftsmen. Homes in Anglo Saxon England The history of English homes The history of food
Anglo-Saxon clothes - men | Tha Engliscan Gesithas 5th and 6th centuries Men wore wool or linen hip-length undershirts with long sleeves, and probably loin-cloths. Woollen trousers were held up with a belt threaded through loops. A tunic was pulled over the head, and reached down to the knees. It was usually decorated at the wrists, neck and hem, and was long-sleeved. A belt was worn at the waist, often with a decorated buckle and strap-end. 7th to 11th centuries Tunics tended to have extra pleats inserted at the front, and sleeves became fairly tight-fitting between elbow and wrist. There was undoubtedly much variation according to region, period and status. Most clothes were made at home, and would almost certainly have undergone many repairs, or have been handed down, before being eventually cut up for rags or thrown away. Underclothes were not usually dyed, but left in their natural colour, or perhaps sun-bleached.
A workshop on the Anglo-Saxons for year 5 and 6 This workshop is designed to cover the Anglo-Saxons unit of the KS2 National Curriculum for History. It is suitable for year 5 or 6. Main Activities: 1. 2. 3. 4. Note: the art activities are challenging and may not be suitable for classes of lower art and crafts abilities. Fee: £209 per class per day, maximum 34 children. The first part of this workshop on weapons and warfare is now ready as a half day. To book: contact Tony North tnorth67@hotmail.com 0161 224 6445 Introduction After the collapse of the Roman Empire in the 5th century the peoples of northern Europe - Angles, Saxons and Jutes - quickly moved to fill the power void left in Britain, settling, taking control, and introducing their culture to the Britons. 1500 years later we still owe a great deal to these peoples, in our language, culture, and genetic inheritance. Children will learn about the legacy of the Anglo-Saxons and create two works of art - a helmet, shield or sword, and a piece of gold or silver jewellery.
Anglo Saxon Armour SUTTON HOO HELMET: This helmet was found in the ship-grave at Sutton Hoo. Can you see the two dragon's heads nose-to-nose at the front? From the little pieces it is possible to see what the whole helmet might have looked like: Reconstructed helmet. Here is what a shield probably looked like: Only the 'boss' (the middle part) and some of the metal deocorations have survived. This is the dragon from the left-hand side of the shield: This is a bird of prey. The wooden part of the shield has rotted away. This sword was found in Germany: The blade is covered by a sheath decorated with with gold. Anglo-Saxon swords were often decorated with complicated patterns like these: A mailcoat or mail-shirt: A mailcoat or mail-shirt was to protect the warrior's body. A mailcoat was not stiff and heavy like the suits of armour knights wore later in history. back to main story