The Anglo-Saxons: Foundations of English Identity
Overview: The Anglo-Saxon period denotes the era of English history from the end of Roman rule to the Norman Conquest. This era laid the linguistic, cultural, and political groundwork for what would become England.
Visual representation of Early Germanic Settlers in England.
1. Migration and Settlement (410 AD)
Following the withdrawal of Roman legions around 410 AD, Germanic tribes—primarily the Angles, Saxons, and Jutes—began migrating across the North Sea to Britain.
🎯 Asked in UGC NET English They settled Britain after the Roman withdrawal in 410 AD, filling the power vacuum left by the collapse of Roman administration.
2. Language and Culture
These settlers brought with them their own Germanic dialects, oral traditions, and societal structures. The fusion of these dialects evolved into what we now call Old English.
🎯 Asked in UGC NET English They brought a Germanic language which became the basis of the English language.
🎯 Asked in UGC NET English They introduced new political and cultural structures, replacing the Roman urban lifestyle with a more rural, tribal, and warrior-centric society (Comitatus code).
3. The Anglo-Saxon Period (410–1066)
This period spans over 600 years, witnessing the conversion to Christianity, the Viking invasions, and the unification of England under kings like Alfred the Great.
🎯 Asked in UGC NET English The Anglo-Saxon period lasted until 1066, ending with the Battle of Hastings and the Norman Conquest.
🎯 Asked in UGC NET English Their legacy shaped the foundations of early English identity, giving the nation its name ("Angle-land" or England) and its core linguistic heritage.