Author: Becky Brown

Year 4 History
The Anglo-Saxons

Key Figures

What should I already know?

The stone age was when early humans used tools from stone. This lasted until the Bronze Age.
The bronze Age began when settlers arrived from Europe to Britain. These settlers brought with them ways of making tools from metal (bronze).
The Age lasted from 800BC till the Roman invasion (AD 43) - this was when people used tools made from Iron.
In AD 43, the Romans under the order of Emperor Claudius, first invaded Britain and Roman rules lasted until AD 410.

Key Events

The Romans leave Britain
By AD 410, the last of the Romans had left Britain. This made Britain vulnerable to invasion. The warriors that invaded became known as the first Anglo-Saxons. Most of Britain was divided into seven Anglo-Saxon kingdoms.
The Picts and Scots were a constant threat without Roman support.

Time line of key events

Living in Anglo-Saxon Britain
The Romans preferred living in towns but the Anglo-Saxons prefrerred to live in small villages.
Anglo-Saxon influence can be seen in place names in Britain today. Wessex was a place named after the West Saxons who settled there. Sussex was named after the South Saxons.
The kingdom of Mercia (which means border people) was named Mercia because it had so many borders with other kingdoms.

Key Vocabulary

Angles	Tribes from an area today known as modern day Denmark that settled in Britain from around AD 450. They were one of the tribes that became known as the first Anglo-Saxons.
Saxons	A tribe from the north coast of Europe, expcecially Germany, that settled in Britain from around AD 450. They were one of the tribes that became known as the first Anglo-Saxon.
Picts	Tribes originally from Scotland who were often feared.
Scots	People from Ireland who, like the Picts, were fierce and powerful fighters.
Invaders	People who enter an area and take control of it by force.
Kingdom	An area ruled by a king of queen.
Migration	Movement from one place to another in order
Pagan	Someone who follows the Paganism religion and worships many gods and goddesses.
Christianity	A religion based on the teachings of Jesus Christ.
Tribe	A group of people who share the same culture and values.

Sticky learning: Can you answer any of these questions?
How many kingdoms were there in Anglo-Saxon Britain?
Who is said to have invited the Anglo-Saxons to Britain.
Where can we find evidence of Anglo-Saxon life?
What does invasion mean?
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