starter activity How would you feel if the following
happened to Britain today…? Write down any adjectives that come to mind
Tip: write the subheading, ‘How I’d feel if Britain were invaded’ Why are
subheadings useful in notes?
Can you think of
countries today whose
citizens may be feeling
this way?
How I’d feel in Britain How I’d feel in Britain were invadedwere invaded
A foreign army invades the South East then A foreign army invades the South East then occupies the rest of the countryoccupies the rest of the country
The head of state is killed and replaced by a The head of state is killed and replaced by a foreignerforeigner
Anyone who has an important job loses it and is Anyone who has an important job loses it and is replaced by a foreign invaderreplaced by a foreign invader
The new ruler punishes anyone who disagrees The new ruler punishes anyone who disagrees with the new laws he passes, this could mean with the new laws he passes, this could mean mutilation or even death!mutilation or even death!
Existing buildings are torn down and replaced by Existing buildings are torn down and replaced by those built in a new foreign stylethose built in a new foreign style
Everyone has to speak a new language, some even Everyone has to speak a new language, some even have to change their nameshave to change their names
What was life What was life like in England like in England before 1066?before 1066?To find out about life in Anglo-To find out about life in Anglo-
Saxon EnglandSaxon EnglandTo write a report on life in Anglo-To write a report on life in Anglo-
Saxon EnglandSaxon England
LOs
Key words: Vikings woad earl /earldom
Lesson overviewLesson overview
Work in small teams and research Work in small teams and research the following questions:the following questions: How many people lived there?How many people lived there? Were people religious?Were people religious? How was the country governed?How was the country governed? Other evidence?Other evidence?
How do we know about life in How do we know about life in England at this time?England at this time?
How many people lived in How many people lived in England?England?
1.5 million people1.5 million people Agricultural Agricultural societysociety Most people lived in villages, only 7 Most people lived in villages, only 7
towns with 2,500+ peopletowns with 2,500+ people
Can you guess which
were the largest towns?
Were people religious?Were people religious?
Since St Augustine, C6th, England was a Christian Since St Augustine, C6th, England was a Christian countrycountry
Monasteries like Lindisfarne produced gospelsMonasteries like Lindisfarne produced gospels Belief in after-life, e.g. Sutton Hoo burial moundBelief in after-life, e.g. Sutton Hoo burial mound
How were Anglo-Saxon
churches different from
later ones?
Mask found at Sutton Hoo burial mound
Who ruled England Who ruled England before 1066?before 1066?
Up to c.400 AD Up to c.400 AD Romans ruled Romans ruled EnglandEngland
German tribes, German tribes, Angles & SaxonsAngles & Saxons
From c.800 Vikings From c.800 Vikings from Denmark & from Denmark & SwedenSweden
By C11th Edward By C11th Edward the Confessor ruled the Confessor ruled England, divided England, divided into earldomsinto earldoms
Edward the
Confessor
England before 1066
Sources of informationSources of information Illuminated manuscriptsIlluminated manuscripts Buildings, e.g. churches & castlesBuildings, e.g. churches & castles Household objects, like cooking utensilsHousehold objects, like cooking utensils JewelleryJewellery SkeletonsSkeletons CoinsCoins TapestriesTapestries ChroniclesChronicles Eyewitness accounts of key eventsEyewitness accounts of key events LettersLetters Which source did you find most useful?Which source did you find most useful?
What can the Alfred
Jewel tell us about life in Anglo-Saxon
times?
Your taskYour task
Imagine you are a foreign visitor to Imagine you are a foreign visitor to England in 1065. Write a letter back home England in 1065. Write a letter back home to your own ruler (perhaps William, Duke to your own ruler (perhaps William, Duke of Normandy) describing the country as of Normandy) describing the country as you find it. Try to include the following:you find it. Try to include the following:
Who ruled EnglandWho ruled England The populationThe population Its religionIts religion Other interesting information drawn from Other interesting information drawn from
the sourcesthe sources
SatisfactorySatisfactory GoodGood Wow factor!
Incomplete Incomplete range of range of references to references to life in Anglo-life in Anglo-Saxon Saxon EnglandEngland
Perhaps the Perhaps the language is a language is a little too little too disrespectful disrespectful for a letter to for a letter to a Duke!a Duke!
Good range of Good range of points about points about life in Anglo-life in Anglo-Saxon Saxon England, but England, but some need some need developing. developing. Some attempt Some attempt to set it out as to set it out as a letter.a letter.
Full and detailed range of points including: who ruled England, population, religion and other interesting information
Set out as a letter with appropriate language
Imagine an advertising agency has Imagine an advertising agency has asked you to produce a short radio asked you to produce a short radio advert about Anglo-Saxon England. Try advert about Anglo-Saxon England. Try and make the country sound as and make the country sound as appealing as possible to your audience. appealing as possible to your audience. Include references to the following:Include references to the following:
Its system of governmentIts system of government The peopleThe people The religionThe religion Other interesting informationOther interesting information
Your taskYour task
What was life What was life like in England like in England before 1066?before 1066?To find out about life in Anglo-To find out about life in Anglo-
Saxon EnglandSaxon EnglandTo write a report on life in Anglo-To write a report on life in Anglo-
Saxon EnglandSaxon England
LOs
Key words: Vikings woad earl /earldom