## Learning Outcomes

- Identify who the Anglo-Saxons and Vikings were and where they came from
- Recall the key dates from the end of Roman rule to the Norman Conquest (AD 410–1066)
- Explain how Christianity spread in Britain during the Anglo-Saxon period
- Understand why King Alfred the Great is linked with resistance to Viking attacks and the Danelaw

## Life in the UK Test Syllabus

For the Life in the UK Test, you are expected to understand what happened in Britain after the Romans left, with a focus on the following syllabus points:

- Know that the Romans left Britain in AD 410 and that the Angles, Saxons and Jutes then invaded and settled
- Know that Anglo-Saxon kingdoms were established by about AD 600 and that Sutton Hoo is an important Anglo-Saxon burial site
- Identify key Christian missionaries and what they did: St Patrick, St Columba (Iona), and St Augustine (first Archbishop of Canterbury)
- Know that the Vikings came from Denmark, Norway and Sweden, first raided Britain in AD 789, and later settled in parts of Britain
- Explain who Alfred the Great was and that he led the Anglo-Saxon resistance against Vikings
- Know what the Danelaw was, where it was (mainly east and north of England), and that some place names (e.g., Grimsby, Scunthorpe) reflect Viking languages
- Know that there was a short period of Danish kings in England, including Cnut (Canute)

## Test Your Knowledge

_Attempt these questions before reading this article. If you find some difficult or cannot remember the answers, look more closely at that area during your revision._

1. Which three groups from northern Europe invaded Britain after the Romans left in AD 410?
2. By about what year were Anglo-Saxon kingdoms established in Britain?
3. Who became the first Archbishop of Canterbury, and where did his mission come from?
4. When did the Vikings first raid Britain, and where did they come from?
5. What was the Danelaw, and which part of England was most associated with it?

## Introduction

After almost 400 years of Roman rule, Britain changed quickly when the Roman army left in AD 410. New groups arrived from northern Europe, new kingdoms formed, and the English language began to develop from the languages of the settlers.

This period also includes the arrival of Viking raiders and settlers, conflict between Anglo-Saxon rulers and Viking armies, and the spread of Christianity across different parts of Britain. These are frequent Life in the UK Test facts because they explain the origins of England’s early kingdoms and culture.

> **Key Term: Anglo-Saxons**  
> The Angles, Saxons and Jutes who came to Britain from northern Europe after the end of Roman rule and established kingdoms mainly in what is now England.

### After the Romans: Anglo-Saxon settlement and kingdoms

When the Romans withdrew in AD 410, Britain no longer had a single army and administration that covered most of the island. Over time, tribes from northern Europe began to invade and settle. The main groups named in the Life in the UK material are the **Jutes, the Angles and the Saxons**.

Their languages became the basis of **modern English**. This is one reason the Anglo-Saxon period is so important: it explains why English (rather than a Celtic language) became dominant in what is now England.

By about **AD 600**, a number of **Anglo-Saxon kingdoms** were established. These kingdoms were mainly in what is now **England**. However, Anglo-Saxon rule did not cover the whole of Britain:

- Parts of the **west**, including much of what is now **Wales**, remained free of Anglo-Saxon rule.
- **Scotland** also remained outside Anglo-Saxon control in this period.

One of the most famous archaeological finds from Anglo-Saxon England is at **Sutton Hoo** in modern **Suffolk**. A king was buried there with valuable objects and armour, placed in a **ship** that was then covered with a mound of earth. This shows the wealth and status of Anglo-Saxon rulers.

> **Key Term: Sutton Hoo**  
> A major Anglo-Saxon burial site in Suffolk where a king was buried in a ship with treasure and armour.
>
> **Test Tip:** The test often asks “who came after the Romans?” or “what happened after AD 410?” Fix the sequence in your memory: Romans leave (AD 410) → Jutes/Angles/Saxons arrive → kingdoms by about AD 600.

To understand how different this period was from Roman Britain, it helps to note some everyday changes. Many Roman towns declined or were abandoned, and large stone public buildings were no longer maintained. People lived more in small villages and farmsteads. Trade with the wider Roman Empire decreased, but local trade in goods such as pottery, textiles and metalwork continued. Kings and local lords gained power by controlling land and offering protection to the people who lived on it.

### Christianity in Anglo-Saxon Britain

The Anglo-Saxons were **not Christians** when they first came to Britain. They followed their own pagan religions, with gods such as Woden and Thor. Christianity spread during the Anglo-Saxon period through missions coming from different directions, especially **Ireland** in the north and **Rome** in the south.

A key idea for the test is to connect **people** to **places** and **regions**:

- **St Patrick** is linked with Ireland and is remembered as the **patron saint of Ireland**.
- **St Columba** is linked with Scotland: he founded a monastery on **Iona**, an island off the west coast of what is now Scotland. Iona became an important Christian centre.
- **St Augustine** came with missionaries **from Rome** and helped spread Christianity in the south of Britain. He became the **first Archbishop of Canterbury**, making Canterbury an important religious centre.

> **Key Term: Archbishop of Canterbury**  
> The senior bishop of the Church of England; St Augustine became the first Archbishop of Canterbury after arriving from Rome in 597.

These missions mattered because they helped create organised Christian communities across Britain. Over time, Christianity became deeply connected with authority and learning, with monasteries acting as centres of education, writing, and religious life.

One famous example of this learning is the work of the monk **Bede**, sometimes called the Venerable Bede, who lived in a monastery at Jarrow in the north of England. He wrote a history of the English Church and people, which is an important source for what we know about this period. Monks and nuns copied religious texts by hand and helped preserve knowledge about language, law and history.

> **Test Tip:** If a question mentions “Canterbury”, think of St Augustine and the Church in the south. If it mentions “Iona”, think of St Columba and Christian influence from Ireland into the north.

### The Vikings: raids, settlement, and the Danelaw

The **Vikings** came from **Denmark, Norway and Sweden**. In the Life in the UK Test material, the first Viking activity in Britain is described as raids on coastal towns.

The Vikings first visited Britain in **AD 789**. At first, they came mainly to **raid** (attack quickly) and take goods and slaves. They often targeted monasteries because these had valuable objects and were usually not well defended. Later, some Vikings began to **stay** and form communities, particularly in:

- the **east of England**
- parts of **Scotland**

This shift from raiding to settlement is important. The Vikings were not only attackers; many later became farmers, traders, and local rulers in the areas where they settled.

> **Key Term: Vikings**  
> Seafaring people from Denmark, Norway and Sweden who began raiding Britain in AD 789 and later settled in parts of Britain.

A key result of Viking settlement was the development of an area known as the **Danelaw**. This was mainly in the **east and north of England**, where Viking influence was strongest and where Danish laws and customs had a major effect.

You can sometimes recognise Viking influence in **place names** in these areas. The study material gives examples such as:

- **Grimsby**
- **Scunthorpe**

These names come from Viking languages and help show where Vikings settled in large numbers.

> **Key Term: Danelaw**  
> Parts of England, especially in the east and north, where Danish (Viking) settlers had strong control and influence, including laws and customs.

Viking settlement also led to mixing between Viking settlers and existing populations. Some Viking settlers **converted to Christianity**, which reduced conflict over time and helped them integrate into local society.

The Vikings also influenced the **English language** itself. Everyday words such as “sky”, “egg” and “window” come from Old Norse, the language spoken by many Vikings. In some places, local laws and customs blended Anglo-Saxon and Viking traditions, which shaped how courts and local government later developed.

### Alfred the Great, Danish kings, and Scotland’s early unification

As Viking attacks increased, the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms in England faced pressure to work together. The study material highlights the importance of **King Alfred the Great**.

Alfred ruled **Wessex**, one of the strongest Anglo-Saxon kingdoms. He is remembered because the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms **united under him** and he **defeated the Vikings**. This did not mean all Vikings left; many stayed, especially in the Danelaw. But Alfred’s leadership is linked with stopping Viking control from spreading across all of England.

> **Key Term: Alfred the Great**  
> The Anglo-Saxon king associated with uniting English kingdoms against Viking attacks and defeating Viking forces, helping prevent Viking takeover of all of England.

Alfred also strengthened defence by building and improving **burhs** (fortified towns) and reorganising the army so that part of it was always ready to fight while others could farm. He encouraged learning, supported the use of the English language in important writings, and promoted the translation of religious and educational texts so more people could understand them.

England continued to be ruled mostly by Anglo-Saxon kings, but there was a **short period** when England had **Danish kings**. The first named in the study material is **Cnut**, also called **Canute**. Remembering his name is useful because it is a common test question.

During the time of Danish kings, England was part of a wider **North Sea empire** that linked England with Denmark and Norway. Even though this period was relatively short, it showed how closely connected the kingdoms around the North Sea had become through trade, warfare and dynastic marriages.

In the north, Viking threats encouraged people to unite under one king, **Kenneth MacAlpin**. During this period, the name **Scotland** began to be used to describe that country. For the test, the key idea is that outside England, political identity and unity were also developing, partly in response to external threats.

> **Test Tip:** When you see the name “Cnut/Canute” in a multiple-choice question, link him to the period of Danish kings ruling England. When you see “Kenneth MacAlpin”, link him to early Scottish unity and the growing use of the name “Scotland”.

## Key Point Checklist

_This article has covered the following key knowledge points:_

- The Roman army left Britain in AD 410, creating conditions for new invasions and settlements
- The Jutes, Angles and Saxons invaded from northern Europe and their languages became the basis of modern English
- Anglo-Saxon kingdoms were established by about AD 600, mainly in what is now England
- Parts of Wales and Scotland remained free of Anglo-Saxon rule during this period
- Sutton Hoo in Suffolk is a major Anglo-Saxon burial site where a king was buried in a ship with treasure and armour
- The Anglo-Saxons were not originally Christian; missionaries later spread Christianity
- St Columba founded a monastery on Iona; St Augustine came from Rome and became the first Archbishop of Canterbury
- Vikings from Denmark, Norway and Sweden first raided Britain in AD 789 and later settled in parts of Britain
- Many Vikings settled in the east and north of England in the Danelaw; place names like Grimsby and Scunthorpe reflect Viking languages
- Anglo-Saxon kingdoms united under Alfred the Great, who defeated Viking forces
- England had a short period of Danish kings, including Cnut (Canute)
- In the north, Kenneth MacAlpin is linked with early unity and the growing use of the name Scotland

## Key Terms and Concepts

- Anglo-Saxons
- Sutton Hoo
- Archbishop of Canterbury
- Vikings
- Danelaw
- Alfred the Great


Early Britain to 1066 - Anglo-Saxons and Vikings