Anglo-Saxon life

Where did the Anglo-Saxons live?

When the Anglo-Saxons arrived in Britain in the 5th and 6th centuries, they found that most of the towns built by the Romans had fallen into ruins. The early Anglo-Saxons lived in small settlements consisting of just two or three families and a few buildings. Later, settlements grew into villages and small towns.

What were Anglo-Saxon buildings like?

Anglo-Saxon houses were built of wood and had thatched roofs. At West Stow in Suffolk archaeologists found the remains of an early Anglo-Saxon village and reconstructed it using Anglo-Saxon methods. They found that the village was made up of small groups of houses built around a larger hall. The houses had only one room and a hearth for cooking, heating and light.

Men and women

Early Anglo-Saxons buried the dead with their belongings. This provides evidence of the different jobs done by men and women. Men's graves include knives and spears, which suggests they were involved in hunting, fighting and farming. Women's graves include tools used for sewing and weaving, which suggests they were involved in making clothes.

Freeman or slave?

Most people in Anglo-Saxon society were either freemen or slaves. A freeman owned land and slaves. A slave owned nothing and was the freeman's property. Richer freemen were known as 'thanes'. The most important thanes helped the king rule.

Crime and punishment

The Anglo-Saxons didn't have prisons. People were often punished with fines. For minor crimes, a nose or a hand might be cut off. If a person killed someone they had to pay money to the dead person's relatives. This was called a 'wergild'. The amount depended on whether the victim was a slave or freeman.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/anglosaxons/life/index.shtml