RIASSUNTO IN INGLESE ANGLO SASSONI E VICHINGHI

THE ANGLO SAXONS AND THE VIKINGS IN BRITAIN

In 5th and 6th century Britain was dominated by people coming from Northern Europe: the Jutes, the Angles and the Saxons. They settled south of Hadrians's wall because they were lowland. 

Thei society was founded on clan (that is the family) and the loyalty of the members of the family to the clan. 

In 597 AD Pope sent a monk, Augustine, to bring back Christianity in England. It was a successful mission, in fact in 602 AD the Cathedral of Canterbury was built and Augustine became the first Archibishop of Canterbury. 

The Danes (known as the Vikings) came from Northern Europe and were sea people. They crossed the sea looking for treasure and slaves. They invaded Britain and sacked monastries taking the monks as slaves. From the 9th century they started to settle in the land and established Danish laws. 

When they tried to invade Wessex the met the opposition of King Alfred who defeated them in the Battle of Edington (878 AD).

King Alfred re-organised the army and built fortresses in order to protect his reign. He also made Winchester as the capital of hte reign and invited scholars to translate latin texts in Anglo-Saxon language. 

In 991 AD the Vikings attacked Britain again and Alfred payed a lot of money (the Danegeld) to save land from being sacked and destroyed. 

The last Anglo-Saxon king was Harold, who tried to defeat the Danes and also William, duke of Normandy, who was claiming English throne.