The Anglo-Saxons, who settled in England after the fall of Roman rule, were primarily an agricultural society. Once they had conquered new territory, they typically divided the land into small parcels, with each family receiving a plot to cultivate. These farms provided essential food supplies—such as grains, vegetables, and livestock—that sustained households and supported the wider community. Farming was not only the backbone of daily survival but also the foundation of the Anglo-Saxon economy, shaping village life, social structure, and local governance. Over time, these settlements grew into self-sufficient communities centered around the land and the rhythms of agriculture.
The Angles, Saxons, and Jutes migrated from regions of present-day Denmark and northern Germany to Britain beginning around 410 AD, following the withdrawal of the Romans. Over time, these tribes established their own independent kingdoms, giving rise to the culture and society that became known collectively as the Anglo-Saxons. They named their new homeland “Angle Land,” which would later evolve into England.
By around 600 AD, Anglo-Saxon England was divided into the Heptarchy, a group of seven powerful kingdoms—Northumbria, Mercia, East Anglia, Essex, Kent, Sussex, and Wessex—each ruled by its own king. This period laid the foundations of early English identity, law, language, and culture, lasting until the Norman Conquest of 1066, which brought dramatic changes to the land and its people.
Anglo Saxon Culture
Anglo-Saxons had a different culture than British Christians, they were pagans who prayed to many different gods, they believed that there were gods of rocks, trees, and the Sun, etc.
The Anglo Saxons believed in a strong family unit and were very loyal to their relatives even distant relatives.
If an Anglo Saxons relative was killed this was not accepted by Anglo-Saxon families and they would either kill the person in revenge or demand some form of compensation for their loss.
This compensation was set in law and was structured whereas the rich got more and the lower classes of people got less compensation money.
Anglo Saxon social structure
There was a social order for Anglo Saxons that they had to follow, first, there were the lower people in society who owned a small plot of land called churls, these formed the majority of Anglo-Saxon people.
Next in line was a higher status person called a thegn pronounced thane, these people own five plots of land (hides)
Next up the social ladder in order of importance was the Anglo-Saxon church and above them was the Anglo-Saxon King. Anglo Saxon kings dined with and looked after the strongest men in their tribes to win their loyalty.
Sometimes rival Anglo-Saxon kings from other areas would support each other if there was a common purpose, this meant that the King with fewer men and the weaker army would support a stronger King in battles and keep him happy with the giving of valuable gifts.
This could be one of the reasons that Anglo Saxons were always raiding and looting other people’s territory because of this social structure of giving gifts to one another to keep their loyalty.
Anglo Saxon Kings
The Anglo-Saxon King would collect food and goods from each Anglo-Saxon family, the wealthier Anglo-Saxon people with five plots of land would give more than the low-level Anglo-Saxons who only had small plots of land.
Anglo-Saxon Kings had administrators who decided how much food and gifts each family should give each year to the Anglo-Saxon King.
The Anglo-Saxon King had to be a very strong leader, he was basically the strongest and bravest warrior and regularly had to fight off challenges to his leadership by other strong Anglo-Saxon Warriors.
Anglo Saxon Housing
Considering it was the seventh century Anglo-Saxons lived in quite well-built properties, Anglo-Saxon people tended to be strong and good with their hands, houses were built close to the fields where they grew their food and were made from solid wooden frames that were finished off with a combination of reeds mixed with mud.
The Anglo-Saxon King as you might expect had the best home, he lived in a giant ornate long hall, this large building was designed so that the Anglo-Saxon King could entertain and have large feasts with his most loyal warriors who were usually called thegn.
These Anglo Saxon warriors were well looked after by the Anglo Saxon King, who did this to keep their loyalty to stop them from challenging his authority.
The King’s hall usually had a cooking area in the middle of the room where the food for feasts would be cooked, and long wooden tables down both sides where the King and his loyal supporters would be brought food and ale as entertainers told stories set to music.
Anglo Saxon Food
The low-level Anglo-Saxon people with only small plots of land ate what they grew themselves this was mainly oats, wheat, barley beans, and peas.
They ate meat from the animals they raised such as pigs, sheep, goats, and cows.
The King also ate the same kind of food, however, there was properly a greater quantity and better quality of food available to him.
Anglo Saxon England
The Anglo-Saxons lived in England during the period around the seventh century however they came from Denmark, Germany, and the Netherlands and spoke a Germanic language, and few of them were able to read or write anything.
This Germanic language was changed and adapted as time went on and was adopted across Anglo Saxon England, this led to it becoming the universal language spoken called “English” and is a language that is commonly used throughout the world today.
Anglo Saxon Women and Slaves
Anglo Saxon women spent most of their time spinning and weaving thread they also tended to jobs that would be classed as housewife duties today like cleaning, designing furnishings, making bed linen, etc.
Anglo-Saxon women lived like slaves and had few rights, they did all the dirty menial jobs in Anglo-Saxon society.
They also served drinks such as ale which was made from a fermenting of honey, in Anglo Saxon times called mead, and is similar to the ales we drink today.
Anglo-Saxons also commonly had slaves who were captured in their conquest and others were born into slavery from previous generations of slaves.
Anglo Saxon *Fighting & Hunting
Anglo Saxon men were probably very strong because of the active lifestyles they spent most of the time farming or hunting for food, they were very good hunters who use dogs to track down animals such as deer and wild boars and they even trained hawks to hunt other birds for them.
Anglo Saxon men were very in tune with nature and knew how animals behaved and how best to use nature to their advantage.
Anglo-Saxon men were always battle-ready they were armed with long spears that had sharp iron points, some Anglo-Saxon warriors had battleaxes and swords, they had to pay for their weapons and only the wealthier members of the Anglo-Saxon tribes had superior weapons.
Anglo Saxon Clothes
Anglo Saxons usually made their clothing from wool and linen, it was designed to be comfortable and practical, they also added decorations to make the clothing look superior and who use plant juices as a die to add color.
Anglo-Saxon people usually wore loose-fitting tunics that were gathered at the waist by a belt they were either full length or stopped at the knee, with leggings worn underneath.
When it was cold thick cloaks were worn that were kept in place by metal brooches. The King wore similar clothes but they were usually of better quality. Leather was also widely used by Anglo-Saxon people to make bags, shoes, and other similar items.
