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were grouped together under a single archbishop
who was based in the city of Canterbury. Churchmen
and churchwomen, however, had very different social
roles than their modern counterparts. Eventually,
the peoples of Anglo-Saxon England did pledge
allegiance to a single king, but the process was a
difficult one and met with bloody resistance even
after the Anglo-Saxon period.WITH US — FOR EVER?
In the 1,000 years since Anglo-Saxon times, massive
changes have occurred. These include urbanization,
industrialization, and the rise of modern mass media.
Religion in England has also experienced changes.
These came about as a result of the Protestant
Reformation and encounters with people of other
religions across the globe. The governing powers of
England also encountered massive changes, as a result
of a civil war, the creation of the United Kingdom, and
the expansion and then break-up of the British Empire.
While the Anglo-Saxon period can be seen as a
starting point for many aspects of English history,
many changes separate us from that time. The Anglo-
Saxon past, however, is not simply behind us. For as
long as we choose to value the Anglo-Saxons and their
world, the legacy of the Anglo-Saxons will remain
with us. At present, this appears to be forever.that present similar images of dwarves, elves, and
warrior kings continue to echo images that
Tolkien and others like him have drawn from the
Anglo-Saxon past.
MA NY FIR STS
These connections can be extremely important to
understanding today’s world. The Anglo-Saxon
period is often seen as the time when a distinctly
English culture developed. As a result, the Anglo-
Saxons are viewed by some as the ancestors of
present-day English people. The Anglo-Saxon
period is also considered the time when the first
English church was established. For this reason,
some scholars trace the origin of the modern
Church of England to the Anglo-Saxon period.
Continuing with firsts — it is the time when the
first English king ruled over a unified English state,
leading some to view the period as the cradle of
today’s England.
While these firsts are all rooted in history, they
are actually more complicated than they seem.
People throughout England did start speaking the
same language during what is known today as the
Anglo-Saxon Period. However, this period was one
of continuous migration and cultural change. The
Christian religion was a constant, and so the people
LEFT: Compare this house, built in New Zealand
for the filming of The Lord of the Rings with the
reconstructed Anglo-Saxon houses on page 24.
What do you think? ABOVE: Sure looks tasty —
this meal prepared by Anglo-Saxon re-enactors
in England!Protestant Reformation was a religious movement of the 16th century that began as an attempt
to reform the Roman Catholic Church and resulted in the creation of Protestant churches.