9.2 Where did the Anglo-Saxons come from?

An investigative-style mini-documentary, interviewing the new arrivals as they step off the boat from their long journey from Eastern Europe and into Suffolk. This lesson explores various push and pull factors for migration to the British Isles; we meet farmers, an elder, a Saxon lord and even his fearsome warrior, Snell.

This lesson includes:

• Who the Anglo-Saxons were and where they came from, exploring their journey from places we now know as Germany and Scandinavia to the shores of Britain.
• An introduction to the concept of migration and the various reasons why the Anglo-Saxons left their homelands, including seeking safety, farming opportunities, the need for more space, and the desire for power and control.
• The challenges the Anglo-Saxons faced in their original settlements, such as overcrowding, threats to safety, and environmental changes.
• The significant influence the Anglo-Saxons had on Britain, from cultural changes to the formation of new societies and power structures.