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A beginner's history

Chapter 153: THE ANGLES AND SAXONS IN GREAT BRITAIN
By William H. Mace
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About This Book

Aimed at young readers, this illustrated school history surveys early exploration, colonization, colonial life, and the nation’s political development through concise biographical sketches and episode-based narratives. Chapters recount voyages, settlement patterns, and the foundations of several colonies, then address leaders and events that shaped independence and national institutions. Pedagogical features include study questions, leading facts, and suggested readings to support classroom use, while the preface and concluding material stress moral lessons of perseverance, civic responsibility, and the nation’s mobilization and role in the recent world war.

THE ANGLES AND SAXONS IN GREAT BRITAIN

294. The Britons. There were already two groups of people in these islands. Under the rule of the Romans one group, the Britons, had been weakened as fighters.

Britons fight among themselves

Rome called her legions out of Britain to fight the Germans. This left the Britons without good soldiers to keep order and the tribes began fighting one another. One tribe, the Britons proper, invited bands of Jutes from Denmark (449) to help them. After the Britons had forced back their enemies the Jutes refused to go away. They took possession of the land, making it their home.

Where the name England came from

295. Coming of the Anglo-Saxons. Other German tribes, chiefly the wild Angles and Saxons, now came over from Europe. The new tribes soon brought the Britons under their rule. They gave their names to the land they had taken—Angle land or England. The Angles and Saxons are the forefathers of the "English" people. The Britons who would not submit were driven into the lands to the west known as Wales, and became the "Welsh."

296. Rome Brings Christianity to the Germans. When the western Roman Empire passed away in 476, the church remained the only strong central government in all that vast territory. It acted as a steady light when all about was dark and changing. Its priests came to be the only educated class, giving it great influence.

Clovis, king of the Franks, converted

Even before the invasions began, missionaries went among the German tribes on the frontiers to preach the religion of Christ. Many of the Germans had accepted the new religion either before or soon after entering Roman territory. Clovis, king of the Franks, was influenced by his Christian wife to accept the new religion. His army followed, and was baptized with its leader.

England becomes Christian

Missionaries under Augustine were sent from Rome to England. Through their earnest preaching and noble living the king of Kent and his followers accepted the new religion. A church was built at Canterbury. Others carried on the work until all England had accepted Christianity. Other missionaries went to the northern Germans, and many of these people became Christians.

These early missionaries were mostly monks. Their homes (monasteries) were like small settlements among the people. They not only preached the new religion, but showed people better ways of farming and living. In their schools, they taught people to read and write.