A Pocket Essentials Short History of the Anglo-Saxons

Book excerpt: In July, 2009 amateur metal detectorist Terry Herbert made an incredible discovery. He was searching a field in Staffordshire with his metal detector when he stumbled upon the single greatest hoard of Anglo-Saxon gold and silverwork ever found. His amazing finds, known collectively as the Staffordshire Hoard, focused a spotlight of interest on the history and lives of these Dark Age people.But who were the Anglo-Saxons and where did they come from?A Short History of the Anglo-Saxons traces the fascinating history of this era and its people, from the early European migrants from tribes such as Angles, Saxons and Jutes who travelled mainly to Britain after the end of Roman rule in 410, to the dramatic end of the Anglo-Saxon period following the victory of William the Conqueror at the Battle of Hastings. It covers their various kingdoms such as Wessex and Mercia, as well as the numerous attacks on the prosperity and successes of the Anglo-Saxons by peoples such as the Vikings.From popular fiction such as The Hobbit to Game of Thrones to the world language of English, the continuing influence of the Anglo-Saxons can be found in many modern societies today. This Pocket Essential guide provides an indispensable introduction to everything you need to know about the Anglo-Saxon period.