Hardest Anglo-Saxon History for Dummies Trivia Quiz | History

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. The Angles, Saxons, and Jutes swaggered over to Britain soon after the Romans left in the 5th century. These groups had a similar language and loved a good fight. Why did they most likely come?

Answer: The rich land

The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle describes the uncertain years after the Roman withdrawal, when the Britons searched in vain for help against their enemies. In 449 A.D., the chronicle states: "Then came the men from three powers of Germany; the Old Saxons, the Angles, and the Jutes".

These men apparently migrated to Britain because they had heard of the "worthlessness of the Britons, and the richness of the land".

2. The Angles, Saxons, and Jutes had enjoyed being blood-thirsty heathens for many centuries. Popes in Rome, however, were adamant that the wealthy pillagers should convert to Christianity. How did this conversion happen?

Answer: Gradually, and with respect to Anglo-Saxon beliefs

Pope Gregory the Great (d. 604 A.D.) had a strong interest in bringing the Anglo-Saxons to Christianity. He selected Augustine of Canterbury to lead the charge in spreading Christianity to the fierce and warlike tribes. It took the efforts of many monks, and many missions, to bring about the eventual conversion of the Anglo-Saxons. Shrewdly, the missionaries were careful not to attempt wiping out Anglo-Saxon beliefs and customs.

Instead, they opted to incorporate pagan rituals into a Christian paradigm.

3. The Anglo-Saxons are (sometimes unjustly) thought of as a bunch of illiterate brutes. They did, however, leave behind a rich literary tradition. What type of literature did they NOT create?

Answer: Treatises on gender equality

The Anglo-Saxon canon of literature combines an intriguing mixture of paganism and Christianity, often seamlessly intertwined. The Anglo-Saxons brought with them an ancient oral tradition, a few examples of which were recorded for posterity by monks and other literate men.

The great epic poems include "Beowulf" and "Widsith". They also left behind manuscripts, ecclesiastical works, sermons, prose, riddles, and biographies. Alas, they were not much concerned with gender equality, as they held the belief that men and women were born with distinct and different roles.

4. Amidst the strangely-named rulers of Anglo-Saxon England, like Offa and Ethelberht, arose a sensibly-named king called Alfred. He defended England from invaders and issued helpful laws. What other triumph is laid at his feet?

Answer: The revival of culture and learning

Alfred the Great was very interested in education, culture, and the fine arts. He translated many texts into the vernacular. A major example of this was his rendering of "The Consolation of Philosophy of Boethius". Additionally, he invited scholars to his court, promoting a love for learning and wisdom.

5. The structure of Anglo-Saxon society was strictly controlled by birth. If a person was foolish enough to be born a peasant, he or she would be stuck in that role for life.

Answer: False

While birth and kinship were certainly important in Anglo-Saxon society, a person was not forever bound to one class. At the top of the hierarchy was the king and his family. The king could lose his power if he failed to protect his people. Under the king was the nobility (later called earls), and though positions and titles could be hereditary, they could also be earned through service.

After the nobility was the large land-owning class called thanes. Among the thanes, there were many subcategories of rank depending on the amount of land one owned. Next came the free men, called ceorls. Again, there were many levels in this class of free men. Last of all were the slaves. Slaves could be freed by their masters or could even buy their own freedom.

6. Sometimes the Anglo-Saxons took a break from trying to kill one another in order to commemorate special days. What was the primary way in which the Anglo-Saxons celebrated?

Answer: Feasts

Mead hall feasts had become a pleasurable part of life for the hard-working Anglo-Saxons. Feast days commemorated special events, such as honoring revered saints or celebrating harvest times. Feasts allowed kings and lords to show off their wealth and bounty. Anglo-Saxon feasts could last for many days.

Their recreational activities included story telling, poetry recitations, riddle contests, board games, and tests of physical strength.

7. "Might makes right" was often the motto in Anglo-Saxon England, but there were laws issued to protect everyone. Lawbreakers faced all of the following punishments EXCEPT:

Answer: Jail

The Anglo-Saxons developed a detailed and complex law code. Although based on the Germanic tradition, Anglo-Saxon law evolved into a distinct entity. Law-breakers paid fines for most crimes. Those who could not pay would face becoming slaves for a set period of time.

Other punishments included loss of limbs or body parts, banishment, hangings, beheadings, and other inventive methods of death. People were not sentenced to incarceration, simply because there were no jails or prisons in Anglo-Saxon England.

8. Though the Anglo-Saxons had invaded and defeated the Britons, they didn't much appreciate the Scandinavian Vikings who did the same to them. They eventually had to accept one Viking as their king for nearly twenty years. Who?

Answer: Canute

Canute the Mighty, scion of the Danish royal house, ruled England from 1016 A.D. until his death in 1035 A.D. During his reign, he united Anglo-Saxons and Danes in both secular and clerical offices. England enjoyed nearly two decades free from Viking attacks.

9. By 1066, Edward the Confessor was the sole surviving son of the house of Wessex. All of his brothers had died through wars, murders, and sometimes even natural causes. What was the biggest impact of the royal family's decline?

Answer: It left the royal succession uncertain

Edward the Confessor's father, Aethelred the Unready, had sired many sons. Unfortunately, all of them died prematurely, and Edward was the last representative of the ancient royal family. He did not produce any children, which resulted in the problem of the royal succession. Harold Godwinson, Tostig Godwinson, Harald Hardrada, and William of Normandy all made a bid for the English throne.

10. The Anglo-Saxons had come to Britain as big, blond bullies. They engaged in battles and bloodshed. Eventually, they created a unique culture and ruled for hundreds of years. What event effectively ended the Anglo-Saxon era?

Answer: The Norman Conquest

In 1066, William the Conqueror defeated the Anglo-Saxons and became king of all England. Norman and Anglo-Saxon customs mingled, creating an altogether new culture and way of life. Anglo-Saxon influence can still be felt today in law, literature, poetry, religion, and art.

Source: Author Pagiedamon

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor bloomsby before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.

Anglo-Saxon History for Dummies Quiz

So you think Anglo-Saxon history is little more than battles, bloodshed, and bullies? Well, so what?

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