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The Anglo-Saxons were comprised of people from Germanic tribes who migrated to Great Britain from Continental Europe; they inhabited the island from 450-1066.
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Britain fell from Roman rule and established an independent culture and society.
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Christianity was re-established and Britain began to flourish as a center for learning and cultural production.
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Smaller territories began coalescing into kingdoms, with the kingdom of Mercia one of the most dominant.
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Rise of the Wessex kingdom, especially with King Alfred the Great, who oversaw an increasing unity of the English people and improved the kingdom's legal system and military structure and his people's quality of life.
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The West Saxon kings extended their power first over Mercia, then over the southern Danelaw, and finally over Northumbria, thereby imposing a semblance of political unity.
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This society continued to develop and thrive until the Norman Conquest of 1066. King Alfred was able to resist the first invation.
The Anglo-Saxon culture was centered around three classes of men: the working man, the churchman and the warrior.
