Women in Anglo-Saxon Times

Women and Religion

By: Alex Engleman Kallie Krammes Tanner Faulkenburg Jessica Spalding

Introduction  We will be focusing on  women in the Anglo-Saxon times  the religion of Anglo-Saxon  the importance of Thor

 These are the main points to know throughout our presentation

Women in Anglo-Saxon Times  With all the wars, society seemed to be male dominated and women were believed to have a small role  They were in charge of cooking, cleaning, caring for the children and working while the husband was home and away at war

Women in Anglo-Saxon Times  Large emphasis on warfare throughout the culture  A short list of the wars: Byzantine-Arab Wars (629-1169) Byzantine-Bulgarian Wars (680–1364) Byzantine-Seljuk wars (1064–1308) Byzantine-Ottoman wars (1299–1453) Bulgarian-Latin Wars (1204-1261) Bulgarian-Hungarian Wars (9–14th centuries) Bulgarian-Serbian Wars (839 - 1330) Bulgarian-Ottoman Wars (1354–1422) Mongol invasion of Europe (1223–1284)

Saxon Wars - (772-804) Reconquista (718-1492) Hussite Wars (1420–1434) Hundred Years' War (1337–1453) Wars of the Roses (1455–1487) Crusades (1096–1291)

Women in Anglo-Saxon Times  Women in fact did have rights in the society  They could own things, sell things and make money  However, after the Norman Conquest of 1066, the rights of women became much more strict  Later on, they were allowed to voice their opinion by writing poems and novels

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Women in Anglo-Saxon Times  Proof has been found of women having rights, stated in the English Common Law  Wills from medieval times have shown instances of women inheriting and owning property  Once married, women still owned the property they were given, but everything else became property to the man

Women in Anglo-Saxon Times  In some areas, a man had to offer a woman a substantial gift called a morgengifu, usually this was money or land  Morgengifu: the morning-gift

Women in Anglo-Saxon Times  The woman was given total control over this gift, not her family or her husband  She was able to give it away, sell it or do with it as she wanted

Women in Anglo-Saxon Times  Women joined religious communities like a monastery or a nunnery.  Some women from noble families called Abbesses became very powerful and took control of Double houses, which include Monasteries and Nunneries.

Women in Anglo-Saxon Times  Both female and male communities were governed by the abbess.

Women in Anglo-Saxon Times  One of the most famous women was Hild, the abesses of Whitby.  Hilda of Whitby or Hild of Whitby was a Christian saint, and the founding abbess of the monastery at Whitby. An important figure in the conversion of England to Christianity, she was abbess at several monasteries and recognized for the wisdom that drew kings to her for advice.

Hild also created a large library and made Whitby into a center for learning.

Fast Facts  Women in Anglo-Saxon England were near equal companions to the males in their lives, such as husbands and brothers, much more than in any other era before modern time.  The almost universal adoption of Christianity in the late seventh century unites Britain under a common ethical code.

Anglo-Saxon Religion  Strong Christianity influence  By 650A.D., almost all converted to Christianity  Old religion (gods and warriors) still was around  Many still followed their pagan beliefs  applied religion to everyday lives

Anglo-Saxon Religion  Dark and fatalistic religion  Brought from AngloSaxons from Germany

 Lot in common with Norse Mythology  overall term for the myths, legends and beliefs about supernatural beings of Norse pagans.  Flourished prior to the Christianization of Scandinavian, during the Early Middle Ages

Norse Gods  Important Norse God was Odin  God of Death, poetry, and magic

 Other Norse Gods and Goddesses  Vali  God of revenge

 Eir  Goddess of healing

 Baldr  God of beauty, peace, innocence, and rebirth

 Dagr  God of the daytime

Odin  Anglo- Saxon name for Odin was Woden  How we received Wednesday, “Woden’s Day”  Helped humans communicate with spirits  Was associated with burial rites and estatic trances  Important for poetry and religious mysteries

 He played a very important role in lives of those who produced poetry yet maintained a somber, brooding outlook on life  Associated with war  Ruler of Asgard  Had many sons  Most famous is Thor

Anglo-Saxon Gods and Heroes  Anglo-Saxon deity named Thunor was essentially the same as the God Thor.  Thunor was the norse god of thunder and lighting.

Thunor  The signs of Thunor were a hammer and the twisted cross we call the Swastika.  Thunor’s name still survives  Thursday, “Thors day”.

Dragon  Another significant figure in Anglo-Saxon mythology is the dragon  protector of treasure

 Scholars suggest that the fiery dragon should be seen as both a personification of “Death the Devourer” and as the guardian of the grave mound (where warrior ashes and treasure remain).

Virtues  The Anglo-Saxon religion was more concerned with ethics though than mysticism they showed this through virtues such as…    

Bravery Loyalty Generosity Friendship.

Conclusion  In conclusion, be sure you know the importance of the Anglo-Saxon women and the religion of their time.