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Study Guide: Anglo-Saxon England: History, Culture, and Terminology

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Anglo-Saxon England: History, Culture, and Terminology Study Guide

Foundations and Early Periodization

The Anglo-Saxon period in British history is defined as the era spanning from the arrival of Germanic tribes around 450 AD until the Roman withdrawal from Britain.

Answer: False

Explanation: The Anglo-Saxon period is generally understood to extend from the arrival of Germanic tribes around 450 AD until the Norman Conquest in 1066, not the Roman withdrawal from Britain.

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According to the 6th-century historian Procopius, the island of Brittia was settled by the Angili, Frissones, and Brittones.

Answer: True

Explanation: The 6th-century historian Procopius identified the Angili, Frissones, and Brittones as the three nations that settled the island of Brittia, situated near the Rhine delta.

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The prevailing academic view suggests that Anglo-Saxon culture was entirely transplanted from continental Europe without significant interaction with native British culture.

Answer: False

Explanation: The prevailing academic view posits that Anglo-Saxon culture developed in Britain through significant interaction with the existing Romano-British culture, rather than being entirely transplanted from continental Europe.

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Linguistic evidence, such as the names of early kings in Wessex and Mercia, suggests that Britons may have influenced the foundation of some Anglo-Saxon kingdoms.

Answer: True

Explanation: Linguistic analysis of early Anglo-Saxon royal genealogies indicates potential British influence, with names such as Penda and Pybba in Mercia appearing to derive from Old Welsh, alongside British-origin names found among Wessex rulers.

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Bede's account suggested that the Anglo-Saxon settlers originated exclusively from the region known as 'Old Saxony'.

Answer: False

Explanation: Bede's account suggested that the Anglo-Saxon settlers originated from 'Old Saxony' and adjacent regions, not exclusively from 'Old Saxony.' Furthermore, subsequent historical and archaeological evidence indicates a more diverse range of continental origins.

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What is the generally accepted timeframe for the Anglo-Saxon period in Britain?

Answer: From the arrival of Germanic tribes around 450 AD until the Norman Conquest in 1066.

Explanation: The Anglo-Saxon period in Britain is conventionally demarcated as extending from the arrival of Germanic peoples around 450 AD to the Norman Conquest of 1066.

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According to Procopius, which three nations settled the island of Brittia near the Rhine delta?

Answer: Angili, Frissones, and Brittones

Explanation: The 6th-century historian Procopius identified the Angili, Frissones, and Brittones as the three nations that settled the island of Brittia, situated near the Rhine delta.

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Which of the following best describes the prevailing view on the development of Anglo-Saxon culture in Britain?

Answer: It developed in Britain through interaction with existing Romano-British culture.

Explanation: The prevailing academic consensus posits that Anglo-Saxon culture in Britain was not merely a direct transplantation from continental Europe but rather evolved through significant interaction with the indigenous Romano-British culture.

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Which of the following names, associated with early Anglo-Saxon kings, suggests potential British influence?

Answer: Penda

Explanation: Linguistic analysis of early Anglo-Saxon royal genealogies indicates potential British influence, with names such as Penda and Pybba in Mercia appearing to derive from Old Welsh, alongside British-origin names found among Wessex rulers.

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Language and Literature

Old English forms the basis for less than 26% of modern English words, but these words constitute the majority of everyday vocabulary.

Answer: True

Explanation: Although Old English contributes less than 26% of the lexicon of modern English, the words derived from it form the bedrock of everyday communication, underscoring its fundamental role.

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Celtic languages like Welsh and Scottish Gaelic primarily use terms derived from 'Angle' to refer to the English people.

Answer: False

Explanation: Celtic languages such as Welsh (*Saeson*) and Scottish Gaelic (*Sasannach*) predominantly use terms derived from 'Saxon' to refer to the English people, reflecting a historical linguistic pattern.

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The English language underwent minimal change after the Norman Conquest, remaining largely Old English.

Answer: False

Explanation: Following the Norman Conquest and the resulting linguistic shifts, Old English underwent rapid transformation, evolving into early Middle English by approximately 1200 AD due to the influence of Norman French and Latin.

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Old English literature primarily consisted of epic poetry like *Beowulf* and religious texts, with few other genres documented.

Answer: False

Explanation: Old English literature was diverse, encompassing not only epic poetry like *Beowulf* and religious texts but also hagiography, sermons, legal works, chronicles, and riddles, as evidenced by surviving manuscripts.

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Anglo-Saxon poetry is characterized by its use of rhyme schemes and a consistent meter across lines.

Answer: False

Explanation: Anglo-Saxon poetry is primarily characterized by alliteration, the repetition of stressed sounds, rather than rhyme schemes. Its structure typically involves two half-lines separated by a caesura, with alliteration linking the two.

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The three main strands of Anglo-Saxon poetry include religious, heroic, and didactic poetry.

Answer: False

Explanation: The three primary categories identified within Anglo-Saxon poetry are religious poetry, heroic or epic poetry, and poetry focusing on 'smaller' topics such as elegies, wisdom poems, and riddles, rather than explicitly 'didactic' poetry as a distinct main strand.

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The *Anglo-Saxon Chronicle* was a single, unified document commissioned by King Alfred to record West Saxon history exclusively.

Answer: False

Explanation: The *Anglo-Saxon Chronicle* was not a single, unified document but existed in multiple versions. While it provided a framework for events, particularly from a West Saxon perspective, it was promulgated to various monasteries and offered broader historical insights.

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J.R.R. Tolkien's work provided evidence suggesting that Old English speech patterns persisted into the thirteenth century.

Answer: True

Explanation: J.R.R. Tolkien's scholarly analyses, particularly of texts such as the Katherine Group, provided evidence indicating the persistence of Old English speech patterns into the thirteenth century, especially within the West Midlands.

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In modern philology, 'Anglo-Saxon' is the standard term used to refer to the language spoken from roughly 450 to 1150 AD.

Answer: False

Explanation: In modern philology, the term 'Old English' is the standard designation for the language spoken from approximately 450 to 1150 AD. While 'Anglo-Saxon' may refer to the derived vocabulary, it is not the primary term for the language itself.

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By approximately what year did Old English evolve into early Middle English following the Norman Conquest?

Answer: 1200 AD

Explanation: Following the Norman Conquest and the resulting linguistic shifts, Old English evolved into early Middle English by approximately 1200 AD.

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Which genre is NOT explicitly mentioned as a major form of Old English literature?

Answer: Romance novels

Explanation: Among the major forms of Old English literature explicitly mentioned, romance novels are absent; the documented genres include epic poetry, hagiography, sermons, legal works, chronicles, and riddles.

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What is the primary structural principle of Anglo-Saxon poetry?

Answer: Alliteration

Explanation: The primary structural principle organizing Anglo-Saxon poetry is alliteration, characterized by the repetition of stressed sounds, rather than rhyme.

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Which of the following is NOT listed as one of the three main strands of Anglo-Saxon poetry?

Answer: Lyric poetry

Explanation: While religious poetry, heroic/epic poetry, and poetry on 'smaller' topics (elegies, riddles) are identified as the three main strands of Anglo-Saxon poetry, lyric poetry is not explicitly listed as one of these primary categories.

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What was the significance of the *Anglo-Saxon Chronicle*?

Answer: It provided a vital framework for events, especially in the 10th and 11th centuries.

Explanation: The *Anglo-Saxon Chronicle* holds significant importance as a vital source that provides a chronological framework for events, particularly during the 10th and 11th centuries, offering historical narratives and perspectives, notably from the West Saxon viewpoint.

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Society, Law, and Governance

Æthelberht's law code for Kent was the first written legal document in the Anglo-Saxon language and marked the reintroduction of coinage.

Answer: True

Explanation: King Æthelberht of Kent is credited with a significant legal achievement: the codification of the earliest written law in any Germanic language, which also instituted a system of fines and coincided with the reintroduction of coinage.

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Mercian supremacy in the 7th and 8th centuries was primarily established through diplomatic alliances and trade agreements.

Answer: False

Explanation: Mercian supremacy during the 7th and 8th centuries was primarily established through military conquest and the assertion of overlordship over other kingdoms, as exemplified by rulers like Penda and Offa.

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King Alfred the Great reformed England's military defenses by establishing a network of fortresses (*burhs*) and commissioning specialized naval craft.

Answer: True

Explanation: A key reform implemented by King Alfred the Great to enhance England's military defenses involved the establishment of a network of fortresses, known as *burhs*, and the commissioning of specialized naval vessels to counter Viking incursions.

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In Anglo-Saxon society, loyalty was primarily directed towards the state and its institutions rather than the person of a lord.

Answer: False

Explanation: In Anglo-Saxon society, loyalty was predominantly directed towards the individual lord rather than abstract state institutions, a characteristic that contributed to the fluidity of political power structures.

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The *weregild* system was designed to establish a monetary value for each person's life to compensate for homicide and injury.

Answer: True

Explanation: The *weregild* system was a fundamental legal mechanism designed to assign a monetary value to an individual's life, serving as compensation for homicide and injury, thereby mitigating blood feuds.

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The Anglo-Saxon legal system relied heavily on detailed investigations and witness testimonies to determine guilt or innocence.

Answer: False

Explanation: A detailed factual investigation was not a common method employed in the Anglo-Saxon legal system for determining guilt or innocence; reliance was placed more heavily on oath-helping and trial by ordeal.

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A 2022 Cambridge University study found that Anglo-Saxon elites and royalty consumed large quantities of meat daily.

Answer: False

Explanation: Contrary to the assertion, a 2022 Cambridge University study indicated that Anglo-Saxon elites and royalty, akin to peasants, subsisted primarily on a diet of cereal grains, with substantial meat consumption being reserved for occasional feasts.

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Anglo-Saxon kinship ties emphasized loyalty to abstract principles of justice over personal allegiance to a lord.

Answer: False

Explanation: Anglo-Saxon kinship ties emphasized personal allegiance to a lord rather than abstract principles of justice, a characteristic that, coupled with a less robust administrative structure, contributed to the dynamic nature of political power.

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The Witan served as the king's primary military force, leading armies in battle.

Answer: False

Explanation: The Witan (Witenagemot) functioned as the king's advisory council, involved in matters of governance, law, and land grants, but it did not serve as the primary military force or lead armies in battle.

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Social ranks in Anglo-Saxon society, such as the *thegn* and *ceorl*, were distinguished mainly by their military prowess.

Answer: False

Explanation: Social ranks in Anglo-Saxon society, such as the *thegn* and *ceorl*, were primarily distinguished by the value of their *weregild* (man price), rather than solely by military prowess.

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A royal vill or king's tun primarily served as a permanent administrative capital for the king's government.

Answer: False

Explanation: A royal vill or king's tun served as a temporary residence for the king and his retinue during their travels, functioning as centers for justice and rent collection, rather than as permanent administrative capitals.

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Anglo-Saxon women could not own property independently and were legally subordinate in all transactions.

Answer: False

Explanation: Contrary to the assertion, Anglo-Saxon women appear to have possessed considerable legal independence, including the capacity to own property independently and act as principals in legal transactions, and were entitled to the same *weregild* as men of comparable social standing.

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The concept of *mund* in Anglo-Saxon law referred to the right of individuals to seek vengeance against those who wronged them.

Answer: False

Explanation: The concept of *mund* in Anglo-Saxon law did not refer to the right of vengeance but rather to the king's protection, extended particularly to those without established kinship or lordly ties, underscoring the monarch's role in ensuring security.

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The *Tribal Hidage*, dating from the late 7th century, lists numerous tribal groups primarily located north of the River Humber.

Answer: False

Explanation: The *Tribal Hidage*, a document from the late 7th century, enumerates numerous tribal groups situated primarily south of the River Humber, not north of it.

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The shire court in later Anglo-Saxon England primarily served a judicial function, settling legal disputes.

Answer: False

Explanation: While the shire court possessed judicial capacity, its primary function in later Anglo-Saxon England was administrative, serving as a venue for reading charters, issuing writs, and managing local affairs, often presided over by the sheriff.

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Anglo-Saxons believed that 'luck' was a controllable force that could be manipulated through rituals and sacrifices.

Answer: False

Explanation: Anglo-Saxons perceived 'luck' as a random element in human affairs, rather than a controllable force that could be manipulated through rituals and sacrifices. 'Destiny' was viewed as a guiding force shaping events.

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The term *Bretwalda* denoted a king who held supreme authority and collected tribute from other Anglo-Saxon rulers.

Answer: True

Explanation: The term *Bretwalda* signified an Anglo-Saxon king who wielded supreme authority, often recognized as an overlord by other rulers, and potentially collecting tribute, analogous to the concept of *imperium*.

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King Alfred's reforms focused solely on military improvements and political consolidation.

Answer: False

Explanation: King Alfred's reforms extended beyond military improvements and political consolidation to encompass significant advancements in religion, learning, and the promotion of vernacular literacy, thereby shaping England's cultural identity.

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What significant legal achievement is attributed to King Æthelberht of Kent?

Answer: The creation of the earliest written code in a Germanic language.

Explanation: King Æthelberht of Kent is credited with a significant legal achievement: the codification of the earliest written law in any Germanic language, which also instituted a system of fines and coincided with the reintroduction of coinage.

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What was the primary basis for Mercian supremacy in the 7th and 8th centuries?

Answer: Military success and establishment of overlordship.

Explanation: Mercian supremacy during the 7th and 8th centuries was primarily established through military conquest and the assertion of overlordship over other kingdoms, as exemplified by rulers like Penda and Offa.

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Which of the following was a key reform implemented by King Alfred the Great to improve England's military defenses?

Answer: Building a chain of fortresses (*burhs*) and commissioning new ship types.

Explanation: A key reform implemented by King Alfred the Great to enhance England's military defenses involved the establishment of a network of fortresses, known as *burhs*, and the commissioning of specialized naval vessels to counter Viking incursions.

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In Anglo-Saxon society, loyalty was primarily directed towards:

Answer: The person of a lord.

Explanation: In Anglo-Saxon society, the primary focus of loyalty was the individual lord, rather than abstract concepts of state or institution.

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What was the main function of the *weregild* system in Anglo-Saxon law?

Answer: To establish a monetary value for life as compensation.

Explanation: The principal function of the *weregild* system in Anglo-Saxon law was to establish a monetary value for an individual's life, serving as compensation for homicide and injury and mitigating the practice of blood feuds.

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Which of the following was NOT a common method used in the Anglo-Saxon legal system to determine guilt or innocence?

Answer: Detailed factual investigation

Explanation: A detailed factual investigation was not a common method employed in the Anglo-Saxon legal system for determining guilt or innocence; reliance was placed more heavily on oath-helping and trial by ordeal.

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What did a 2022 Cambridge University study reveal about the diet of Anglo-Saxon elites?

Answer: Their diet was primarily based on cereal grains, similar to peasants, with meat feasts being occasional.

Explanation: A 2022 Cambridge University study indicated that Anglo-Saxon elites and royalty, akin to peasants, subsisted primarily on a diet of cereal grains, with substantial meat consumption being reserved for occasional feasts.

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What does the term *Bretwalda* signify in the context of Anglo-Saxon England?

Answer: The most powerful king recognized as an overlord by other rulers.

Explanation: In Anglo-Saxon England, the term *Bretwalda* signified the most powerful king, recognized as an overlord by other rulers, often implying the capacity to collect tribute.

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Beyond military and political reforms, what else did King Alfred the Great prioritize for England?

Answer: Promoting religion, learning, and the spread of writing in the vernacular.

Explanation: Beyond military and political reforms, King Alfred the Great placed significant emphasis on promoting religion, fostering learning, and advancing the use of vernacular writing throughout England.

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Religion and Cultural Transformation

The Christianization of Anglo-Saxon England began in 597 AD with Augustine's mission to Northumbria, sent by the Pope.

Answer: False

Explanation: The Christianization of Anglo-Saxon England began in 597 AD with Augustine's mission to the Kingdom of Kent, not Northumbria, although he was sent by Pope Gregory the Great.

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The Synod of Whitby in 664 AD led to the Northumbrian church adopting Celtic practices and moving its episcopal seat to Lindisfarne.

Answer: False

Explanation: The Synod of Whitby in 664 AD established Roman practices, specifically concerning the calculation of Easter and the style of monastic tonsure, as the standard for the Northumbrian church, and shifted its episcopal seat to York, not Lindisfarne.

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Theodore of Tarsus and Hadrian established a school at Canterbury that significantly advanced Anglo-Saxon learning in Greek and Latin.

Answer: True

Explanation: Theodore of Tarsus, as Archbishop of Canterbury, and his colleague Hadrian established a renowned school at Canterbury that fostered advanced learning in Greek and Latin among Anglo-Saxon students.

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Christianization led to a decline in Anglo-Saxon visual arts, shifting focus away from representational imagery.

Answer: False

Explanation: Christianization profoundly impacted Anglo-Saxon visual arts, revolutionizing them by introducing representational imagery and fostering the development of new forms such as stone sculpture and manuscript illumination, often blending indigenous styles with Christian themes.

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Horses were significant in early Anglo-Saxon paganism, associated with gods and playing roles in rituals and funerary practices.

Answer: True

Explanation: Horses held considerable significance in early Anglo-Saxon paganism, being associated with deities such as Woden and Freyr and playing integral roles in funerary rites, fertility cults, and various rituals.

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The conversion to Christianity led to a complete abandonment of traditional Germanic symbols in Anglo-Saxon art and literature.

Answer: False

Explanation: The conversion to Christianity did not result in a complete abandonment of traditional Germanic symbols; rather, it fostered a synthesis where pagan symbolism was integrated into Christian themes, particularly evident in literature and art.

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Who led the mission that began the Christianization of Anglo-Saxon England in 597 AD, targeting the Kingdom of Kent?

Answer: Augustine

Explanation: The Christianization of Anglo-Saxon England commenced in 597 AD with the mission led by Augustine, who was dispatched by Pope Gregory the Great to convert the Kingdom of Kent.

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The Synod of Whitby in 664 AD resulted in the Northumbrian church adopting which practices as the norm?

Answer: Roman practices for calculating Easter and tonsure style.

Explanation: The Synod of Whitby in 664 AD established Roman customs, specifically concerning the calculation of Easter and the style of monastic tonsure, as the standard for the Northumbrian church.

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How did Christianization impact Anglo-Saxon visual arts?

Answer: It revolutionized the arts by introducing representational imagery and new forms like sculpture and illumination.

Explanation: Christianization profoundly impacted Anglo-Saxon visual arts, revolutionizing them by introducing representational imagery and fostering the development of new forms such as stone sculpture and manuscript illumination, often blending indigenous styles with Christian themes.

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Material Culture, Art, and Artifacts

The Alfred Jewel is believed to be a decorative item symbolizing King Alfred's military victories.

Answer: False

Explanation: The Alfred Jewel, an artifact believed to be a pointer accompanying copies of Gregory the Great's *Cura Pastoralis*, symbolizes King Alfred the Great's commitment to promoting learning and vernacular literacy, not military victories.

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The Lindisfarne Gospels are noted for their Insular style, blending various influences and considered one of the most beautiful medieval books.

Answer: True

Explanation: The Lindisfarne Gospels are indeed renowned for their distinctive Insular style, which synthesizes diverse artistic influences, and are widely regarded as one of the most exquisite illuminated manuscripts of the medieval period.

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Early Anglo-Saxon buildings in Britain were predominantly constructed using stone and advanced masonry techniques.

Answer: False

Explanation: The predominant building material for most early Anglo-Saxon structures in Britain was timber, typically combined with thatch roofing, rather than stone and advanced masonry techniques.

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The Sutton Hoo ship-burial, dating to around 600 AD, contained lavish items suggesting increased socio-political stratification.

Answer: True

Explanation: The Sutton Hoo ship-burial, dating to approximately 600 AD, is indeed notable for its inclusion of lavish grave goods, which strongly indicate a period of heightened socio-political stratification and elite power.

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In the 10th and 11th centuries, Viking-dominated areas saw a resurgence of abstract pagan motifs in art, while southern England adopted continental styles.

Answer: False

Explanation: While southern England did see a rebirth of art influenced by continental styles in the 10th and 11th centuries, Viking-dominated areas are noted for their stone sculpture and Anglo-Scandinavian monuments, rather than a resurgence of abstract pagan motifs.

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The Staffordshire Hoard primarily consists of agricultural tools and domestic pottery from the 7th century.

Answer: False

Explanation: The Staffordshire Hoard, the largest collection of Anglo-Saxon gold and silver metalwork discovered, predominantly comprises martial items, such as weapons and armor, rather than agricultural tools or domestic pottery.

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The impressed circular and lentoid shapes on Anglo-Saxon artifacts are believed by some scholars to have been purely decorative.

Answer: False

Explanation: The impressed circular and lentoid shapes found on Anglo-Saxon artifacts are interpreted by some scholars, such as Howard Williams and Ruth Nugent, as having symbolic significance beyond mere decoration, potentially imbuing objects with protective or watchful qualities.

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What was the significance of the Alfred Jewel?

Answer: It symbolized King Alfred's patronage of learning and vernacular literacy.

Explanation: The Alfred Jewel, an artifact believed to be a pointer accompanying copies of Gregory the Great's *Cura Pastoralis*, symbolizes King Alfred the Great's commitment to promoting learning and vernacular literacy.

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What was the primary building material used for most early Anglo-Saxon structures in Britain?

Answer: Timber

Explanation: The predominant building material for most early Anglo-Saxon structures in Britain was timber, typically combined with thatch roofing, reflecting its status as the readily available natural medium.

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The Sutton Hoo ship-burial, dating to around 600 AD, is significant because it:

Answer: Was a 'princely' burial with lavish items, reflecting socio-political stratification.

Explanation: The Sutton Hoo ship-burial, dating to circa 600 AD, is significant as a 'princely' burial site containing lavish grave goods, which provides crucial evidence for the heightened socio-political stratification of the era.

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What does the Staffordshire Hoard primarily consist of, and what does it suggest about 7th-century elite society?

Answer: Martial items (weapons, armor); suggests high-grade metalwork circulated among the elite.

Explanation: The Staffordshire Hoard primarily consists of martial items, suggesting that high-grade metalwork circulated extensively among the elite in 7th-century society, potentially valued as currency or spoils of war.

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External Interactions and the End of the Era

The Roman 'Saxon Shore' was a network of inland fortifications designed to protect against land-based Saxon incursions.

Answer: False

Explanation: The Roman 'Saxon Shore' comprised a chain of coastal forts established in south-eastern England to defend against and monitor coastal raiders, particularly those identified as Saxons.

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The 'Great Army' mentioned in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle refers to the invading Norman forces led by William the Conqueror.

Answer: False

Explanation: The 'Great Army,' as recorded in the *Anglo-Saxon Chronicle*, referred to the Viking forces that invaded England in 865 AD and subsequently established settlements in regions that became known as the Danelaw, not the Norman forces.

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Following the Norman Conquest, approximately half of the land remained under Anglo-Saxon control by 1087.

Answer: False

Explanation: By 1087, following the Norman Conquest, it is estimated that only approximately 8% of the land remained under the control of the Anglo-Saxon population, although Anglo-Saxon women played a role in the subsequent nobility.

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What was the primary purpose of the Roman 'Saxon Shore' forts?

Answer: To defend against coastal raiders, particularly Saxons.

Explanation: The 'Saxon Shore' forts were established by the Romans along the coast of south-eastern England primarily to defend against and monitor coastal raiders, notably those identified as Saxons.

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The 'Great Army' that arrived in England in 865 AD, according to the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, was composed of:

Answer: Viking forces who settled parts of the country.

Explanation: The 'Great Army,' as recorded in the *Anglo-Saxon Chronicle*, referred to the Viking forces that invaded England in 865 AD and subsequently established settlements in regions that became known as the Danelaw.

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What was the estimated percentage of land remaining under Anglo-Saxon control by 1087, following the Norman Conquest?

Answer: Approximately 8%

Explanation: By 1087, following the Norman Conquest, it is estimated that only approximately 8% of the land remained under the control of the Anglo-Saxon population, although Anglo-Saxon women played a role in the subsequent nobility.

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The Term 'Anglo-Saxon': Historical Usage and Modern Interpretations

The compound term 'Anglo-Saxon' was commonly used by Bede in the early 8th century to refer collectively to the Germanic settlers.

Answer: False

Explanation: While the term 'Anglo-Saxon' emerged around Bede's time (early 8th century), Bede himself predominantly used 'Angles' or 'English' to refer to the Germanic settlers. The compound term was not commonly employed by him for collective reference.

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The term 'Anglo-Saxon' was frequently used by Alfred the Great to describe his kingdom and people.

Answer: False

Explanation: While Alfred the Great was referred to as *Anglosaxonum Rex* in specific contexts, the term 'Anglo-Saxon' was not frequently used by him to describe his kingdom and people in general usage.

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The term 'Heptarchy' is still widely favored by modern scholars to describe the political structure of Anglo-Saxon England.

Answer: False

Explanation: The term 'Heptarchy' is less favored by contemporary scholars because it implies a singular, stable political structure of seven kingdoms, which does not accurately reflect the complex, fluid, and often competitive nature of Anglo-Saxon political organization.

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During the Victorian era, the term 'Anglo-Saxon' was used to promote ideas of racial superiority justifying colonial expansion.

Answer: True

Explanation: During the Victorian era, the term 'Anglo-Saxon' was indeed employed by figures such as Robert Knox and James Anthony Froude to articulate notions of racial superiority, thereby providing ideological justification for colonial expansion and imperial endeavors.

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The term 'Anglo-Saxon' has become controversial primarily due to its association with far-right political groups.

Answer: True

Explanation: The term 'Anglo-Saxon' has become controversial in contemporary discourse primarily due to its appropriation and politicization by far-right groups, leading to academic re-evaluations of its usage.

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In the United States, the term 'White Anglo-Saxon Protestant' (WASP) refers to a precise ethnological group with ancient Germanic roots.

Answer: False

Explanation: The term 'White Anglo-Saxon Protestant' (WASP) in the United States denotes established wealthy families and their socio-political influence, rather than a strictly defined ethnological group with ancient Germanic lineage.

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Which historian, writing in the early 8th century, is mentioned in connection with the term 'Anglo-Saxon', though he preferred other terms?

Answer: Bede

Explanation: Bede, the Venerable, an English monk and historian writing in the early 8th century, is associated with the term 'Anglo-Saxon,' though he himself primarily utilized 'Angles' or 'English' as the collective designation for the settlers.

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Why has the term 'Heptarchy' become less favored by scholars when describing Anglo-Saxon England?

Answer: It inaccurately suggests a unified political structure that never existed.

Explanation: The term 'Heptarchy' is less favored by contemporary scholars because it implies a singular, stable political structure of seven kingdoms, which does not accurately reflect the complex, fluid, and often competitive nature of Anglo-Saxon political organization.

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Why has the term 'Anglo-Saxon' become controversial in recent times?

Answer: It has been adopted and politicized by far-right groups.

Explanation: The term 'Anglo-Saxon' has become controversial in contemporary discourse primarily due to its appropriation and politicization by far-right groups, leading to academic re-evaluations of its usage.

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