Why the Anglo-Saxons Came
Why the Anglo-Saxons Came
Items in this lesson
Why the Anglo-Saxons Came
Open the lesson with the idea that Britain did not stay the same after the Romans left. This lesson focuses on movement, protection and settlement rather than later Anglo-Saxon kingdoms.
Our learning goal
I can explain why the Anglo-Saxons came to Britain and why some Britons paid them for protection.
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What words come to mind when you hear Anglo-Saxons?
Use this to surface prior ideas such as boats, warriors, settlers, Britain or invasion. Revisit the cloud later to spot which ideas were confirmed or changed.
Britain after the Romans
Roman soldiers left Britain in the early 400s
Towns and roads remained, but Roman rule ended
Britons had to defend themselves from attacks
Pupils often think the Romans vanished overnight. Emphasise that buildings and people remained, but the army and central rule weakened.
Why invaders noticed Britain
Britain looked like a place people could take.
It had farmland, rivers and settlements
It was harder to protect without Roman armies
Different groups could cross the North Sea to reach it
Keep the focus historical: weakened defence plus useful land made Britain attractive.
Who were the Anglo-Saxons?
A name for groups such as the Angles, Saxons and Jutes
They were not one single tribe
Over time, many of them settled in Britain
Use consistent wording: Angles, Saxons and Jutes are groups within the wider label Anglo-Saxons.
Why did they come?
Some came as raiders looking for wealth
Some came as warriors hired to fight
Some came to settle and farm new land
More people arrived as earlier settlers made a life in Britain
This slide answers the central question directly: the reasons changed over time from raiding and fighting to settlement.
Where did they come from?
They came from areas across the North Sea
These areas are now part of Germany, Denmark and the Netherlands
The sea crossing was short enough for boats to make the journey
Avoid overloading with modern geography. The key point is that they came from northern Europe across the North Sea.
Angles, Saxons and Jutes
Angles came from an area called Angeln
Saxons came from lands in northern Germany
Jutes came from Jutland, in present-day Denmark
Together, these groups became known as Anglo-Saxons in Britain
This gives a little more precision after the general map slide. Keep it simple and place-based for KS2.
How did they reach Britain?
They travelled by boat across the North Sea
Coasts and rivers helped newcomers land and move inland
Travel by sea linked Britain to nearby parts of Europe
This supports the migration idea without drifting into a full transport lesson. The sea was a route, not a barrier.
Why did Britain seem easier to invade after the Romans left?
More Roman soldiers arrived
It had stronger walls
Britons had to defend themselves
The seas became deeper
Checks the key idea from slides 2–3: Roman rule ended and defence became weaker, so Britain looked easier to attack.
Complete the summary
After the Romans left, Britain was harder to protect. Groups called the Anglo-Saxons came across the North Sea and some later settled in Britain.
The blanks echo the taught phrasing and key terms from slides 2–8.
Why do you think Britain looked tempting to newcomers?
Expected elements: Britain had useful farmland, rivers and settlements; Roman armies had left so defence was weaker; groups could cross the North Sea by boat. Accept simple KS2 phrasing.
Why pay for protection?
Some Britons faced attacks from other groups
They needed skilled fighters to defend their land
Anglo-Saxon warriors could be paid to help
Make clear that not all Anglo-Saxons arrived first as enemies. Some were invited as fighters.
Payment for protection
Britons sometimes gave land, food or treasure to Anglo-Saxon warriors in return for military help.
This was a way of buying safety when local rulers were under threat.
Connect this to the weakening of Roman-style protection. Protection could be paid for with more than coins.
When helpers became settlers
Need for defence → Anglo-Saxon warriors invited in → payment with land and goods → more settlers arrive
What began as protection could lead to new communities forming in Britain.
This is the lesson's key causal chain. Stress that change happened over time, not all at once.
Change over time
First arrivals may have come as raiders or hired fighters
Later, many families settled permanently
Anglo-Saxon culture became an important part of Britain
This is a history lens slide about change over time. It helps pupils see invasion, migration and settlement as linked but not identical.
What do historians piece together?
Written accounts tell us some stories, but not all of them
Archaeology, place names and objects give more clues
Historians use these sources to understand why people moved to Britain
Keep this brief but important: history is built from sources and clues, not from perfect records.
Why did some Britons pay Anglo-Saxon warriors?
To build Roman roads
To defend their land
To teach new languages
To sail back home
Targets the main idea from slides 9–11: some Anglo-Saxons were hired as fighters for protection.
Complete the cause chain
Some Britons needed protection from attacks. They paid Anglo-Saxon warriors with land, food or treasure. Over time, more settlers arrived and new communities formed.
Reinforces the lesson's causal chain and the idea that payment was not only money.
Which source might help historians learn about Anglo-Saxon movement?
Objects found
Road signs
TV reports
Space photos
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What is one thing you learned today?
Reflection only. Invite short, personal responses about the main learning from the lesson.
What helped you understand this lesson best?
Reflection only. Encourage pupils to mention a slide, map, diagram or idea that helped them understand.
How confident do you feel explaining why Anglo-Saxons came to Britain?
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Glossary
Anglo-Saxons - groups including the Angles, Saxons and Jutes who came to Britain
Britons - the people living in Britain after Roman rule ended
invade - to enter a land by force in order to control it
settle - to move to a place and live there permanently
protection - safety from attack
warrior - a trained fighter
source - evidence from the past that helps historians learn
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