410AD - 600AD
In 410AD Honorius, the Roman Emperor, withdrew his army from the province of Britannia. Throughout the 5th century people from the coastlands of Denmark, Germany and the lower Rhine settled here, absorbing, displacing or enslaving the Celtic and Roman people of the region. These settlers became known as Anglo-Saxons. The languages of these settlers merged into Old English, the basis of our modern speech.
In the 6th century kingdoms were formed: Suffolk and Norfolk became The Kingdom of the East Angles - the foundation of England as a country had begun.
In pagan Anglo-Saxon custom, some important people were buried under mounds, often with precious goods as a sign of their worth. The burial of a ship is very unusual - unique to East Anglia and Scandinavia. The burial mounds would make prominent landmarks and, standing high on a skyline, would be a fitting memorial to a powerful leader.
Anglo-Saxons at this time were predominantly pagans, although Christianity was beginning to spread to Britain from France and Ireland. This period is considered to be a crossroads in English history, when either the pagan or Christian way could be followed.
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