Fans of British history podcasts may enjoy Anglo-Saxon England. The host is Thomas Kearns, an independent scholar passionate about the subject. On the podcast, Thomas tells the story of Anglo-Saxon England. This period of English history began in the 5th century and ended with the Norman Conquest of 1066. It's sometimes called "Early Medieval England." In the podcast, Thomas describes the events and characters that defined the Anglo-Saxon period.
In Anglo-Saxon England, the story begins with the end of Roman society in Britain. This event marked the beginning of the Anglo-Saxon period. Thomas examines the collapse of Roman Britain and what it meant for the Saxons of the mid-5th century. Several Anglo-Saxon kingdoms established themselves in the 5th and 6th centuries. Seven kingdoms were the most influential. The most significant were East Anglia, Northumbria, Mercia, and Wessex. The kingdoms of Essex, Kent, and Sussex were also important.
Thomas describes Anglo-Saxon society and culture in many podcast episodes. He explores topics like religion, poetry, and trade. The Anglo-Saxons spoke Old English. This is why the names of some of the characters in Anglo-Saxon history seem unusual today. Old English is a Germanic language. It's sometimes called "Anglo-Saxon" and is the earliest recorded form of the English language.
Many episodes of Anglo-Saxon England focus on the actions of the seven kingdoms. Thomas describes their various bids for power. He explores the rise of the Mercian Supremacy and its subsequent fall. The Mercian Supremacy ended after the death of Coenwulf, the last Mercian overlord. Thomas also shares the turbulent histories of the Northumbrian and East Anglian kingdoms.
Other episodes focus on significant characters from the Anglo-Saxon period. These characters included King Ecgberht, the Venerable Bede, and King Alfred "the Great."
Thoma's strong knowledge of Anglo-Saxon history is evident in every episode. Anglo-Saxon England may interest British history enthusiasts. New podcast episodes are usually available every other week.
Episodes