"In this year terrible portents appeared in Northumbria, and miserably
afflicted the inhabitants: these were exceptional flashes of lightning
and fiery dragons were seen flying in the air."
Anglo-Saxon Chronicle (Year 793)
Introduction | Editorial | Contents | Contributors
Joint Editorial Statement
This site began with contributions by highly respected scholars in the field of early medieval studies, who were interested in applying the comparative approach of cultural icons at the end of this millennium to the study of Anglo-Saxon England. These founding scholars have formed the basis of our editorial board and are charged with refereeing contributions to the site from other scholars.
Our audience, however, is not solely an academic one. The site is accessible to members of the general public who are interested in the Old English period, and in particular comparing their experiences today with that of their peers one thousand years ago. A plain style has been adopted throughout to explain concepts as clearly and straightforwardly as possible.
Following an introduction designed to provide our readers with a basic orientation, the link between the concept of the millennium and apocalyptic notions is explored, followed by, in turn, such topics as time and culture, religious practice, human relationships and sex, popular entertainment, politics and society, and heroic deeds and war in six chapters, as described below. Each section considers attitudes of the Anglo-Saxons in the several areas, drawing on literature, art, and historical documents, and compares them to our own attitudes as demonstrated by current events, popular culture and contemporary analysis.
The aims of this site are therefore:
i.) To compare the two societies by exploring similarities and differences in terms of general human attitudes.
ii.) Though it is debatable as to how much we can learn from the society of Anglo-Saxon England to help with modern-day perceptions, this book will aim at the very least to show that England in the last millennium was not in a Dark Age, and it may point to interesting insights into our own culture.
iii.) To create a groundswell of interest in Anglo-Saxon England amongst the general public.
The Editorial Board consists of an invited series of experts in the field. They have all contributed to the site and in addition have been asked to referee all submissions for publication. The board consists of:
- Prof. P. W. Conner
- Dr S. D. Lee
- Dr Gale Owen-Crocker
- Dr Elaine Treharne
- Dr Ivan Herbison
- Dr Paul Cavill
- Dr James McNelis
- Dr Julie Coleman
