A Historical Study On Anglo-Saxons' Migration Into Britain

Undoubtedly, the English nation is an important modern nation that has had a strong influence on the development of world history. Any national formation is the outcome of conflicts and convergence of different ancient ethnic groups, so is the formation of the English nation. Historically, the Iberians, the Britons, the Romans, the Anglo-Saxons, the Danes and the Normans all come to live in England. After the conflicts and convergence of these ancient ethnic groups, the English nation come into being. All these ancient ethnic groups lay indelible traces in the English nation in one way or another. However, the effects of different ethnic groups on the modern English nation were not equal. Among them, the Anglo-Saxons lay a solid foundation for the English nation and play the most important part in the formation of modern English nation.This dissertation mainly deals with the Anglo-Saxons during the period when the ancient time is changing into the Middle Age, and researches on the origin, racial composition and distribution of the Anglo-Saxons and its migration into Britain. Especially, the author of the dissertation will try to do a diachronic analysis of the immigration course of the Anglo-Saxons so as to sort out some of the important historical facts on the whole.This dissertation is divided into 4 parts:Part one is the introduction. Based on summarizing the previous research findings, the dissertation will review and introduce the general situation of researches on the composition and migration course of the Anglo-Saxons both at home and abroad. Generally speaking, the English scholars have studied the above subject for hundreds of years and their study methods evolve historically. Macroscopically, the English scholars have achieved in the study of the composition and the migration course of the Anglo-Saxons greatly. However, microscopically, the English scholars are divided on some specific questions until now. Scholars at home haven't studied the subject thoroughly, so research findings are limited.In part two, based on the materials on the composition of Anglo-Saxons and thearchaeological evidence of the vestiges of the Anglo-Saxons in place names, documents, institutions, the dissertation probes into the composition of the Anglo-Saxons. Moreover, different viewpoints on some disputations and doubtful problems will be provided, such as what the identity, origin and homeland of the Jutes are, whether the Franks constitute a big part in the Anglo-Saxons. Then based on the material I collected, I show my own viewpoints on these disputed problems.Part three probes into the Anglo-Saxons' migration course into Britain. Such a course lasts about 4 centuries. The Anglo-Saxons act as mercenaries, pirates and conquerors in different stages of the course. According to the roles that the Anglo-Saxons play in different historical periods, the course is divided into 3 stages. In stage 1, the Anglo-Saxons immigrate into Britain as mercenaries and pirates. In stage 2, since Britain is in turmoil, the role that the Anglo-Saxons play turn from pirates and mercenaries to conquerors. And they succeeded in conquering parts of east and south of Britain. In stage 3, since the land held by the Britons is indulged in pestilences, the Anglo-Saxons set their feet on the road to conquer the Britons again. At the end of stage 3, the Anglo-Saxons ultimately finish the conquest of Britons in England, which laid a firm foundation for the later EnglandPart four probes into the significance of the Anglo-Saxons' migration into Britain for the foundation of the English nation from the aspects of language, law, national disposition and ethnic psychology. At first, the population of the Anglo-Saxons don't constitute the major part, so they cannot realize the ethnic replacement totally at once. However, the Anglo-Saxons' immigration pattern plays an important part in the national formation of the English nation. Led by legendary heroes, they immigrate to Britain in small groups. After a long period of conflicts with the Britons and other ethnic grou...