Year 5 - History
Anglo-Saxon coins
The Anglo-Saxons: how do we know about life in Anglo-Saxon England?
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This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
Unit Summary
In this unit, pupils develop their understanding of the link between sources and historical knowledge. They learn about some of the main historical sources that exist for the Anglo-Saxon period and how historians have used these to present arguments about life in Anglo-Saxon
Lesson Summary
You will learn to explain how archaeologists and historians have used Anglo-Saxon coins to infer things about life in Anglo-Saxon Britain.
Key Notes
- All the coins found at Sutton Hoo were Frankish, showing how well connected Kent and East Anglia were to Europe.
- Roman influence continued: Offa made coins making him look like an Emperor with Romulus, Remus and a wolf on the back!
- Whilst major towns collapsed after the Romans left, evidence of coins suggested they grew again under the Anglo-Saxons.
- Anglo-Saxon kings such as Offa began to mint their own coins at growing towns in places like London and Canterbury.
- These, along with lots of pottery, show how towns grew due to the increasing wealth and trade in Anglo-Saxon Britain.
Vocabulary To Learn
- Franks: the Franks were a Germanic tribe that were very powerful in early medieval Europe, particularly in modern-day France
- mint: to mint means to make a coin by stamping metal; it can also be used as a noun to describe where coins are made
- pottery: pottery refers to objects made of clay that are shaped and then fired at high temperatures to harden them
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Pupils may believe that Offa was the only Anglo-Saxon king to mint coins.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Summarise this historical learning in two key ideas.
All the coins found at Sutton Hoo were Frankish, showing how well connected Kent and East Anglia were to Europe. Roman influence continued: Offa made coins making him look like an Emperor with Romulus, Remus and a wolf on the back!
2. Define this history term and explain why it matters in this topic. 'Franks'
the Franks were a Germanic tribe that were very powerful in early medieval Europe, particularly in modern-day France.
3. Correct this common history misconception using evidence language.
Mistake: Pupils may believe that Offa was the only Anglo-Saxon king to mint coins. Correction: Offa was the first, but other kings minted coins with their head on too. The Archbishop of Canterbury has also been found on coins as well as Offa's queen: Cynethryth.
More Lessons In This Unit
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