The Ancient Anglo-Saxons:

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 Anglo-Saxon history can be traced all the way back to Roman occupation of what is now Great Britain. Circa 300 B.C., the Celts (called Brythons) occupied the British Isles; they can be considered roughly analogous to Native Americans. In 55 B.C. Julius Caesar invades Britain. Circa 50 B.C. the Romans establish the trading outpost of Londinium. Roman legions occupy the British Isles until A.D. 409 (at which point they are repatriated to defend the crumbling

 The departure of the Roman army leaves the land open for invasion. In A.D. 449 the Angles, Saxons, Jutes and Frisians invade Britain, pushing the Celtics north and west. The displaced Celtic people would eventually come to be known as the Scotts and the Irish. Heres a picture of a typical Celtic:

 And heres a picture of a typical Celtics fiercest rival:

 Anglo-Saxon women, too, were fierce warriors: one such lady was Queen Boadicea (actually a Celtic), who ruled an eastern British tribe in an uprising against the Romans (and kicked Roman butt).

 In order for a fierce, Saxon warrior to achieve a measure of immortality, he must perform great feats of noteworthy heroism (in battle). Heres a picture of fierce, Saxon warriors:

OK, so they arent fierce, Saxon warriors. Theyre just a bunch of guys dressed up like fierce, Saxon warriors (for whatever the reason). But try to find a picture of fierce, Saxon warriors. Go ahead, I dare you.

 The epic hero had to face a dragon of some sort. Beowulf faced monsters and a dragon that could be interpreted allegorically as things the AngloSaxons collectively feared or didnt understand. In other words, Beowulfs monsters and dragon could be viewed as allegories for the dark and foreboding forest and the frightening things that inhabited it.

 The scop (or poet storyteller) was the only person in ancient Anglo-Saxon society who could immortalize a great warrior, so the scop was held in very high esteem. Heres a picture of a scop:

 Viking raiders were also a constant source of concern for the ancient Anglo-Saxons for some really obvious reasons

 Christianity spreads between A.D. 400 A.D. 600 and was introduced during the Roman occupation and helps unite the Anglo-Saxons. Irish Christian monks and Roman missionaries settled parts of Britain and spread their beliefs. Saint Augustine of Canterbury became the first archbishop of Canterbury in 601. Alfred the Great becomes king of England in 871, and in 878 he successfully drives the Vikings from Wessex.