The Anglo-Saxon term can be understood in several senses. Its use refers to the settlers of Germanic origin who settled in Britain and, in parallel, to the English language prior to current English and to the culture with international projection that developed from the expansion of the British Empire.
The historical origin
In the Vl century AD. C various towns of Germanic origin settled in present-day Great Britain. Among them were the Angles, the Saxons, the Franks or the Normans, but in the eighth century the term Anglo-Saxon began to be used to refer to the native population of Britain as a whole.
Anglo Saxon culture
Between the 16th and 20th centuries Great Britain colonized large territories around the world: a part of the United States and Canada, Australia, New Zealand, India, Pakistan, a large part of the African continent, the so-called overseas territories, Malta, Gibraltar , etc. The dominance of the British Empire weakened over time, but despite this Anglo-Saxon culture has survived to a greater or lesser extent.
In fact, English is the language spoken in many of its former colonies. In this sense, it should be noted that the former British territories are still united in the British Commonwealth of Nations, better known as the Commonwealth.
The Anglo-Saxon legacy presents a series of its own elements
English as the official language in the former British Empire, the predominance of the Protestant religion and a wide range of cultural, artistic and sporting events.
The Anglo-Saxon identity has been consolidated internationally and can be seen in Pop music, in football and in all kinds of habits and customs (tea consumption, the celebration of Halloween, Christmas cards, the love of betting). sports events, sales in shopping centers and an endless number of typically Anglo-Saxon demonstrations).
Although its cultural influence is present in all orders, the English language is its most relevant hallmark internationally.
Anglo-Saxon culture in the United States is related to political and economic power
Among Americans there is a term that represents the hegemony of the Anglo-Saxon, the acronym WASP, which means white, Anglo-Saxon and Protestant (in English, White, Anglo-Saxon and Protestant). This term is used to mention the social, political and economic predominance of this social class over the rest of the ethnic or religious groups in the country.
Photos: Fotolia – Tony Baggett/Wickerwood
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