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Major UK university to remove term 'Anglo-Saxon' to 'decolonize' curriculum

In addition, the same source also reported that a module within the program titled "Research Methods in Viking and Anglo-Saxon Studies" has had the "Anglo-Saxon" term removed in favor of "Early Medieval English." It also claimed that English literature module "A Tale of Seven Kingdoms: Anglo-Saxon and Viking-Age England from Bede to Alfred the Great" was also renamed "Early medieval England from Bede to Alfred the Great."

The University of Nottingham, a British college that specializes in medieval history, is reportedly scrutinizing multiple historical terms out of concern that they evoke nationalism. Picture date: Tuesday June 13, 2023. (Photo by Mike Egerton/PA Images via Getty Images)

Anglo-Saxons aren’t the only identity being scrutinized either. "The university has also said it is seeking to ‘problematize the term ‘Viking’’ in its tuition," the Telegraph reported, noting that "It comes amid concerns over the connections of ‘race, empire, Nazism" to Norse culture and mythology.’"

The same source also claimed that "Teaching staff at Nottingham also ensure that module content aims at ‘undercutting nationalist narratives’ and ‘essentialist ideas’ about nationality, meaning the belief that English identity is distinct and confers fundamental characteristics."

Viking re-enactors during the Jorvik Viking Festival in York, England. The festival celebrates York's rich Norse heritage with a programme of events, including living history encampments, markets, workshops, talks, tours and dramatic combat performances. Picture date: Saturday February 17, 2024.  (Photo by Danny Lawson/PA Images via Getty Images)