Britain The Beginnings From earliest times to 1066

Britains first inhabitants Ancient Britain inhabited by Iberians - left behind barrows, Stonehenge (a mysterious circle of stones) Barrow = large mound grave made of earth or stone Iron-age Britain – a dynamic, expanding society

Ancient Britain inhabited by Iberians

- left behind barrows, Stonehenge (a mysterious circle of stones)

Barrow = large mound grave made of earth or stone

Iron-age Britain – a dynamic, expanding society

Migration of Celts 2000-1200 BC – Celts began to migrate to Britain Spoke their own Celtic language Were known as Britons Round wooden huts, small villages, mainly farmers – no towns Organised in tribes with a king/queen as leader Intertribal wars very common

2000-1200 BC – Celts began to migrate to Britain

Spoke their own Celtic language

Were known as Britons

Round wooden huts, small villages, mainly farmers – no towns

Organised in tribes with a king/queen as leader

Intertribal wars very common

The Ancient Britons One of the Celtic tribes living in Britain 4 th C BC Believed in different gods (in woods) Governed by a class of priests – Druids who had great power

One of the Celtic tribes living in Britain 4 th C BC

Believed in different gods (in woods)

Governed by a class of priests – Druids who had great power

The Romans 55 B.C. Romans conquered Gaul (France) & came to conquer Britain Brought their own civilization Taught Britons to build bridges, houses, roads, baths, temples Protected Britain for several hundred years ~4 th C B.C. Romans left Britain Fall of the Roman Empire followed

55 B.C. Romans conquered Gaul (France) & came to conquer Britain

Brought their own civilization

Taught Britons to build bridges, houses, roads, baths, temples

Protected Britain for several hundred years

~4 th C B.C. Romans left Britain

Fall of the Roman Empire followed

Romans vs Britons Queen Boadicea ( Boudica ) of Iceni tribe (now East Anglia) Led an uprising of the tribes against the occupying forces of the Roman Empire 43 AD – battle lost Suicide by poisoning In the 3 cities destroyed, 70,000-80,000 people killed

Queen Boadicea ( Boudica ) of Iceni tribe (now East Anglia)

Led an uprising of the tribes against the occupying forces of the Roman Empire

43 AD – battle lost

Suicide by poisoning

In the 3 cities destroyed, 70,000-80,000 people killed

Angles, Saxons, Jutes The Angle, Saxon, and Jute tribes invaded Britain in the 5th and 6th centuries Also known as the Anglo-Saxons Leaving their homelands in northern Germany, Denmark and northern Holland they rowed across the North Sea in wooden boats

The Angle, Saxon, and Jute tribes invaded Britain in the 5th and 6th centuries

Also known as the Anglo-Saxons

Leaving their homelands in northern Germany, Denmark and northern Holland they rowed across the North Sea in wooden boats

The Anglo-Saxon Period The Anglo-Saxons took control of most of Britain, although never conquered Scotland, Wales and Cornwall Divided the country into kingdoms, each with its own royal family Liked fighting, drinking, gambling Life expectancy not very long

The Anglo-Saxons took control of most of Britain, although never conquered Scotland, Wales and Cornwall

Divided the country into kingdoms, each with its own royal family

Liked fighting, drinking, gambling

Life expectancy not very long

The Anglo-Saxon Period 2 ~ AD 600 the 6 main Anglo-Saxon kingdoms constantly at war: Northumbria Mercia Wessex Sussex Kent East Anglia Became one nation with king Egbert

~ AD 600 the 6 main Anglo-Saxon kingdoms constantly at war:

Northumbria

Mercia

Wessex

Sussex

Kent

East Anglia

Became one nation with king Egbert

Anglo-Saxon Period 3 Letters of their own – runes Runes – carved out of wood, stone No written literature Songs and tales – oral tradition “ Thane” – most important man in village No prisons

Letters of their own – runes

Runes – carved out of wood, stone

No written literature

Songs and tales – oral tradition

“ Thane” – most important man in village

No prisons

Christianity Britain was Christian under Romans Anglo-Saxons were pagans Pope Gregory I sent Augustine to bring Christianity back to England Augustine became 1st Archbishop of Canterbury With Christianity came Latin learning Venerable Bede – wrote in Latin 1st history of England

Britain was Christian under Romans

Anglo-Saxons were pagans

Pope Gregory I sent Augustine to bring Christianity back to England

Augustine became 1st Archbishop of Canterbury

With Christianity came Latin learning

Venerable Bede – wrote in Latin 1st history of England

Vikings Vikings from Norway and Denmark 8-9th century – raids, temporary camps Eventually blended in with Anglo-Saxons Important contributions to English language – words like skirt, sky, they, them etc.

Vikings from Norway and Denmark

8-9th century – raids, temporary camps

Eventually blended in with Anglo-Saxons

Important contributions to English language – words like skirt, sky, they, them etc.

Norman Conquest 1066 Power of Anglo-Saxons was broken by Normans Normans came originally from Denmark French customs, dialect of French lg Norman king William I = William the Conqueror defeated last Anglo-Saxon king Harold II at Battle of Hastings 1066

Power of Anglo-Saxons was broken by Normans

Normans came originally from Denmark

French customs, dialect of French lg

Norman king William I = William the Conqueror defeated last Anglo-Saxon king Harold II at Battle of Hastings 1066