The document provides a summary of the history of the British Isles from prehistory to modern times. It describes how the islands were first settled by various tribes like the Celts. The Romans then invaded and controlled the islands for over 300 years before departing in 410 AD. Various groups including the Angles, Saxons, Jutes, Vikings, and Normans invaded and controlled the islands at different points in history. This led to the establishment of the Heptarchy and eventual unification of England. The document then summarizes the major events, rulers, and time periods that shaped Britain such as the Magna Carta, the Hundred Years' War, the War of the Roses, the Tudor dynasty, the

1. History of British Isles
(except Ireland. Nobody
likes Ireland, it´s like UK
younger, uglier brother)

2. Prehistory
• First written record about Britain is from
Greek navigator Pytheas, who discovered
Britain in 325 BC.
• Britain was already settled by many tribes and
cultures (Wessex culture etc.), one of them
built the famous Stonehenge around 2400 BC.
• Celtic tribes arrived around 500 BC =>
Stonehenge is not of Celtic origin!

3. Romano-British period
• Britain was first invaded by Caesar in 55 BC
• However, it wasn´t conquered before 43 AD by
emperor Claudius (who personally led the troops)
• Roman lands were separated from Pictish tribes
by Hadrian´s and later Antonine Walls
• During the decline of Empire, in 410 AD, Roman
officials finally departed, but the influence of
Roman culture was felt for centuries.

4. Anglosaxons
• In the middle of 5th century the Angles, Saxons
and Jutes came, Celts are withdrawed to Wales.
This is the time of legendary king Arthur (no
knights in shining armor – just a Celtic freedom
fighters).
• They established the Heptarchy (East Anglia,
Mercia, Northumbria, Wessex, Essex, Kent,
Sussex), which was under constant danger from
Vikings, and was unified by Alfred the Great.

5. Normans
• When the throne was usurped by Danish princ,
rightfull heir Edward (the Confessor) fled to
Normandy and later claimed the kingship back.
• He was childless, so Harold Godwinson took the
crown and defeated his Norwegian rival Harald
Hardrada (battle of Stamford Bridge).
• But William the Bastard (later called Conqueror),
duke of Normandy, took advantage and invaded.
At the battle of Hastings in 1066, Harold was
killed (he took arrow to the eye) and reign of
Normans began.

6. Succession crisis
• William II inherited the throne but died while hunting.
War broke out, between Robert and younger Henry.
Robert was defeated and imprisoned. Henry's only
legitimate son, William, died aboard the White
Ship disaster of 1120, sparking a fresh succession crisis:
Henry's nephew, Stephen of Blois, claimed the throne
in 1135, but this was disputed by the Empress Matilda,
Henry's daughter.Civil war broke. Matilda's son, Henry
(the Henry which ordered assassination of Thomas
Becket), finally agreed to a peace settlement
at Winchester and succeeded Stephan as king in 1154

7. Magna Charta and French invasion
• Richard I the Lion Heart spent his reign on
the Third Crusade;
• John I the Lackland inherited England in 1199
but lost Normandy and most of Aquitaine
after several years of war with France which
led to signing of Magna Charta in 1215.
• French prince Louis succesfully invaded
England but sadly, he was repelled by William
Marshall, regent of young Henry III.

8. Plantagenets
• Barons led by Simon de Montfort rebelled against
Henry III and captured him. His son Edward
crushed the rebels and restored the monarchy.
• Edward I fought against Wales (succesfully) and
Scotland (unsuccesfully – thanks to William
Wallace, Robert de Bruce)
• His son Edward II was gay which led to war with
his wife Isabella of France. She won the war
Edward was probably poisoned.

9. The Hundred Year´s War
• Edward III tried to usurp French crown after
extinction of Capetians (he was son of Isabella
of France)
• His successors followed his example and war
continued with mixed successes.
• English were finally driven out of France in
1453

10. The War of Roses
• Was dynastic struggle for the possession of
the Crown between the House of York and the
House of Lancaster (no white rose!
Shakespeare raped history)
• Yorks seized the crown but Richard III was
defeated and killed at the battle of Bosworth
(Shakespeare strikes once again!)
• peace was made when Henry VII of Lancaster
married Elizabeth of York

11. The Tudors
-Tudors consolidated royal power and expanded
England into the new world
- Henry VIII is famous because he restarted wars
with France (and lost), for having six wifes (and
only one sickly heir) and for establishing new
Church of England
- His daughter Elisabeth I reigned during Golden
ages of England, she is sometimes refered to as
„Virgin Queen“ (no husband)
- After her death, England was unified with
Scotland under James VI

12. The Civil War
• Period of conflict between the King (Royalists)
and Parliament (Parliamentarians)
• the conflict let to the civil war which resulted in
the abolition of the monarchy and in
Cromwell´s military dictatorship
• England was declared a republic under the name
of The Commonwealth with Oliver Cromwell at its
head (Lord Protector)
• this period ended in the Glorious Revolution and
Hanoverian succession

13. Industrial revolution
• Britain became the first industrial power in
the world (“the workshop the world”)
• struggles between France and Britain for
world domination started in Napoleonic Wars
• Under queen Victoria, Britain became the
greatest colonial power (India, Canada,
Australia…)

14. World Wars
• Britain participated in and endured both World Wars,
thanks to enlightened ministers and advantageous position.
• But due to heavy pressure, colonies were freed and colonial
might lost.
• Home Rule in Ireland, which had been a major political
issue since the late 19th century (the Irish War of
Independence), brought the British Government to a
stalemate in 1922. Negotiations led to the formation of
the Irish Free State. The north-eastern six counties
remained as part of the U.K., with its own Parliament at
Stormont in Belfast.
• By the late 1940s, the Cold War was underway, which
would dominate British foreign policy for another 40 years.

15. Modern Britain
• Tensions between Protestants and Catholics in
Northern Ireland came to a head in the late
1960s
• In 1982 prime minister Thatcher decided to
retake the Falkland Islands from
invading Argentine forces, in what would
become known as the Falklands War.
• In the 21st century, the U.K. became a major
supporter of the U.S. in their "War on Terror“