The document summarizes the origins and history of Britain from 700 BC to the Viking invasions. It first discusses the Celtic peoples who arrived in 700 BC and established a tribal society. Next it covers the Roman invasion in 55 BC and their introduction of towns, roads, and Christianity. It also notes the construction of Hadrian's Wall to protect from Scottish invaders. The document then discusses the Anglo-Saxon settlement beginning in 449 AD by Germanic tribes including the Angles, Saxons and Jutes, and the establishment of the seven Anglo-Saxon kingdoms. Finally, it briefly outlines the Viking invasions between the 8th and 9th centuries when they began raiding and eventually conquered parts of Britain

1. The MAKING of the NATION
The Origins

2. The Celts
700 BC : arrived from north-west Germany
 Fair or red–haired and blue-eyed
 Tribal society
 Skilled at working iron
 Lived on fishing , hunting and agriculture
Druids
Religion: worshipped natural elements
Runes: inscriptions with magical function or
meaning
Best known monument: Stonehenge
No literary works survived

3. THE ROMANS
• 55 BC Julius Caesar invaded Britain
• 43-47 AD Emperor Claudius: actual
conquest of the country
• 409 AD Roman soldiers left Britain to
defend Rome against the Barbarian attack

4. The Romans introduced:
 Their culture, lifestyle and language : all absorbed by
the Celts
 Towns (e.g. “-chester” = castra) connected by roads
 Diffusion of Christianity
HADRIAN’S WALL built in 121 AD
to protect England against invasions from the
Scots
Romans took possession of much of England but never
managed to conquer Ireland & Scotland.

5. The ANGLO
SAXONS
A mixture of
Germanic tribes
made up of the
ANGLES, the
SAXONS and the
JUTES
(AD 449)
coming from Germany
and the Jutland.
Britons retreated to inner parts of Wales
legend of KING ARTHUR : legendary hero
fighting against invaders

6. Where did the Anglo Saxons settle?
• The Saxons in the south & west
• The Angles in the north and east
• The Jutes Isle of Wight & nearby mainland
dividing the country into SEVEN KINGDOMS

7. Who were the Anglo Saxons ?
• Farmers looking for richer lands or deep sea
fishermen
• Lived mainly in small villages
• Organized into family groups (CLAN)
• Loyalty to the members and the lord
• Exalted courage and freedom
• Warlike race
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/primaryhistory
/anglo_saxons/anglo-saxon_beliefs/

8. Old English
Introduced by the Anglo Saxons
The primitive stage of English language:
Germanic language characterized by:
German vocabulary
(with some Latinate words)
inflection some sounds which
(had cases both for nouns and adjectives no longer exist
; e.g. Saxon genitive)

9. Beowulf : an epic poem
• Belongs to ORAL tradition
• Written in OLD ENGLISH
• UNKNOWN author
• Saga set during the 6° century
• Myths and heroes dear to Anglo Saxons
• Pagan world: ideals of HEROISM,
LOYALTY, GENEROSITY
• Sprinkled with some Christian elements
e.g. STRUGGLE vs EVIL (Anglo Saxon convereted to
Christianity)

10. THE VIKINGS
 btw VIII and IX century
 came from DANEMARK, SWEDEN & NORWAY
 were PIRATE RAIDERS
 progressively conquered parts of England, Scotland,
Ireland and Wales.
 King Alfred the Great (Anglo Saxon) fought against them
divided England North-east +Midlands= Danelaw
South: Anglo Saxon rulership