1570

BRITAIN BRITAIN known to known to MerchantsMerchants for: for:

its pearlsits pearls goldgold tintin

It It was characterized was characterized byby : :

Timber: easily obtainableTimber: easily obtainable A fertile soil; fresh water A fertile soil; fresh water

everywhereeverywhere Climate: mildClimate: mild Rich in game, fish and fowlRich in game, fish and fowl

Geographically:Geographically:1..East and South –east offered 1..East and South –east offered

an easy access for:an easy access for: low coasts low coasts good harbours good harbours navigable riversnavigable rivers

2.West and North had a difficult 2.West and North had a difficult approachapproach::

high coastshigh coasts jutting cliffs jutting cliffs promontoriespromontories

The Ice AgeThe Ice Age

  It ended about 8000 B.C.It ended about 8000 B.C.

The rising sea level produced the The rising sea level produced the

English Channel and made English Channel and made

Great Britain Great Britain an islandan island..

History - Timelines

Who were the first Who were the first inhabitants?inhabitants?

In 2000 BC we find the In 2000 BC we find the IBERIANSIBERIANSA pre-Celtic population. A pre-Celtic population.

They settled in the western and southern They settled in the western and southern part. part.

They had already reached a first stage They had already reached a first stage

of civilization: of civilization: The Bronze AgeThe Bronze Age

and they were entering and they were entering the Iron Agethe Iron Age

They were They were dark-haired dark-haired peoplepeople

Some political organizationSome political organization built long wooden warshipsbuilt long wooden warships introduction of metalsintroduction of metals lived in wooden hutslived in wooden huts beginning agriculturebeginning agriculture trade-routestrade-routes

Stonehenge, a prehistoric monument on Stonehenge, a prehistoric monument on Salisbury Plain, dates from the late Stone Salisbury Plain, dates from the late Stone and early Bronze ages (about 3000-1000 bc). and early Bronze ages (about 3000-1000 bc). The monument consists of a circular group of The monument consists of a circular group of large upright stones. It is the best preserved large upright stones. It is the best preserved and most celebrated of the megalithic and most celebrated of the megalithic monuments of Europe.monuments of Europe.

Patrimoni dell'umanità – Stonehenge Secrets of Stonehenge

The typical Mound containing “ Beakers”

the Celtsthe CeltsThey had They had Blond-hair, blue Blond-hair, blue eyes and they eyes and they were tall.were tall.

TRIBES coming from Northern Europe TRIBES coming from Northern Europe

They subdued the IBERIANSThey subdued the IBERIANS

IronIron AgeAge CeltsCelts

And after them?

INTERACTIVE HISTORY MAP

WHEN ?A first wave in 7° century B.C.

THE GAELS settled in the North

A second wave in 4° century B.C.

THE BRITONS settled in the South Brittany after the BritonsBrittany after the Britons

History - Timelines

WERE THEY SIMILAR ?WERE THEY SIMILAR ?

They were tied by They were tied by similar:similar: languagelanguage religionreligion cultural expressioncultural expression. .

What were the Celts like?What were the Celts like?

no town lifeno town life they prefer living in farmsthey prefer living in farms they minted their own coinagethey minted their own coinage Organized in clans, men wore skirts Organized in clans, men wore skirts

with striped or checked cloaks with striped or checked cloaks fastened by a pin ( a primitive form fastened by a pin ( a primitive form of the Scottish tartan)of the Scottish tartan)

each clan had a king ( a chief) and a each clan had a king ( a chief) and a primitive form of justiceprimitive form of justice

famous for their burial sites, famous for their burial sites, hill-forts, built on the top of hill-forts, built on the top of hillshillsThe vast multiple ramparts enclose an area the size of 50 football The vast multiple ramparts enclose an area the size of 50 football pitches, and the site was home to several hundred people in the Iron pitches, and the site was home to several hundred people in the Iron

Age (800 BC - 43 AD).Age (800 BC - 43 AD).

WHAT ABOUT THEIR WHAT ABOUT THEIR RELIGION ? RELIGION ?The DRUIDSThe DRUIDS Their cerimonies were held in the forestTheir cerimonies were held in the forest Making sacrifices, they read the Gods’ will in Making sacrifices, they read the Gods’ will in

running bloodrunning blood They had great powerThey had great power ministers of religionministers of religion administered justiceadministered justice educated the young educated the young They They worshippedworshipped the natural elements as The Sun, the the natural elements as The Sun, the

Moon and Water= the holy element which generates Moon and Water= the holy element which generates life and the door of the world afterdeath.life and the door of the world afterdeath.

They They believed believed in the immortality and transmigration of in the immortality and transmigration of the soul from one person to another. It was believed the soul from one person to another. It was believed that life after death was spent on the Earth in caves, that life after death was spent on the Earth in caves, hills or lakes. When the Romans conquered Britain hills or lakes. When the Romans conquered Britain they destroyed the woods were they held their they destroyed the woods were they held their shrine.shrine.

1.1. There seemed to be equality There seemed to be equality between the sexesbetween the sexes

2.2. the women sometimes ruled the women sometimes ruled large tribes and fought .large tribes and fought .

3.3. The most famous was The most famous was BODICEA ( 1st century A.D.) BODICEA ( 1st century A.D.) who who resisted for more than resisted for more than 30 years against the Romans30 years against the Romans

And in Scotland?And in Scotland? PICTSPICTS The Picts, ancient and mysterious inhabitants

of central and northern Scotland and of northern Ireland, , were for centuries, the most powerful inhabitants of the British Isles.

They were of rather short stature and of dark complexion. The name Pict is believed to be derived from the Latin word Picti – „the painted men“

SCOTSSCOTS settled there in the 4th century. settled there in the 4th century.

Brythonic areas

Pictish areas

Gaelic areas

The Roman InvasionThe Roman Invasion In In 55 B.C.55 B.C. Julius Caesar planned an Julius Caesar planned an

expedition to Britain, why?:expedition to Britain, why?: Caesar Caesar conquered France which was conquered France which was

called Gaul by the time. The Gauls called Gaul by the time. The Gauls fought hard against the Romans and fought hard against the Romans and had been helped by their friends in had been helped by their friends in Britain. Caesar decided to teach the Britain. Caesar decided to teach the Britons a lesson.Britons a lesson.

In In 54 B.C.54 B.C. He wanted to find out the He wanted to find out the treasures of Britain, so he planned this treasures of Britain, so he planned this idea of exploring Britain, but he never idea of exploring Britain, but he never came to invade it. came to invade it.

A hundred years later: 43 A hundred years later: 43 A.DA.D

Britain became an imperial province of Britain became an imperial province of Rome, called Britannia, administered Rome, called Britannia, administered by Roman governors.by Roman governors.

the the Emperor ClaudiusEmperor Claudius sent another sent another army to Britain. This time the army army to Britain. This time the army came to came to INVADEINVADE..

the Roman emperor the Roman emperor HadrianHadrian began the began the construction of a rampart 117 km long. construction of a rampart 117 km long. called called Hadrian's wallHadrian's wall

Twenty years later, another wall, called Twenty years later, another wall, called the the Antonine WallAntonine Wall, was built, was built

The Romans were originally The Romans were originally attracted to the natural hot springs attracted to the natural hot springs near what is now the city of Bath in near what is now the city of Bath in England. England. They founded the city and They founded the city and excavated the baths to exploit their excavated the baths to exploit their medicinal value. medicinal value.

They founded the city and excavated the They founded the city and excavated the baths to exploit their medicinal value. baths to exploit their medicinal value.

In general, however, only the In general, however, only the native nobility, the wealthier native nobility, the wealthier classes, and the town classes, and the town residents accepted the Roman residents accepted the Roman language and way of life, language and way of life, while the Britons in outlying while the Britons in outlying regions retained their native regions retained their native culture.culture.

the people of Britain the people of Britain benefited from Roman benefited from Roman technology and cultural technology and cultural influencesinfluences legal and political systemslegal and political systems architecture and engineeringarchitecture and engineering numerous towns were establishednumerous towns were established walled towns – castra (chester )walled towns – castra (chester ) BUTBUT They didn’t train the Celts in arms They didn’t train the Celts in arms

( so when the Romans left Britain, it ( so when the Romans left Britain, it became an easy prey to the invaders)became an easy prey to the invaders)

At the end of the 3rd century, the At the end of the 3rd century, the Roman army began Roman army began to withdrawto withdraw from Britain to defend other parts of from Britain to defend other parts of the Roman Empire. the Roman Empire.

In 410, when the Visigoths invaded In 410, when the Visigoths invaded Rome, the last of the Roman legions Rome, the last of the Roman legions were withdrawn from the island. were withdrawn from the island.

Celtic culture again became Celtic culture again became predominant, and Roman civilization predominant, and Roman civilization in Britain rapidly disintegratedin Britain rapidly disintegrated

WHAT REMAINS ?WHAT REMAINS ?

1.1. They built a network of They built a network of roadsroads..

2.2. They developed an existing They developed an existing settlement calling it settlement calling it LondiniumLondinium

3.3. It became a trade and It became a trade and administrative centeradministrative center

4.4. Some townsSome towns

LondonLondon

The choice of the The choice of the Romans proved to be Romans proved to be the best.the best.

They chose a location They chose a location that helped in troop that helped in troop movements and movements and administrative administrative communication. communication.

Trade expanded Trade expanded quickly because people quickly because people depended on water depended on water sources as means of sources as means of transportation, and transportation, and London is situated next London is situated next to a number of rivers. to a number of rivers.

In the 5th c. A.D. In the 5th c. A.D.

Saint Patrick led Saint Patrick led the conversion the conversion of the Celts to of the Celts to Christianity.Christianity.The Celtic cross The Celtic cross illustrates how illustrates how the Celtic people the Celtic people preserved many preserved many of their Druidic of their Druidic beliefs,beliefs,with relief of with relief of earth gods and earth gods and woodland spiritswoodland spirits

According to the legend, Arthur was raised According to the legend, Arthur was raised unaware of his royal ancestry and became king by unaware of his royal ancestry and became king by pulling the magic sword Excalibur from a stone.pulling the magic sword Excalibur from a stone.

The Anglo-Saxon InvasionThe Anglo-Saxon Invasion

A.D. 449 The Anglo-Saxons push the Celts into the far west of the country.

Angles

Saxons

Jutes

Celts

Anglo-SaxonsAnglo-Saxons

ENGLAND ENGLAND = land of ANGLES = land of ANGLES Wales ( in Anglo-Saxon language= land Wales ( in Anglo-Saxon language= land

of foreigners) remained independent, of foreigners) remained independent, Welsh people hated the Saxons ( for Welsh people hated the Saxons ( for centuries), they remained Celtic in: centuries), they remained Celtic in:

culture culture religion religion legends (King Arthur and the Knights of legends (King Arthur and the Knights of

the round table) the round table) folklorefolklore

Characteristics of Characteristics of InvadersInvaders

\

Ancestral Tribes of Clans

Chieftain

Thane Thane Thane

Peasant Peasant PeasantPeasantPeasant

Serfs SerfsSerfs Serfs

Thane

Living Quarters—Living Quarters—Mead HallsMead Halls

A reconstructed Anglo-Saxon home located in West Stow in Sussex, England

Mead Hall

• center of life

• sleeping quarters

• dining area

• meeting place

• Located in Woodbridge, Suffolk, England

• Discovered in 1939

• Burial ship of an Anglo-Saxon king

• Burial site contained 41 items of solid gold and 37 gold coins

Sutton Hoo

77thth century helmet century helmet Reconstructed Reconstructed

from hundreds of from hundreds of corroded iron corroded iron fragmentsfragments

Anglo-Saxon pendant probably made in the 7th century AD

found in garden soil at Sacriston, County Durham.

made of solid gold with a goldwire or filigree decoration.

Anglo-Saxon jewellery

Additional Anglo-Additional Anglo-Saxon ArtifactsSaxon Artifacts

King Offa’s DykeKing Offa’s Dyke

approximately 170 miles long running north and south

• continuous wall except for river crossings

• built in the late 8th century

Monument to PowerMonument to Power Perhaps this dyke was a Perhaps this dyke was a

defense against raiders defense against raiders from Wales.from Wales.

Perhaps it served as a Perhaps it served as a permanent boundary permanent boundary between Mercia and between Mercia and Wales.Wales.

Perhaps it was a Perhaps it was a boundary monument to boundary monument to remind the Welsh of remind the Welsh of King Offa’s power and King Offa’s power and control.control.

The Four Invasions The Four Invasions are:are: The Roman Invasion (A.D. 43 - A.D.410)The Roman Invasion (A.D. 43 - A.D.410) The Saxon Invasion (5The Saxon Invasion (5thth C -9 C -9thth C) C) The Viking Invasion (9The Viking Invasion (9thth C – 11 C – 11thth C) C) The Norman Invasion 1066The Norman Invasion 1066

Note 1:Note 1: B.C.B.C. : Before Christ was born. (Placed after : Before Christ was born. (Placed after

the date, e.g 120 B.C.) the date, e.g 120 B.C.)A.D.A.D. : After Christ, anno Domini means “in : After Christ, anno Domini means “in

the year of the Lord,” – (usually placed the year of the Lord,” – (usually placed BEFORE the date, e.g A.D. 43)BEFORE the date, e.g A.D. 43)