Invaders of Britain

A presentation of people that invaded and/or settled in BritainInvaders of Britain

The list goes as follows:Britons (Celts)RomansSaxonsVikingsNormansThe CeltsWho were the Celts?

From around 750 BC to 12 BC, the Celts were the most powerful people in central and northern Europe. There were many groups (tribes) of Celts, speaking a vaguely common language.The word Celt comes from the Greek word,Keltoi, which means barbarians and is properly pronounced as "Kelt".

The RomansTheRomans came toBritain nearly 2000 years ago and changed the country. Even today, evidence of the Romans being here, can be seen in the ruins of Roman buildings, forts, roads, and baths can be found all over Britain.

How did these Celts look like?

"They are very tall in stature, with rippling muscles under clear white skin. Their hair is blond, but not naturally so: they bleach it, to this day, artificially, washing it in lime and combing it back from their foreheads. They look like wood-demons, their hair thick and shaggy like a horse's mane. Some of them are clean-shaven, but others - especially those of high rank - shave their cheeks but leave a moustache that covers the whole mouth"Diodorus Siculus(A Roman historian)*

*These reports mey be biased.

The Celts loved bright dazzling colours. They dyed their woolen trousers and tops bright coloursThe wool cloth materialmade on the loom would then have been sewn together using a bone or metal needle and wool thread.

First invasion- Caesar's first raidIn August 55 B.C. (55 years before Jesus was born) the Roman general,EmperorJulius Caesarinvaded Britain. He took with him twoRoman legions. After winning several battles against the Celtic tribes (Britons) in south-east England he returned to France.Second invasion- Caesar's second raidThe following summer (in 54 B.C.) Caesar came to Britain again landing at Walmer near Deal in Kent. This time he brought with him no fewer than fivelegions(30,000 foot soldiers) and 2,000 cavalrymen (horse riders). This time the Romans crossed the River Thames. After more fighting, the British tribes promised to pay tribute to Rome and were then left in peace for nearly a century.

Third and final invasionNearly one hundred years later, in 43 A.D. (43 years after Jesus was born),Emperor Claudiusorganised the final and successful Roman invasion of Britain. General Aulus Plautius led four legions with 25,000 men, plus an equal number ofauxiliary soldiers. They crossed the Channel in three divisions, landing at Richborough, Dover, and Lympne.

What clothes did men wear in Roman times?

Men wore a knee-length tunic (chilton), either sleeveless or short-sleeved. Roman men wore a cloak over their tunic, which was like a wide shawl that was draped over the shoulder and carefully wrapped around the body.Important Romans dressed in a long robe called atoga. What clothes did women wear?

Women wore a longer tunic which was often ankle-length. Over this the women wore a stola which was a full length from neck to ankle, high- waisted and fastened at the shoulders with clasps.Rich women wore long tunics made from expensive cotton or silk. They also wore lots of jewellery and make-up, strong scent and elaborate hairstyles. They had specially trained slaves to help them dress. arrange their hair and put make up on their faces.

SaxonsWho were the Anglo-Saxons?

The Angle, Saxon, and Jute are known as the Anglo-Saxons. The Angles and the Saxon tribes were the largest of the three attacking tribes and so we often know them as Anglo-Saxons. They shared the same language but were each ruled by different strong warriors.The Anglo-Saxons were warrior-farmersand came from north-western Europe. They began to invade Britain while theRomanswere still in control.The Anglo-Saxons were tall, fair-haired men, armed with swords and spears and round shields.They loved fighting and were very fierce.

When did the Anglo-Saxons invade Britain?

The first Anglo-Saxons raided the shores of south and east England in the fourth century AD, but they were beaten back by theRomans. At the beginning of the fifth century, the Romans left Britain. They had not trained the British to defend themselves and so the next time the Saxons tried to invade Britain they succeeded.It was during the second half of the fifth century that more and more Anglo-Saxons arrived to take land for themselves. It is for this reason that the time of the Anglo-Saxons is usually thought of as beginning about AD 450.The VikingsThe Viking Age in Britain began about 1,200 years ago in the 9th Century AD and lasted for just over 200 years.About the year 800, bands of fierce raiders began to attack our coasts. They were the Vikings (also called the Danes although they didn't just come from Denmark. See below).The Vikings came across the North Sea, just as the Anglo-Saxons had done 400 years earlier. In time, like theAnglo-Saxons, the Vikings made their home here. They drove the Saxons out of part of the country and took it for themselves.

Who were the Vikings?Vikings were also known as the Norsemen.They were great travelers and sailed to other parts of Europe, where they traded, raided, and often settled.Many Vikings were great travelers and sailed all over Europe and the Atlantic Ocean in their longships. Their longships could sail in shallow water which meant they could travel up rivers as well as across the sea.What did the Vikings Wear?

Viking clothes were made from wool, linen and animal skins.The Vikings were skillful weavers and made their own clothes. Women, with the help of children, made the wool into yarn and used natural dyes from plants to give it colour.Men wore tunics and trousers and women wore a long dress with a pinafore over it. Their clothes were fastened with belts and brooches.

The NormansThe Normans were people who lived in Normandy in NorthernFrance. They were originallyVikingsfrom Scandinavia. (The name Normandy comes from the French normand, meaning Norsemen and Normans)The Normans lived in wattle and daub huts with thatched straw roofs.(After invading Britain they also builtcastles- to defend their new kingdom)

The Tudors