Britain from it's Beginnings
In this chapter
The Dawn of Britain
The earliest inhabitants of Britain were hunter-gatherers, residing in the era we refer to as the
Stone Age.
During most of the Stone Age, a land bridge connected Britain to the continent, allowing people to
move
freely, tracking the herds of deer and horses they hunted. Britain only became distinctly separated
from the
continent by the Channel around 10,000 years ago.
The first agrarian societies appeared in Britain around 6,000 years ago. These early farmers likely
originated from south-east Europe. They constructed houses, tombs, and monuments on the land. One of
these
ancient monuments, Stonehenge, endures in what is now known as the English county of Wiltshire.
Stonehenge
probably served as a significant venue for periodic ceremonies. Other Stone Age sites have also
persevered.
Skara Brae on Orkney, situated off the northern coast of Scotland, is the best-preserved prehistoric
village
in northern Europe, providing archaeologists with valuable insights into life during the late Stone
Age.
Approximately 4,000 years ago, societies discovered how to manufacture bronze, marking the onset of
the
Bronze Age. These people dwelled in roundhouses and laid their deceased to rest in burial sites
known as
round barrows. The Bronze Age people were skilled metalworkers, crafting exquisite items in bronze
and gold,
such as tools, jewelry, and weapons. The Bronze Age gave way to the Iron Age when people mastered
ironworking, forging weapons and tools from this material. Communities still inhabited roundhouses,
which
formed larger settlements and occasionally fortified sites known as hill forts. One of these hill
forts,
Maiden Castle, stands to this day in the English county of Dorset. Society consisted primarily of
farmers,
artisans, or warriors. They communicated in a language belonging to the Celtic language family,
which was
widespread throughout Europe during the Iron Age. Relatives of these languages continue to be spoken
today
in parts of Wales, Scotland, and Ireland. The Iron Age societies were complex, with a developed
economy and
culture. They introduced the first coins minted in Britain, some bearing the names of Iron Age
kings,
signifying the inception of British history.
The Roman Era
Julius Caesar instigated the first Roman invasion of Britain in 55 BC, which proved unsuccessful,
and for
nearly a century, Britain remained independent from the Roman Empire. However, in AD 43, Emperor
Claudius
launched a new invasion with the Roman army. Although met with resistance from some British tribes,
the
Romans succeeded in establishing control over the majority of Britain. One prominent tribal leader
who
battled the Romans was Boudicca, the queen of the Iceni, located in what is now eastern England. Her
memory
persists to this day, with a statue erected on Westminster Bridge in London, near the Houses of
Parliament.
Certain regions of present-day Scotland were never subdued by the Romans. To deter the Picts (the
forebears
of the Scottish people), Emperor Hadrian ordered the construction of a wall in northern England.
This wall
incorporated several forts, and remnants of Hadrian’s Wall, including the Housesteads and Vindolanda
forts,
are still visible today. It is a favored spot for hikers and has been recognized as a UNESCO (United
Nations
Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization) World Heritage Site.
Roman rule in Britain persisted for 400 years, during which they constructed roads and public
edifices,
established a legal system, and introduced new flora and fauna. It was amidst the 3rd and 4th
centuries AD
that the first Christian communities began to emerge in Britain.
The Age of the Anglo-Saxons
In AD 410, the Roman army departed Britain to protect other regions of the Roman Empire and never
came back.
Subsequently, Britain was invaded once more, this time by northern European tribes, namely the
Jutes, the
Angles, and the Saxons. Their languages have significantly influenced modern-day English. Despite
the
battles fought against these invaders, by around AD 600, Anglo-Saxon dominions were established in
Britain,
predominantly in what is now England. One of the notable kings was buried at Sutton Hoo in
present-day
Suffolk, surrounded by treasure and armor, all placed in a ship then buried under a mound of earth.
Some
parts of western Britain, including substantial areas of what is now Wales and Scotland, remained
unaffected
by Anglo-Saxon rule.
Initially, the Anglo-Saxons were not Christians upon their arrival in Britain. However, during this
era,
missionaries arrived in Britain to promote Christianity. Missionaries originating from Ireland
propagated
the faith in the north. Among the most prominent were St Patrick, who would later become the patron
saint of
Ireland, and St Columba, who established a monastery on the island of Iona, off the coast of
present-day
Scotland. St Augustine led missionaries from Rome, who disseminated Christianity in the south. St
Augustine
was subsequently appointed as the first Archbishop of Canterbury.
The Era of the Vikings
Originating from Denmark and Norway, the Vikings first arrived in Britain in AD 789, primarily to
raid
coastal settlements and seize goods and slaves. Eventually, they began to settle and establish their
own
communities in the eastern regions of England and Scotland. The Anglo-Saxon kingdoms in England
unified
under King Alfred the Great, who managed to defeat the Vikings. A large number of the Viking
invaders
decided to remain in Britain, particularly in the eastern and northern parts of England, an area
referred to
as the Danelaw (a fact reflected in many place names such as Grimsby and Scunthorpe, which derive
from the
Viking languages). The Viking settlers integrated with local populations, and some even converted to
Christianity.
The Anglo-Saxon monarchs continued to govern what is now known as England, barring a brief period of
rule by
Danish kings, the first of whom was Cnut, also known as Canute.
In the northern regions, the looming threat of Viking invasions motivated the local populations to
unite
under a single king, Kenneth MacAlpin. From then on, the term Scotland started being used to refer
to that
region.
The Normans' Arrival
The year 1066 saw a critical turn in British history, when William, the Duke of Normandy (currently
part of
northern France), led an invasion that overpowered Harold, the Saxon king of England, in the Battle
of
Hastings. Harold perished during this battle. Subsequently, William assumed the English throne,
earning the
moniker William the Conqueror. The battle's story is retold in an intricate embroidery known as the
Bayeux
Tapestry, which remains on display in France today.
The Norman Conquest marked the last successful foreign invasion of England and precipitated numerous
modifications in the country's governing system and social organization. Norman French, the new
ruling
class's language, had a profound influence on the evolution of the English language. The Normans
initially
managed to conquer Wales, but over time, the Welsh succeeded in reclaiming some territory. Battles
ensued on
the England-Scotland border between the Scots and the Normans; the latter managed to secure some
border
land, but they did not invade Scotland.
William orchestrated the creation of exhaustive lists of all towns and villages across England,
including
their inhabitants, landowners, and their livestock. This comprehensive record became known as the
Domesday
Book. This document still exists today and provides a detailed snapshot of English society shortly
after the
Norman Conquest.
Make Sure You Understand
- Grasp the history of the UK prior to the Roman era
- Comprehend the Romans' influence on British society
- Understand the diverse groups that invaded Britain following the Roman period
- Recognize the significance of the Norman invasion of 1066
Study Materials
- Introduction to the Life in the UK Study Guide
- Chapter 1 - The Values and Principles of the UK
- Chapter 2 - What is the UK?
- Chapter 3 - A Long and Illustrious History
- Britain from it's Beginnings
- The Middle Ages
- The Tudors and Stuarts
- A Global Power
- The 20th Century
- Britain since 1945
- Chapter 4 - A Modern, Thriving Society in the UK
- The UK Today
- Religion in the UK
- Customs and Traditions
- Sport in the UK
- Arts and Culture
- Leisure Activities in the UK
- Iconic Places of Interest in the UK
- Chapter 5 - The UK Government, the Law and Your Role
- The Development of British Democracy
- The Government
- Who Can Vote in the UK?
- The UK and International Institutions
- Respecting the Law
- The Role of the Courts
- Fundamental Principles
- Your Role in the Community
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