1570

BRITAIN known to Merchants for: its pearls its pearls gold gold tin tin

It was characterized by : Timber: easily obtainable Timber: easily obtainable A fertile soil; fresh water everywhere A fertile soil; fresh water everywhere Climate: mild Climate: mild Rich in game, fish and fowl Rich in game, fish and fowl

Geographically: 1..East and South –east offered an easy access for: an easy access for: low coasts low coasts good harbours good harbours navigable rivers navigable rivers 2.West and North had a difficult approach: 2.West and North had a difficult approach: high coasts high coasts jutting cliffs jutting cliffs promontories promontories

The Ice Age It ended about 8000 B.C. It ended about 8000 B.C. The rising sea level produced the English Channel and made Great Britain an island. History - Timelines

Who were the first inhabitants?

In 2000 BC we find the IBERIANS A pre-Celtic population. They settled in the western and southern part. They had already reached a first stage of civilization: The Bronze Age and they were entering the Iron Age and they were entering the Iron Age

They were dark-haired people Some political organization Some political organization built long wooden warships built long wooden warships introduction of metals introduction of metals lived in wooden huts lived in wooden huts beginning agriculture beginning agriculture trade-routes trade-routes

Stonehenge, a prehistoric monument on Salisbury Plain, dates from the late Stone and early Bronze ages (about bc). The monument consists of a circular group of large upright stones. It is the best preserved and most celebrated of the megalithic monuments of Europe. Patrimoni dell'umanità – StonehengePatrimoni dell'umanità – Stonehenge Secrets of StonehengeSecrets of Stonehenge

The typical Mound containing “ Beakers”

the Celts They had Blond- hair, blue eyes and they were tall. the Celts They had Blond- hair, blue eyes and they were tall. TRIBES coming from Northern Europe They subdued the IBERIANS Iron Age Celts Iron Age Celts Iron Age Celts Iron Age Celts 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. Brittany after the Britons THE BRITONS settled in the South Brittany after the Britons History - Timelines

WERE THEY SIMILAR ? They were tied by similar: They were tied by similar: language language religion religion cultural expression. cultural expression.

What were the Celts like? no town life no town life they prefer living in farms they prefer living in farms they minted their own coinage they minted their own coinage Organized in clans, men wore skirts with striped or checked cloaks fastened by a pin ( a primitive form of the Scottish tartan) Organized in clans, men wore skirts with striped or checked cloaks fastened by a pin ( a primitive form of the Scottish tartan) each clan had a king ( a chief) and a primitive form of justice each clan had a king ( a chief) and a primitive form of justice

famous for their burial sites, hill-forts, built on the top of hills 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 Age (800 BC - 43 AD).

WHAT ABOUT THEIR RELIGION ? The DRUIDS Their cerimonies were held in the forest Their cerimonies were held in the forest Making sacrifices, they read the Gods’ will in running blood Making sacrifices, they read the Gods’ will in running blood They had great power They had great power ministers of religion ministers of religion administered justice administered justice educated the young educated the young They worshipped the natural elements as The Sun, the Moon and Water= the holy element which generates life and the door of the world afterdeath. They believed in the immortality and transmigration of the soul from one person to another. It was believed that life after death was spent on the Earth in caves, hills or lakes. When the Romans conquered Britain they destroyed the woods were they held their shrine.

1. There seemed to be equality between the sexes 2. the women sometimes ruled large tribes and fought. 3. The most famous was BODICEA ( 1st century A.D.) who resisted for more than 30 years against the Romans

And in Scotland? PICTS PICTS 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“ SCOTS SCOTS settled there in the 4th century. settled there in the 4th century.

Brythonic Brythonic areas PictishPictish areas GaelicGaelic areas

The Roman Invasion In 55 B.C. Julius Caesar planned an expedition to Britain, why?: In 55 B.C. Julius Caesar planned an expedition to Britain, why?: Caesar conquered France which was called Gaul by the time. The Gauls fought hard against the Romans and had been helped by their friends in Britain. Caesar decided to teach the Britons a lesson. Caesar conquered France which was called Gaul by the time. The Gauls fought hard against the Romans and had been helped by their friends in Britain. Caesar decided to teach the Britons a lesson. In 54 B.C. He wanted to find out the treasures of Britain, so he planned this idea of exploring Britain, but he never came to invade it. In 54 B.C. He wanted to find out the treasures of Britain, so he planned this idea of exploring Britain, but he never came to invade it.

A hundred years later: 43 A.D Britain became an imperial province of Rome, called Britannia, administered by Roman governors. Britain became an imperial province of Rome, called Britannia, administered by Roman governors. the Emperor Claudius sent another army to Britain. This time the army came to INVADE. the Emperor Claudius sent another army to Britain. This time the army came to INVADE.

the Roman emperor Hadrian began the construction of a rampart 117 km long. called Hadrian's wall Twenty years later, another wall, called the Antonine Wall, was built

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

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

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

the people of Britain benefited from Roman technology and cultural influences legal and political systems legal and political systems architecture and engineering architecture and engineering numerous towns were established numerous towns were established walled towns – castra (chester ) walled towns – castra (chester ) BUT They didn’t train the Celts in arms ( so when the Romans left Britain, it became an easy prey to the invaders) BUT They didn’t train the Celts in arms ( so when the Romans left Britain, it became an easy prey to the invaders)

At the end of the 3rd century, the Roman army began to withdraw from Britain to defend other parts of the Roman Empire. At the end of the 3rd century, the Roman army began to withdraw from Britain to defend other parts of the Roman Empire. In 410, when the Visigoths invaded Rome, the last of the Roman legions were withdrawn from the island. In 410, when the Visigoths invaded Rome, the last of the Roman legions were withdrawn from the island. Celtic culture again became predominant, and Roman civilization in Britain rapidly disintegrated Celtic culture again became predominant, and Roman civilization in Britain rapidly disintegrated

WHAT REMAINS ? 1. They built a network of roads. 2. They developed an existing settlement calling it Londinium 3. It became a trade and administrative center 4. Some towns

London The choice of the Romans proved to be the best. The choice of the Romans proved to be the best. They chose a location that helped in troop movements and administrative communication. They chose a location that helped in troop movements and administrative communication. Trade expanded quickly because people depended on water sources as means of transportation, and London is situated next to a number of rivers. Trade expanded quickly because people depended on water sources as means of transportation, and London is situated next to a number of rivers.

In the 5th c. A.D. Saint Patrick led the conversion of the Celts to Christianity. The Celtic cross illustrates how the Celtic people preserved many of their Druidic beliefs, with relief of earth gods and woodland spirits In the 5th c. A.D. Saint Patrick led the conversion of the Celts to Christianity. The Celtic cross illustrates how the Celtic people preserved many of their Druidic beliefs, with relief of earth gods and woodland spirits

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

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

Anglo-Saxons Anglo-Saxons ENGLAND = land of ANGLES ENGLAND = land of ANGLES Wales ( in Anglo-Saxon language= land of foreigners) remained independent, Welsh people hated the Saxons ( for centuries), they remained Celtic in: Wales ( in Anglo-Saxon language= land of foreigners) remained independent, Welsh people hated the Saxons ( for centuries), they remained Celtic in: culture culture religion religion legends (King Arthur and the Knights of the round table) legends (King Arthur and the Knights of the round table) folklore folklore

Characteristics of Invaders Ancestral Tribes of Clans Chieftain Thane Peasant Serfs Peasant Serfs Thane Peasant Serfs Peasant Serfs Thane Peasant

Living Quarters— Mead 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

7 th century helmet 7 th century helmet Reconstructed from hundreds of corroded iron fragments Reconstructed from hundreds of corroded iron fragments

 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-Saxon Artifacts

King Offa’s Dyke  approximately 170 miles long running north and south continuous wall except for river crossings built in the late 8 th century

Monument to Power Perhaps this dyke was a defense against raiders from Wales. Perhaps this dyke was a defense against raiders from Wales. Perhaps it served as a permanent boundary between Mercia and Wales. Perhaps it served as a permanent boundary between Mercia and Wales. Perhaps it was a boundary monument to remind the Welsh of King Offa’s power and control. Perhaps it was a boundary monument to remind the Welsh of King Offa’s power and control.

The Four Invasions are: The Roman Invasion (A.D A.D.410) The Roman Invasion (A.D A.D.410) The Saxon Invasion (5 th C -9 th C) The Saxon Invasion (5 th C -9 th C) The Viking Invasion (9 th C – 11 th C) The Viking Invasion (9 th C – 11 th C) The Norman Invasion 1066 The Norman Invasion 1066 Note 1: B.C. : Before Christ was born. (Placed after the date, e.g 120 B.C.) A.D. : After Christ, anno Domini means “in the year of the Lord,” – (usually placed BEFORE the date, e.g A.D. 43)