Many of Britain’s main towns Roman baths in Bath, Aquae between 1-4 century Hadrian’s Wall Built in 122 to keep out the raiding of Picts and Scots. 70 miles from Solway to the Tyne Christianity was brought by Roman traders and soldiers in 4th century, Christian Church was established Kingdom In the 5th century the Angles, Saxons and began raiding Britain. Within 100 years Saxon kingdoms (such as Wessex, Mercia, East Anglia) were established Disliked towns and destroyed Roman establishments Trade soon increased The Celts were driven to high and remote areas in Scotland, Cornwall, Wales, Islands English is the descendant of the Saxon invaders language of the 5th century Anglo-Saxons were agricultural: villages self-sufficient, no shops, little trading The conversion of the A-S into Christianity began in the 6th century. The link the pagan A-S invaders had broken was thus restored Canterbury Cathedral Cathedral’s first archbishop- St. Augustine The Venerable Bede wrote „Ecclesiastical History of the English People“-only book on A-S history „Beowulf“-heroic poem The assassination of Thomas Becket in 1162 Celtic family was the clan Danelaw During 9th and 10th centuries Vikings came first to plunder, then to stay. Their invasion were successful because the kingdom of England had neither a regular army nor a fleet in the North Sea In 871 the invaded Wessex. King Alfred The Great led Wessex’s resistance against invaders Danelaw was founded in the northern boundary, the town of York being its capital Alfred the Great read and write Many books were translated Translated E H o t English Ppl Ordered a history of England to be written- The A-S Chronicle Canute/Cnut/Knut 1016 Danish king Canute conquered England Divided England to territorial lordships His son was Edward the Confessor, who restored the Saxon line of kings Norman Invasion Confusion
Harold Godwin claimed that Edward promised throne to him on his deathbed Duke William of Normandy argused that Edward had promised throne to him when he visited England in 1051 Harald Hardraada, king of Norway, also claimed throne Battle of Hastings 1066 Godwin marched to meet the forces of Hardraada, then received word that William had landed in South, then marched there. Battle was won by William through trickery King Harold died(an arrow in his eye) It was the last successfu invasion of Britain Bayeux Tapestry, made about 1080, valuable historical document William of Normandy New king of England in Westminster Abbey Brought French culture Built the White tower in London (to dominate the city) The Normans 1086 the Domesday Book, a survey of every manor in England was compiled for tax purposes. English became the language of the peasants The Early Middle Ages 1086 Domesday Book The three brothers When William died in 1087, he left a of Normandie to his son Robert, England to William(Rufus) Henry took the crown when Robert was in a war in the Holy Land Robert accepted payment for returning to Normandie 1106 Henry invaded Normandie, captured Robert Matilda Daughter of Henry Married Geoffrey Plantagenet Stephen of Blois Throne was seized by him, son of Adela Civil war 1153 Matilda and Stephen agreed that son Henry II will succeed him The Plantagenets
Henry II Son of Stephen Blois(adopted) Inherited English kingdom, Normandy(mother), Anjou, Maine and Touraine(father), vast areas in France(wife) Athletic, strong, travelled ceaselessly Struggle between church and king led to the murder of Thomas Becket His son was Richard the Lionheart John I Lost dominions in France to Philippe II Auguste in 1204 Nickname: John Lackland Disputes with the Pope and nobility Was forced to sign Magna Carta 1215, predecessor of Constitution MG limited king’s power, mark a stage in the collapse of English feudalism Henry III John’s eldest son Was interested in art and culture(Westminster, Salisbury Catherdal) University of Oxford 1st parliament in 1265 Edward I Annexed to England in 1282 Scotland under English control for a time Good relations with Philip IV of France Decided to marry their children Isabella + Edward II was disastrous- they didn’t love each other Their son Edward III The Age of Chivalry, Edward III, Black Prince Son of Isabella(daughter of Philip the Fair) Claimed the French throne, but new king was Philip IV 1337 landed his army in Normandy 100 Years War began 1348 founded a chivalric order-The Most Noble Order of the Garter 1431 French started to rise Peasants’ Revolt 100 years’ war Henry VI of Lancaster was crowned king of France in 1431 Joan of Arc burnt at the stake 1453 war ended, only Calais remained to England War brought wealth to England Culture during the war England began to speak English G. Chaucer “Canterbury Tales” Bible was translated into English Winchester College was established – start to lay education
Mary married King Philip of Spain. She enacted a policy of persecution against Protestants and restored the papal authority over the Church of England. She is called “Bloody Mary”. When she died in 1558, her half-sister Elizabeth became queen. She wanted a peaceful answer to the problems, led England back to Protestantism and made herself the head of the Church. Mary Stuart (a Catholic) was the heir to the English throne. By 1585 most English people believed that to be a Catholic was to be an enemy of England. The defeat of the Spanish Armada is one of the most famous events in English history and arguably Queen Elizabeth’s finest hour. Her reign was also a prosperous period and extremely important culturally. The Stuarts Mary Stuart She was the queen of Scotland and claimed the crowns of France, England and Ireland. She was married to Francis I (prince of France), Lord Darnley (this marriage produced James VI) and Bothwell (was believed to be the murderer of Lord Darnley). Mary fled to England in seeking the protection, but was executed. James I (James VI of Scotland) The first joint ruler of England and Scotland. He was a Scottish Catholic who believed in the “Divine Right” and ruled as he wanted. Conflict with the English Parliament. The failed Catholic Gunpowder Plot in 1605 led to anti catholic riots. Charles I (1625-1649) Son of James I His wife was Catholic. He dissolved Parliament three times between 1625 and1629. He wanted to rule alone and this led to civil war (1642-1645). Oliver Cromwell created the new “model” army which defeated the Royalist army. Charles was executed and Cromwell became the ruler. 1649-1660 - Dictatorship of Cromwell. He was unable to find anything to replace the monarchy. Charles II (1660-1685) Restoration in 1660. The fear of Charles` interest in Catholic church resulted in the first political parties in Britain: “Whigs” (were afraid of absolute monarchy, supported Parliament) and “Tories” (supported the Crown). The Plague in 1665 and the Great Fire of London in 1666. Ch. Wren designed a new capital. James II (1685-1688) He was a Catholic king.
Christianity encouraged people to act in certain ways – Victorian values Electric lighting, Origin of Species- first evolution book, antiseptic surgery, railway, ships Writers:, William Thackeray, Thomas Hardy, Oscar Wilde, Stevenson, Kipling, Charles Dickens, Charles Darwin Edwardian Age Edward VII had been waiting long to get to the throne “Entente cordiale” The Edwardian period is sometimes extended Socially Edward was a part of fashionable elite and had many scandals. During that time the British class system was very rigid In 1903 Emmeline Pankhurst founded the Women’s Social and Political Union that fought for women’s suffrage Corresponds to the French Belle Époque period The church no longer played a vital role. Age of optimism Inventions like telephones, typewriters, airplanes, wireless A military rivalry grew between GB and Germany In May 1910 Edward VII was succeeded by his son George V George changed his family name to Windsor- anti-German His reign saw the First World War, the Russian Revolution, the Irish troubles, votes for women, the general strike etc. The assassination of Archduke Ferdinand started WW I Country was unprepared for the power of the modern weapons Post-War The Treaty of Versailles gave Britain several German and Turkish colonies In 1931 Parliament passed a statute that recognized the dominions’ complete independence from Britain Now Britain is constitutional monarchy. Head of state-Queen Elizabeth II The prime minister and cabinet are formally appointed by the monarch to form Her Majesty's Government The queen respects prime minister’s choices David Cameron