TASK Nº1
PALAEOLITHIC BRITAIN
(450.000 – 10.000 BC)
People from this period lived during the late Ice Age and used to
live by hunting, gathering and planting.
They dressed with the fur taken from the animals they hunt.
In order to hunt, they developed the first weapons and tools
which were made of metal. They used fire.
As they had a nomad way of life (because of the animals they
needed to follow) natural caves were their homes.
They used to draw on the cave’s walls.
They were a polygamist society.
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PALAEOLITHIC BRITAIN
(450.000 – 10.000 BC)
MESOLITHIC BRITAIN
(10.000 – 4.500 BC)
At this time, because of the end of Ice Age, sea levels rose and
the British land became a country. The homo sapiens started
practising farming and agriculture close to the end of this period,
although the real development took place later.
Furs from animals were still wore.
Hunting was still the main activity in this period, but slowly they
developed new tools.
Communities transformed from socialist to capitalist.
There was a division of work, although it is considered they were
egalitarian communities.
MESOLITHIC BRITAIN
(10.000 – 4.500 BC)
NEOLITHIC BRITAIN
(4.500 – 2.300 BC)
New people arrived from the Channel and made contributions in
the development of industries.
Neolithic revolution began with the new seeds brought by these
immigrants. They used to grow grain crops and keep animals.
Hunting wasn’t the main activity in this period. New lands were
exploited.
.Spiritual guides appeared, called druids. Romans met them when
they arrived but they emerged long before the Roman invasion
NEOLITHIC BRITAIN
(4.500 – 2.300 BC)
It was the time of the megalithic monuments and constructions.
Decoration details were appreciated in tombs, pottery, tools and
weapons
BRONZE AGE IN BRITAIN
(2.300 – 700 BC)
It was the real beginning of animal breeding, trade and metal
development. New people arrived called “Beaker people”.
“Beaker people” introduced new skills to make bronze tools
which replaced the Wood ones.
.Even though it was built in several stages from 3.000 BC,
Stonehenge emerged as a kind of economic, religious and
poltical centre.
Jewerly took importance as a symbol. They were offered to gods
sometimes.
Land division became important and a settled farming elite
appeared from 1300 BC approx onwards. Beakers brought barley
from Europe.
BRONZE AGE IN BRITAIN
(2.300 – 700 BC)
IRON AGE IN BRITAIN
(700 – 43 AC)
The celtic way of life was rising. People started to use more iron as
it was stronger.
Trade extended to the European mainland which brought new
seeds. They traded across the tribes by sea.
People increasingly began to live in communities. Foreign
invasions started, so castles (protected villages) appeared and
people started to store food.
Houses were made of bricks and cement.
Various tribes and communities were spread all around the British
Isles and each of them had a Chief.
IRON AGE IN BRITAIN
(700 – 43 AC)
IRON AGE IN BRITAIN
The Celts were much more technically advanced than the previous
inhabitants. They were considered the ancestor of many people in Ireland,
Highland Scotland, Wales and Cornwall
They came from what nowadays is southern Russia and central Europe and
were considered an important and influential culture.
Celts used to have, among others, a high class of warriors and low class of
slaves. The Warriors were well known for their fierce and bravery and it was
common to find chief women among them. The chiefs were elected by
putting a paper in a bag.
They professed a kind of cristianism and the spiritual guides, called Druids,
had as much power as the Warriors. They used to transmit their knowledge
in history, or medicine orally as it is believed they did not know how to read
or write.
BBC Official Site
www.bbc.co.uk/history/ancient/british_prehistory
BBC Timeline
www.bbc.co.uk/history/ancient/archaeology/launch_tl_ages_treasure.shtml
“An illustrated history of Britain”, by David McDowall – Longman
“PREHISTORY – Human evolution and social development”, by Consejería de Educación de la Junta de
Andalucía – PowerPoint presentation
Google images – www.google.com
Pinterest – www.pinterest.com