Pre-Celtic Britain
Six thousand years ago “Britain” was already inhabited. The population began to burn and cut
down the forests, to grow cereals, and to breed cattle, pigs and sheep. They changed the
landscape and they built ritual sites, the most famous of these is Stonehenge. During the
Bronze Age the islanders started metal working and manufacturing leather and cloth, which
they also traded overseas.
The Celts
Around 7000 BC the Celts began to arrive from northwest Germany and gradually settled in
the country. They were farmers, hunters, fishermen and metal workers. They introduced the
iron plough which made the cultivation of the soil easier. The Celts built massive hill forts on
top of hills surrounded by ditches, they were used as tribal centres and refuges in times of
danger. Women were almost equal to men. The Druids were the Celts’ priests: they were
important in religion, justice, education and medicine. The Celts worshipped the natural
elements, they considered water a holy element since it generated life. They believed in
immortality and in the transmigration of the soul.
The Romans
In 55 BC there was the first invasion of Julius Caesar, but the Romans occupied Britain under
Emperor Claudius from 43 AD. For about fifteen generations Britain was part of the Roman
Empire. The Romans were attracted by the rich agriculture, tin and lead, the availability of
slaves and the strategic position. The Romans did not control the whole island and Hadrian
ordered a wall to be built in the north to keep the “Caledonians” out. The Romans built paved
roads. The most important town was Londinium. The Romans also brought their culture, the
Latin language and Christianity to Britain. By the end of the fourth century the Romans left
Britain, because of the Barbarian invasions.
The Anglo-Saxon
The Angles, the Saxons, the Jutes came from the North Sea Region of Northern Europe. They
settled south of Hadrian’s Wall, they were lowland rather than upland people and were looking
for farming land. Their society was founded on loyalty to the family, or clan, and the centre of
communal life was the hall. By the beginning of the 7th century there were seven Anglo-saxon
kingdoms known as the Heptarchy: Wessex became the most important. They re-introduced
pagan values, but in 597 Augustine (a monk) was sent to England to re-establish Christianity.
He became the first Archbishop of Canterbury. England joined Europe’s ecclesiastic culture.
The Danes
The Vikings, called “Danes” by the English, came from Norway and Denmark in the 9th
century looking for treasure, cattle and slaves (thet were sea people). They set up colonies
creating a “Norseman” culture round the coasts of Europe. Then the Viking invasion of Britain
became an occupation; they began to settle, intermarry and partly spread their language. They
established Danelaw, a code of Danish laws that also describe the area administered by the
Danes in northern and eastern England. When they reached Wessex they met the opposition
from King Ethelred and Alfred.
Alfred the Great
Alfred became King of Wessex. He defeated the Danes at the Battle of Edington in 878. He
reorganised the army and established his capital at Winchester. He also developed a greater
culture, inviting scholars from the continent, creating new schools and codes. When Alfred
died, his son Edward and then his grandson Athelstan succeeded to the throne. In 927
Athelstan created a kingdom by establishing the idea of royal authority, law and coinage. The
Vikings organised a further attack but the English responded by paying money, or Danegeld, to
be left alone. This marked the beginning of the collapse of Saxon England. Harold was the last
Anglo-Saxon king. At the famous Battle of Hastings, Harold was killed and the Anglo-Saxons
were conquered by the Normans.