British History
The Celts
Who were the Celts?
From around 750 BC to 12 BC, the Celts were the most
powerful people in central and northern Europe. There
were many groups (tribes) of Celts, speaking a vaguely
common language.
The word Celt comes from the Greek word, Keltoi, which
means barbarians and is properly pronounced as "Kelt".
► Interesting fact
No-one called the people living in Britain during the Iron
Age, Celts until the eighteenth century. In fact the Romans
called these people Britons, not Celts. The name Celts is a
'modern' name and is used to collectively describe all the
many tribes of people living during the Iron Age.
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Why are the Celts called
Iron Age Celts?
The period of time in Britain
immediately before the
Roman period is known as
the Iron Age. The name 'Iron
Age' comes from the
discovery of a new metal
called iron. The Celts found
out how to make iron tools
and weapons.
Before the Iron Age the only
metal used in Britain to make
tools was bronze.
► Where did the Celts come
from?
The Celts lived across most
of Europe during the Iron
Age.
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The Romans
The Romans came to Britain nearly 2000 years
ago and changed our country. Even today,
evidence of the Romans being here, can be seen
in the ruins of Roman buildings, forts, roads, and
baths can be found all over Britain.
Who were the Romans?
The Romans lived in Rome, a city in the centre of
the country of Italy.
One day, some years before Jesus Christ was born,
the Romans came to Britain.
The Romans gave us…
 Language
The language we
used today was
developed from the
Romans. The Romans
spoke and wrote in
Latin and many of
our words are based
on Latin words.
 The Calendar
Did you know that the
calendar we use today is
more than 2,000 years
old? It was started by
Julius Caesar, a Roman
ruler. It is based on the
movement of the earth
around the sun, and so is
called the 'solar calendar.'
The solar calendar has 365
days a year, and 366 days
every leap year, or every
fourth year. The names of
our months are taken from
the names of Roman gods
and rulers. The month
'July,' in fact, is named
after Julius Caesar himself!
 Laws and a
legal system
The laws and
ways we
determine what
to do with
someone who is
accused of
breaking a law
came originally
from the Roman
Empire.
 The Census
The Roman Empire was
huge and included millions
of people living over a large
area. How did they keep
track of all these people?
Easy! They counted them!
The Roman Empire began
the practice of taking a
census, or a 'count,' of all
the people within its
boundaries every so often.
Today, many countries like
ours take a census every 10
years.
The Romans also gave us:
►straight roads
►central heating
►concrete
►aqueducts (bridges for
water)
Anglo-Saxons
► Where
did the Anglo-Saxons come from?
The Anglo-Saxons left their homelands in northern
Germany, Denmark and The Netherlands and
rowed across the North Sea in wooden boats to
Britain.
They sailed across the North Sea in their long
ships, which had one sail and many oars. They
made a series of attacks on different parts of the
country over a period of years and under a
number of leaders.
► The
Saxons settled
in areas of Essex
(East Saxons),
Sussex (South
Saxons), Middlesex
(Middle Saxons),
and Wessex (West
Saxons).
Why did Anglo-Saxons invade Britain?
►
Historians are not sure why the Anglo-Saxons came to
Britain. Some sources say that the Saxon warriors were
invited to come, to the area now know as England, to help
keep out invaders from Scotland and Ireland. Another
reason for coming may have been because their land often
flooded and it was difficult to grow crops, so they were
looking for new places to settle down and farm.
How long did the Saxons stay in England?
►
They ruled in England for about
500 years ( a hundred years
longer than the Romans).
However, unlike the Romans,
the Anglo-Saxons never 'went
home'; many people living in
Britain today have Anglo Saxon
ancestors. The name England
even comes from the Saxon
word 'Angle-Land‘
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One of the places they settled in
was Tonbridge, in Kent.
Tonbridge was an ideal place to
settle as it was on the main
track from Hastings to London
and has a river.
At the time when the AngloSaxons came to England much
of the country was covered in
forest. Only about a few
thousand people in the whole
land (today there are about 50
million people living in England).
It was an easy place for
newcomers to find a place to
start a village and then chop
down the surrounding forest to
make farmland.
Days of the Week
Monandæg ( Moon's day - the day of the moon ),
Tiwesdæg ( Tiw's-day - the day of the Scandinavian sky
god Tiw,Tiu or Tig),
Wodnesdæg ( Woden's day - the day of the god Woden
(Othin) ),
Ðunresdæg ( Thor's Day - the day of the god Ðunor or
Thunor ),
Frigedæg ( Freyja's day - the day of the goddess Freyja or
Frigg, wife to Woden),
Sæternesdæg ( Saturn's day - the day of the Roman god
Saturn, whose festival "Saturnalia," with its exchange of
gifts, has been incorporated into our celebration of
Christmas.),
Sunnandæg ( Sun's day - the day of the sun ).
The Vikings
About the year 800, bands of fierce raiders began to attack
our coasts. They were the Vikings. They came across the
North Sea, just as the Anglo-Saxons had done 400 years
earlier.
In time, like the Anglo-Saxons, they made their home here.
They drove the Saxons out of part of the country and took
it for themselves.
King Alfred, Saxon king of Wessex, fought them in a great
battle, but he could not drive them right away and had to
let them have part of the country, called Danelaw.
The Vikings lived over one thousand years ago and came
from the three countries of Scandinavia: Denmark, Norway
and Sweden.
Who were the Vikings?
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Vikings were also known
as the Norsemen. They
were great travellers and
sailed to other parts of
Europe, where they
traded, raided, and often
settled
They were also farmers,
fishermen, trappers and
traders. Viking craftsmen
made beautiful objects out
of wood, metal and bone;
Viking women were skilful
weavers, produced fine,
warm textiles.
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No matter how many times the
Vikings were beaten, they
always came back, and in the
end all their efforts paid off. It
was the Vikings (Norse) of
Normandy who finally
conquered England in 1066 and
changed British history for ever.
Why did the Vikings invade
Britain?
Most Vikings who sailed
overseas were simply searching
for better land for their farms.
Their land was not very good for
farming. Norway was very hilly,
Sweden was covered in forests,
and Denmark had a lot of sandy
home land.
► Alfred
the Great and Danelaw
Rather than face defeat,
Alfred the Great, king of
Wessex, paid the Vikings
(Danes) to leave his kingdom
alone. He bought just five
years of peace. In that time
the Vikings took over one
third of England. Then they
returned to take Wessex.
Alfred fought and defeated
the Vikings and their leader,
King Guthrum, asked for
peace. The Vikings settled
peacefully in an area of
Britain which became known
as Danelaw
The Normans
► King
Edward lll of England (called "The
Confessor" because he built Westminster
Abbey) died on January 5, 1066, after a
reign of 23 years. Leaving no heirs,
Edward's passing ignited a three-way rivalry
for the crown that culminated in the Battle
of Hastings and the destruction of the
Anglo-Saxon rule of England.
Harold Godwinson was a leading
Saxon Lord and the brother of
Edward's wife. He had won a
number of battles for Edward.
Harold was chosen by the Witan (the
King's council) to succeed Edward
the Confessor. He also said that it
was Edward's dying wish that he,
Harold, should have the crown
(There were no witnesses to Edward
saying this)
The day after Edward diedold was
born and bred in England and
popular with ordinary people. He
was son of Earl Godwin, the most
powerful noble in E, Harold became
King Harold ll of England.
Harold did not have a direct blood
link to the king.
William, Duke of
Normandy, over the sea
in France
William was a distant
cousin of Edward the
Confessor and wanted to
be the next king. He
claimed that both Edward
and Harold had
promised him the
throne, but English
supporters of Harold
challenged this.
Who were the Normans?
► The
Normans were people who lived in
Normandy in Northern France. They were
originally Vikings from Scandinavia
Why did William won the Battle of Hastings?
1.William's army had time to rest before the battle. Harold
Godwinson's army was tired and they did not have time to
prepare properly for the battle. The English army had
already fought the Battle of Stamford Bridge that day and
had to march quickly down to the battlefield outside
Hastings. They marched 50 miles a day!
2.William's army was stronger. He had better trained soldiers
and had the use of a strong cavalry (men on horseback)
and archers whereas Harold did not.
3.William's army pretended to flee. Many of Harold's men
broke their sheild wall to chase after them but as they did
William and his army turned back and slaughtered them.
Who became the next King of England?
When William won the
Battle of Hastings, he
earned himself the
title 'Conqueror'. He
marched to London
and was crowned King
in Westminster Abbey
on Christmas Day
1066.
The Tudors
The Tudors were a Welsh-English family that
ruled England and Wales from 1485 to 1603
- one of the most exciting periods of British
history. They ruled for 118 years and
during their reign encouraged new religious
ideas, overseas exploration and
colonisation. Tudor England had two of
the strongest monarchs ever to sit on
the English throne: Henry VIII and his
daughter Elizabeth I.
► The
► The
Tudors ruled England from 1485 to 1603.
first Tudor king was Henry Vll. He became
king after the battle of Bosworth field, which
ended the War of the Roses. He was followed by
his son, Henry Vlll, who was famous for marrying
six times and beheading two of his wives! His son,
Edward Vl ruled after him, followed by his
daughters Mary l and Elizabeth l.
► They are famous for many things, including the
Henry VIII and his six wives, the exploration of
America and the plays of William Shakespeare.
► During the sixteenth century, England emerged
from the medieval world. It was a time of great
change, most notably it marked the end of the
Catholic church in England. Great naval exploits
began the great English seafaring tradition.
► Life
had many problems. Towns
were becoming overcrowded,
roads were muddy tracks and
travelling was difficult. The
overcrowding caused danger
from fire and disease.
► During 118 years of Tudor rule,
England became richer than ever
before. As the country became
wealthier, towns grew, beautiful
houses were built and schools
and colleges were set up. Arts
and crafts flourished too.
England was home to great
painters, writers and musicians.
The Victorians
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The Victorians lived over one hundred and fifty years ago
during the reign of Queen Victoria (1837 to 1901).
Victorian times means during Victoria's rule. The time
Queen Victoria was on the throne. She ruled for 64 years.
There was no electricity, instead gas lamps or candles were
used for light.There were no cars. People either walked,
travelled by boat or train or used coach horses to move
from place to place.
Britain managed to build a huge empire during the
Victorian period. It was also a time of tremendous change
in the lives of British people. In 1837 most people lived in
villages and worked on the land; by 1901, most lived in
towns and worked in offices, shops and factories.
During Queen Victoria's reign:
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Britain became the most powerful and richest country in the world,
with the largest empire that had ever existed, ruling a quarter of the world's
population.
Towns and cities got piped water, gas and, by the end of the century,
electricity
The number of people living in Britain more than doubled from 16
million to 37 million, causing a huge demand for food, clothes and housing.
Factories and machines were built to meet this demand and new towns
grew up, changing the landscape and the ways people lived and worked.
Railways, originally built to transport goods, meant people could travel easily
around the country for the first time. Railways brought new foods to towns and
cities.
Soldiers were at war all over the world especially in 1850 - 1880.
Many households had a servant or servants – in 1891, 2 million servants were
recorded in the census
Seaside holidays were 'invented' (became popular).
Police Force 'invented'.
At the beginning of the Victorian period crossing the Atlantic took up to eight
weeks. By 1901 it took about a week.
New cookers and gadgets for the home were invented.
It was created thanks to Woodlands Junior High
School
WWW.
Created by:
AND:
 Justyna Gralla
 Gosia Kasprzik
Sabina Hulbój
 Beata Dobiosz
 Kinga Musioł
 Ewa Wrzeciono
 Bartek Gryko
 Magda Dobiosz