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".
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.
The Iron Age Celts lived 750 years before Jesus was born.
The Iron Age ended in AD43 when the Romans invaded Britain.
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, which is an alloy of copper and tin (hence the
Bronze Age).
The Celts lived across most of Europe during the Iron Age.
Several hundred years before Julius Caesar, they occupied
many parts of central and western Europe, especially what are
now Austria, Switzerland, southern France and Spain. Over
several years, in wave after wave, they spread outwards, taking
over France and Belgium, and crossing to Britain.
Northwest Europe was dominated by three main Celtic groups:
The Gauls
The Britons
The Gaels
The Romans
The Romans invaded England in 43 AD. They landed in Kent,
made their way to the River Thames and sailed up it. The
Romans knew it was important to control a crossing point at the
river Thames, so they decided to build a settlement on the
north bank. They chose a spot in two small hills and where the
river became narrower. They built a bridge over the Thames,
and there has been a 'London Bridge' in the same area ever
since.
The Romans laid out buildings, streets and a port, and shortly
afterwards they built a bridge. They called the settlement
Londinium and it soon became the capital of Roman Britain.
In AD 61 the native Iceni tribe, led by Queen Boudicca, rose up
against the Romans. They burnt Londinium to the ground and
killed all its inhabitants.
The Romans regained control and rebuilt London, this time
adding a Forum (market) and Basilica (a business centre), and
slowly building a wall around the city to protect it from further
invasion. The Romans ruled in Britain until 410.
The population of Roman London was between 12,000 and
20,000.
In Roman times, the River Thames was 300 meters wide
(today it is 100 meters wide).
Saxons and the Vikings
Later in the 5th century, Anglo-Saxons settled just west of
Londinium and formed the town of Lundenwic. Saxon London
consisted of many wooden huts with thatched roofs.
Disaster struck London in 842 when the Danish Vikings looted
London. They returned in 851 and this time they burned a large
part of the town. King Alfred the Great totally defeated the
Danes in 878 and they split the country between them. The
Danes took eastern England including London while Alfred took
the South and West. Despite the peace treaty Alfred's men
took London in 886. Alfred repaired the walls of the old Roman
town. In 1016 the Vikings attacked London again but this time
the Saxons fought them off.
London Bridge is falling down,
Falling down, falling down,
London Bridge is falling down,
My fair lady."
It is thought that this nursery rhyme probably records an
attack against London by the Viking, Olaf, at the beginning of
the 11th Century. King Olaf of Norway attacked England but he
was unable to sails up the Thames past London Bridge. At that
time London Bridge was made of wood. Olaf and his men tied
ropes to the wooden struts supporting it. They then rowed
away and London Bridge collapsed.
The Vikings and Saxons ruled jointly England until 1042, when
Edward the Confessor became King of both the Vikings and the
Saxons.
Edward the Confessor (1042-1066) built a wooden palace at
Westminster. Later Parliament met here. Because of this
Westminster became the seat of government not the city of
London itself. Edward also built Westminster Abbey, which was
consecrated a few weeks before his death.
Christianity grew stronger in Anglo-Saxon Britain. In 604 AD a
cathedral was founded in London and named after the apostle,
Saint Paul. There is still a cathedral on the site.
The Battle of Hastings
At first the Normans were unable to pierce through the
massed ranks of the English infantry. For six hours until late
afternoon the English seemed like they were going to win. The
Normans charged again and again, but they couldn't break
through the Saxon shield wall and had to go back down the hill
again.
The Saxon's shield wall was a tough defense
Then the Saxons made their fatal mistake. Late afternoon
some of Harold's men broke their shield wall to chase the
Normans, who they thought were retreating. This was to be
their biggest mistake because no sooner had the Normans
reached the bottom of the hill; they turned round and cut the
English to bits. The Norman cavalry rode among the English,
hacking them down. Finally, William brought in his archers and
Harold's luck ran out. The arrows didn't break the Saxon line,
but if the Bayeux Tapestry is to be believed, one of the arrows
hit Harold in the eye. The battle lasted six hours.
Why did William win? His army simply 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!
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. William's army pretended to
flee. Many of Harold's men broke their shield wall to chase
after them but as they did William and his army turned back
and slaughtered them.