British history

Prehistorical Britain

6000 BC the English Channel was formed by melting ice

3000 BC the British Isles were inhabited by the Iberians, who came from North African coast, used stone axes and made leather-working tools, also put up buildings from stone i.e. Stonehenge(2 stone circles and 2 horseshoes, connected with the sun and the passing of the seasons). In the centre is situated 5m long Altar Stone. The Iberians were unable to fight back the attacks of Celts in 700 BC who were armed with metal spears, swords, daggers and axes.

The Bronze Age 2100-1650 BC is the period of gold and gold items

700 BC the Celts brought the technique of smelting iron

  • 600 BC came the Gaels
  • 300 BC the time of the Cymri or Britons

The Celts lived in villages, caught fish, grew wheat and corn and tamed animals. There was no private property, no classes, and no exploitation. They were vey careful about cleanliness and neatness, they were never seen dirty or ragged. Celtic family life was the clan, clans lived in tribes. Every tribe had it own gods and laws. The tribes were ruled by a warrior class, of which priests, Druids, were the most important. Druids memorized medicine history and law. All in all Celts were very good warriors, but they could not put up a unified front. Women had an important role in society, sometimes they were even queens. They also created large artwork on the chalk cliffs. A lot of Celtic history relies on oral transmission; the earliest written accounts were those of the Romans. Celtic languages are

  • Gaelic (Irish, Scottish, Manx)
  • Briton (Breton, Welsh and Cornish)


Roman Britain

55 BC Julius Caesar reached the Channel and defeated Celts.

Caesar made 2 raids in 55 and 54 BC across the Channel to punish the Britons against helping kith and kin against them. Romans were better trained and had better amours, but because of the rebellion in Gaul had to live.

43 AD Emperor Claudius made Britain a Roman colony. Celts were turned into slaves who had to pay heavy taxes and work for the Romans.

When the Romans invaded Britain, the strongest Iceni tribe in East Anglia joined it forces with them and helped to defeat a rival tribe. But Romans turned on the Iceni, torturing Queen Boudicca.

61 AD Queen Boudicca led arevolt and burned down London, Colchester and St. Albans. The rebellion was put down and the queen took poison. Romans remained an unassimilated occupying power.

Romans built a network of towns, forts and camps connected by the paved roads.

As they had problems with the tribes of the far north, they built Hadrian’s Wall to keep out the raids of Picts and Scots.

Many Britain’s towns were established by the Romans like London, York, St. Albans. Place names ending in –caster and – chester reveal the places of military camps. Between 1st and 4th centuries they built baths in Bath (Aquae Sulis) around a natural hot spring.

Hadrian’s Wall

Baths

Anglo-Saxon Britain and the Vikings

After 410 Angles, Saxons and Jutes from Denmark and Northern Germany came to Britain. They established new kingdoms and destroyed Roman towns. They established village communities, which developed into big towns ending in –ham. The Celts were driven away to uplands. Saxon kings were supported by the nobles, but the most of population were peasants.

Anglo-Saxons were arable-farming and cattle-breading tribes. Each village was self-sufficient; everything necessary was produced in the village itself. Travelling and trade were unpopular. Anglo-Saxons believed in different gods.

At the end of 6th century they were turned into Christians. At that time kings granted lands to the bishops that promoted the growth of big land estates. Roman monks helped to spread Christianity and brought many books in Greek and Latin. The monk Venerable Bede wrote “Ecclesiastical History of the English People”.Another famous and important piece of literature of that time is the heroic epic poem “Beowulf” that was written in 700AD.

In the 9th century, when Wessex became the strongest state, king Egbert united all Anglo-Saxon kingdoms into one country.

Anglo-Saxons gave England its name (Angel-land) and language (English derives from Anglo-Saxon German). The famous legends of King Arthur and his Knights of the round table also derives from that time.

In the 8th-9th century Vikings came to British Isles. They established villages with names ending with –by and founded the city of Dublin. They were bold and skilful seaman, who fought or stole the treasure or looked for a new land as farmers. Vikings were still pagans and lived in the tribes.

In 871 the Danes invaded Wessex. Egbert’s grandson King Alfred the Great with his people resisted against Vikings because of trained people and strong navy. The Anglo-Saxons had several victories over the Danes. Finally the treaty – Danelaw- was made and the Danes were allowed to settle in the northern boundary that separated their new territory from Wessex.

Alfred the Great:

  • Defeated Danes, Danelaw
  • Taught his people, sent for teachers, let to translate the books into Anglo-Saxon German
  • Anglo-Saxon Chronicle

In the 11th century king Canute became the ruler of England, Denmark and Norway.

  • Ended the practice of paying taxes (Danegeld)
  • DividedEngland into territorial lordships, providing a united system of government

Alfred the Great Cnut

Norman Conquest

Cnut was succeeded by Edward the Confessor, who became king in 1042.During his reign was demographic growth and agrarian expansion, but after his death three men claimed the throne: Harold Godwin, William of Normandy and Harald Hadraada. In 1066 Harold Godwin defeated Harald Hadraadaat StamfordBridge. At the same time William of Normandy landed in England. In the battle of Hastings(1066) king Harold was mortally wounded and all Englishmen defeated. The Battle of Hastings is the last successful invasion of Britain. It is depicted on the Bayeux Tapestry. William of Normandy, William the Conqueror, was acclaimed king in Westminster Abbey. It is beginning of Norman Time.

The Normans operated the feudal system, created an aristocracy that made Anglo-Saxons its serf. William gave his nobles only small pieces of lands so that they could quickly gather his fighting men to rebel. William himself had a lot of land to be stronger than his nobles. He was a ruler of Normandy (a king of France was his lord) and England. Norman aristocracy spoke in French, Latin was the language of clergy and English became the language of peasants. Only in the 13th century French mixed with Old English. In 1086 the Domesday Book was compiled for tax purposes and to make an economic survey. The most famous building of that time is WhiteTower.

The key words of William rule are

  • Strong monarchy
  • New state system
  • Language

Bayeux Tapestry
The Plantagenets

After William’s death, his kingdom was divided into 2:

  • The duchy of Normandy went to Robert
  • England to William, who soon died without leaving an heir and the youngest son Henry took the throne, in 1106 he reunited Normandy to England

He was succeeded by his nephew Stephen of Blois, son of his sister Adela. After Stephen’s death throne went to Henry II, Henry I grandson. He inherited England and Normandy from his mother Matilda and other French areas form his father and his marriage with Eleanor of Aquitaine. Henry was the greatest of the Plantagenet’s, but died broken and defeated by his sons and wife. His reign is marked by

  • quarrel between the Church and the state (murder of Thomas Becket in 1162)
  • He travelled a lot about his domains, was pillar of justice, generous to the poor

His son Richard followed him. He took part in crusades in the Holy Land, was popular king, but had a French culture (Richard “Coeur de Lion”) .

John I, Richard’s brother, was unsuccessful king.

  • Taxed heavily nobles.
  • Lost lands in France and quarreled with the Pope. Finally he was forced to sign Magna Carta in 1215 that limited king’s power. MC marks a clear stage in the collapse of English feudalism. By having the king sign MC nobles were not acting like a class, but like as a class.
  • In 1206 the first stone bridge across Thames was built.

Henry III, a middling head of state, patronized arts and inspired the improvements to Westminster Abbey and construction of Salisbury Cathedral. In 1265 the first parliament was summoned.

Edward I brought together the first real parliament, annexed Wales to England in 1282 and brought Scotland under English control for a time. He kept good relations with a king of France Philip IV and their children, Edward II and Isabella, even married. Edward II wasn’t interested in his wife that is why Isabella with her lover Roger Mortimer forced Edward to abdicate the throne in 1327. Edward II is one of the most unpopular kings in English history.

In 1330 Edward III seized the power. He restored royal authority, developed legislature and government, evaluated English parliament and brought England into the most efficient military power in Europe. His reign is also remarkable for 100 Year’s War 1337-1453, Order of the Garter was established, and it was the time of the Black Death.

At the beginning war was successful for England, Henry VI was even crowned a king in Notre-Dame de Paris. But then French started to fight back when peasant girl Joan of Arc created a strong national feeling. During the war English language developed, Bible was translated by John Wycliffe, it was the start of lay education, Thomas Becket wrote “Canterbury Tales” and the first universities in England were opened

The son of Edward III, Black Prince died before his father, so the next ruler was Richard II. Richard II introduced a tax payment for every person over 15, which led to The Peasant’s Revolt in 1381.The discontent with the Church and state grew.

After a 100 Years War many soldiers returned to England who soon became unemployed. They knew nothing but fighting. Two groups of nobles fought for the control. The Wars of the Roses between York (red rose) and Lancaster (white rose) were held. After Richard II Henry Iv of Lancaster got to the throne and was succeeded by his son Henry V, one of the most popular kings of England. But when it was the time of Henry VI to come to the throne, quarrel between two groups of nobles grew.The war began in 1485 with the battle of St. Alban’s. Soon Lancastrians were defeated and Edward IV got to the throne. Richard III killed all his sons and succeeded Edward IV himself. In 1485 Richard III was killed at Bosworth Field. After that the war was endedand Henry VII the Tudor came to the throne and united two rival noble groups.

Henry II and Thomas Becket

Henry II

Tudors 1485-1603

The Tudor period is known as the most glorious. It is known as the time of strong monarchy, Reformation, strong British navy.

Henry VII

  1. ended War of the Roses, united families and married Elizabeth of York
  2. good business, powerful monarchy
  3. made important alliances
  4. kept England out Wars, avoided quarrels

Henry VIII

  1. Separated EnglishChurch from Roman-Catholic – 1534 the Act of Supremacy
  2. Pope lost his authority
  3. Magnificent court
  4. Had 7 wives
  5. Reformation

Edward VI – died at the age of 16, Protestant, England was ruled by a council

Lady Jane Grey –reigned 9 days, Protestant, was executed

Mary I (Bloody Mary)

  1. I queen of England, married king of Spain
  2. Enacted a policy persecution against Protestants
  3. Restored the papal authority over the Church of England

Elizabeth I (The Elizabethan Age)

  1. Never married to keep England out of war
  2. Under her reign England became powerful and flourishing country with strong navy that destroyed a Spanish one (Spanish Armada)
  3. Led England back to Protestantism
  4. England started to expand (India)
  5. Supported culture (arts and theatre)

Elizabeth ITudors rose

Stuarts

Marie Stuart

This is the time of weak monarchs and tensions with Parliament, but development in science and literature.

James IV + Margaret Tudor (daughter of Henry VIII)

James V + Mary of Guise

Mary Stewart/Stuart - the founder of the Stuart dynasty

  1. most fascinating and controversial monarch who claimed the crowns of 4 nations: Scotland, France, England and Ireland
  2. was Catholic and had a strong French culture
  3. was forced to abdicate in favor of her one-year-old son, executed
  4. had 3 husbands:
  5. Francis I
  6. Lord Darnley, father of James VI
  7. Bothwell

James VI/ James I - the first joint ruler of England and Scotland

  1. Catholic-Protestant tensions, the Gunpowder Plot of November 5, 1605, anti-catholic riots
  2. Quarreled with Parliament, believed that the king had a “divine right”
  3. The “golden age” of Elizabeth drama and literature continued, “Authorized King James’ Version of the Bible” in 1611

Charles I

  1. A tension with the Parliament over money
  2. Catholic wife
  3. Dissolved Parliament 3 times between 1625-1629, raised money
  4. the Civil War between Royalists and Parliamentarians, in 1645 Royalists defeated
  5. Executed in 1649

Oliver Cromwell

  1. The commander of the Parliamentarians
  2. A period of dictatorship, The Commonwealth
  3. Dissolved Parliament

Charles II

  1. Was restored in 1660
  2. Believed in a “divine right”, was attracted to the Catholic church, admired French court
  3. The first political parties – Whigs and Tories
  4. The Plague in 1665 and The Great Fire of London in 1666

James II

  1. Catholic king in a fiercely Protestant country
  2. Antagonized the government by suspending the anti-Catholic laws
  3. Put 7 Protestant bishops on trial for sedition
  4. Allowed catholic officers in the army
  5. Defeated in a battle by William of Orange, his daughter Mary husband

William of Orange 1688-1702

  1. The Glorious Revolution – monarchy wasn’t powerful, Parliament was a decision maker
  2. 1688-1694 ruled with Mary, 1694-1702 ruled alone

Queen Ann 1702-1714

  1. Last of Stuart’s, I to rule over the Kingdom of Great Britain (Scotland was united with England and Wales in 1707 by the Act of Union)
  2. France was defeated in the battle of Blenheim by general Churchill
  3. Parliamentary elections had a decisive effect on the life of the country

The main developments and events of the Stuart Age

  • New scientific ideas (Newton - gravity, Harvey- blood circulation, Christopher Wren – St. Paul’s Cathedral etc.)
  • Britain became a leading European power
  • The Civil War ( 1642 – 1645) and The Commonwealth (1649 – 1660)
  • The Glorious Revolution
  • The first political parties
  • Growth of London
  • The Act of Union 1707

London in the Stuart age
The Georgian Age (1714 - 1789)

In general it was the period of Enlightenment – western thought was re-evaluated, agricultural and industrial revolutions, arts were patronized and improved, women became active in arts and intellectual circles. It was the time of distinctive politicians as Chatham and Walpole, outstanding people in art and literature (Handel, Swift, Defoe, Haydn, Burns). This period can be characterized by enclosures; many poor people lost their lands and moved to the towns to work in workhouses. Britain grew colonizing new lands all over the world and became the strongest navy in the world. But soon the conflict between Britain and her American colonies was triggered by the quarrel over taxation. One event is known as the “Boston tea party” in 1773. When important American ports were closed The American War of Independence started that lasted from 1775 to 1783. For Britain it was hard to win this war. The formal Declaration of Independence was issued on 4 July 1776 and North America became an independent country. In Europe Britain was involved in Napoleonic Wars. The commander of British fleet, Lord Nelson, won a brilliant victory in the battle of Trafalgar in 1805. Napoleon was finally defeated in the battle of Waterloo in 1815, when British army was led by Wellington. Between 1815 and 1835 the economy class system and political methods changed greatly, but electoral system remained virtually unchanged. New towns that had emerged had no political representation. The Whigs party was willing to implement the parliamentary reform. The Great Reform Act finally became in law in 1832.

GeorgeIWalpole

George I 1714-1727

  1. 1st Protestant Hanover ruler, didn’t speak English and wasn’t interested in England
  2. Government power was increased; Prime Minister Robert Walpole had a great power and made several changes: kept the Crown under the firm control of Parliament and limited the king’s power by a constitution, government ministers worked in a “Cabinet”, all members of “Cabinet” were responsible for decisions, raised taxes on luxury goods, built up British trade
  3. Whigs party was the ruling one
  4. Difficulty in defeating “Jacobites”

George II 1727-1760