The History of Great Britain: The Beginnings

Flashcards about the History of Great Britain

Stone Age

A period in pre-Roman Britain characterized by warmer temperatures leading to fixed settlements and farming. 6500bc;Stonehenge

Pre-Roman Britain

Celtic culture, starting around 800 BC, was a shared Iron Age tradition across Europe, including Britain. It had tribal societies led by druids, rich oral traditions in art and music, and limited writing, mostly on coins.; Bronze / Iron Age culture

Celtic Culture

A culture that emerged around 800 BC and spread to Britain, characterized by shared languages and hierarchical society.

Druids

Leaders and religious figures in the Celtic culture.

Caesar

A Roman leader who invaded Britain in 55-54 BC.

Emperor Claudius

A Roman emperor who led the conquest of Britain in 43 AD.

What were key features of Roman rule in Britain?

• Ruled through local elites and centralized power

• Founded towns like Londinium (London) and Lindum (Lincoln)

• Introduced writing and Roman legal system

• Faced revolts, notably by Boudicca

Boudicca's Revolt

A revolt against Roman rule led by a Celtic queen.

Hadrian’s Wall

A wall constructed around 120 AD by the Romans to keep out the Picts.

Picts

by Romans to refer to the Scots.

Christianity

First introduced to Britain in the 2nd century AD and became the Roman state religion in 380 AD.

Around 400 AD

the Romans withdrew from Britain.

Post-Roman Britain

• Vacuum of power created after Roman withdrawal

• Invasions of Jutes, Saxons and Angles start

• Roman towns and infrastructure fell into disrepair

Celtic Fringe

Areas where Celtic culture survived after the Anglo-Saxon invasions.

How did the Celtic people respond after the Roman withdrawal?

• Tried to resist invasions (legend of King Arthur)

• Some adapted to or co-existed with invaders

• Others retreated to the 'Celtic Fringe' (Scotland, Wales, Cornwall)

• Celtic culture remained strong in Ireland

Glastonbury Abbey

An abbey rumored to be the location of King Arthur's Grave.

Tintagel

A castle associated with the myth of King Arthur.

Christianity

Declined in Britain under the Anglo-Saxons but remained prominent in the Celtic regions.

St. Augustine

Sent from Rome, he became the first bishop of Canterbury in the 6th century.

Synod of Whitby

A synod held in 664 AD that led to the adoption of the Roman Catholic church model in England.

Little Kingdoms

Emerged after the Roman withdrawal, consisting of smaller territories.

High King

A concept that emerged in the early medieval period, indicating a ruler with authority over multiple kingdoms.

Wessex

A kingdom that achieved dominance in England during the 9th century.

Offa’s Dyke

A border wall built in the 8th century between England and Wales.

Viking Invasions

Began in the 8th century, involving raids on coastal areas like Lindisfarne.

9th century.

An area in East Anglia where Vikings settled (area called Danelaw)

Alfred the Great

defeated the Vikings(878), reformed laws, promoted education, and converted Viking leaders to Christianity.

Æthelstan

Grandson of Alfred, he became king of all England in 973.

Danegeld

A payment demanded by Vikings during the 10th century.

Cnut/Canute

A Viking leader who conquered England in 1016 and became king of England, Denmark, and Norway.

Danes

Ruled England until 1042, after which the House of Wessex returned to the throne.

Cork, Dublin, and Limerick

Founded by Vikings.

Influence on the English language

Viking legacy on the English Language.

1066

The year of the Battle of Stamford Bridge and the Battle of Hastings.

after King Edward died, Harold II and William of Normandy both claimed the English throne. Harold first defeated a Viking invasion at Stamford Bridge but was then defeated by William at the Battle of Hastings. William became the first Norman king of England.

Battle of Stamford Bridge

A battle in 1066 that stopped the Viking invasion.

Battle of Hastings

Fought at Battle, resulting in William of Normandy becoming king.

William the Conqueror

Became William I of England after the Battle of Hastings.

Norman elite

Substituted for Anglo-Saxon elite.(1066)

blamed for introduction of feudalism (system of lords, vassals and serfs) → beginnings of the English class system

Norman Invasion

The last successful invasion of England.

Myth of the ‘Norman Yoke’

A concept suggesting that the Norman Conquest imposed oppressive rule and practices on the English people, resulting in suffering and loss of autonomy.

(= against traditional Saxon freedom) • Magna Carta as remedy • Robin Hood, Richard Lionheart and King John

Norman politics

full of strife and violence (disputes over land; civil wars: King Steven vs. Matilda)

England becomes a centralised and strong nation

→ conquests of other parts of Isles

Conquest of Ireland

Began in 1167 when an exiled Leinster chief asked for help., Strongbow came and became King of Leinster, then Henry II invaded, and the Irish kings accepted English rule.

Scots

• fights for borderlands

Defeated by Edward I in 1296.

Battle of Bannockburn

A battle in 1314 where Scottish independence was regained.

Edward I

Called his son Prince of Wales in 1301, because of death of Llywelyn, Prince of Wales

Owain Glyndwr's Revolt

A failed revolt against the English between 1400 and 1408.

Magna Carta

An English document, guarantees rights of Church of England. 1215

• Restricts power of sheriffs;oldest constitutional document

Simon de Montfort

Stabilized Henry III's rule by summoning a parliament in 1265.

Edward I's Parliament

An early form of parliament.Parliament develops as monarchs need money for foreign wars

1407

House of Commons becomes responsible for taxation;similar developments in Scotland and Wales

Victories in the Hundred Years' War.

Crécy (1346), Poitiers (1356), Agincourt (1415)

Edward III

claims on French throne

Hundred Years’ War

A means of strengthening English identity.(1337-1453)English language back in use amongst elite

Order of the Garter

An English chivalric order founded by Edward III to celebrate valor and loyalty.

The Black Prince

Victor of Poitiers.

Henry V

Victor at Agincourt.

Black Death/Plague

Spread through Europe from the 1340s onwards.;Fatal to ca. 30% of population.

War of the Roses

Houses of York and Lancaster.(1455-1487)A series of civil wars for control of the English throne.A civil war between the Lancaster and York families over the English throne, sparked by Henry IV deposing Richard II and worsened by Henry VI’s weak rule.

Richard III (York)

Died in Battle of Bosworth (1485).Villain of Shakespeareʼs play

The Tudors (dynasty)

(1485-1603)Henry VII won the War of the Roses, married into the York family to unite both sides, and started the Tudor rule, bringing peace and stronger royal control

What changed in England during Tudor rule?

Rapid population and city growth, rising wealth gap, more culture and education, a growing market economy, and stronger royal power.

Printing Press

Brought to England by William Caxton (1470s).Many books in English • Increasing standardization of the English language

Wales: 1536 and 1543

Two Acts of Union, administrative integration, introduction of English law.

1494 Poynings’ Law

Irish parliament now depends on English.

Henry VIII

Attempts to tighten control, declares himself King of Ireland fear of foreign invasion which might start from Ireland.(Constant in Anglo-Irish politics.)