Essential Notes on British History

Pre-Celtic Britain

• Original inhabitants: Celtic-speaking Britons.
• Key monuments: Silbury Hill and Stonehenge, built ~4,500 to 5,000 years ago.
• Stonehenge possibly functioned as an astronomical clock.

The Celts

• Indo-European tribes, diverse clans in England.
• Strong warrior and administrative leaders.
• Advanced society: iron weapons, woven clothing, farming, hill forts, and painted skin for battle.
• Queen Boudicca: notable warrior who led rebellion against Romans.

Roman Britain

• Conquest began in 43 A.D. under Emperor Claudius.
• Roman influence included urban development, Christianity spread by St. Augustine in 597.
• Hadrian's Wall built in 121 A.D. to protect against Celts.
• Romanization led to names ending in -chester and -cester, as well as urban planning changes.

Anglo-Saxon Society

• Multiple small kingdoms (e.g., Northumbria, Mercia, Kent, Wessex).
• Strong local culture; Christianity gained influence after St. Augustine.
• Literature flourished, especially by the Venerable Bede.

Viking Invasions

• Began around 800 A.D. from Scandinavia; caused significant upheaval.
• King Alfred the Great (849-99) defended against Vikings, leading to the 'Danelaw'.
• 1066: Battle of Hastings, end of Anglo-Saxon era with Norman conquest.