A History of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern

Ireland

http://www.uk.filo.pl/england.htm

• England• Wales• Scotland• Northern Ireland

First inhabitants of the island

• small bands of hunters• Stone Age: immigrants

4,000 BCExtract chalkBuild the mysterious stone

circles at Stonehenge and Avebury.

• Bronze Age: Celts 800 BCmetal works

The Romans

• Julius Caesar came in 43 AD • it took him 7 years to control most of England • The northern tribes were aggressive, so he

had to build the Hadrian's Wall to isolate them

• The Romans brought stability, paved roads and Christianity

• Queen Boudicca fought the Romans (destroyed the 9th Legion, burned the capital), but the Romans were never completely defeated.

• The Romans left around 410 AD as their empire declined.

Other invaders• Tribes Angles, Jutes and Saxons • Angles : the name England originates from this

tribe. Jutes are possibly from the Jutland peninsula (ships). Anglo-Saxon dialects = Old English language.

• About one third of Anglo-Saxon vocabulary survived into modern English, including many most basic and daily words.

• 7th century: Anglo-Saxon kings organize fortresses and begin to think of themselves as English.

• 9th century: Vikings had invaded northern parts and Danes invade the eastern England.

• a process of assimilation

The Normans (French)• William of Normandy (William the

Conqueror), who arrived in 1066 with a force of 12,000 men. After the Battle of Hastings, he replaced English aristocrats with French-speaking Normans.

• For the next 200 years, the language of nobility was French.

• The Normans built impressive castles, imposed taxes, counted the population

• A constant process of assimilation

Next…• The next centuries saw a series of royal fights,

political intrigues, plagues, unrest and revolt.

• The Hundred Years War with France: (1337-1453) House of Valois and the House of Plantagenet fought for the French throne.

• Valois claimed the title of King of France• Plantagenet claimed the thrones of both

France and England (they were already kings in England, even if they came from Normandy).

• Valois won, so Plantagenet kept the throne of England.

The War of Roses• The War of the Roses: between the House of York (white

rose) and the House of Lancaster (red rose) for the throne of England.

• Lancaster won: Dynasty of Tudors.

• 16th century, King Henry VIII• handsome, clever• loved sports, music and dancing • very popular with his people

Wife (1): Catherine of Aragon (Spain) Daughter (1): Mary

Marriage problems: religious and political solutions• Main problem: no son to inherit the throne

• Religion in Britain: Catholic (7th-16th century)• Life expectancy: 50 years (short), people are worried about their life

after death (they give 10% to the Church) • Church = more powerful than the king

• Henry wants to get a divorce • Only the Pope can approve• Pope says no, Henry decides to break free from Catholicism and creates

a new religion (Church of England, Protestant+Catholic, controlled by the king)

• The Bible is translated into English.• Henry receives the money donated to church (he is very rich and

powerful)

• The relationship between Church and State became difficult.

Marriage problems

• Wife (2): Anne Boleyn (English)• Daugther (2): Elizabeth

• Wife (3): Jane Seymour• Son (1): Edward

• Wife (4): Anne de Cleves (Germany)• Wife (5): Catherine Howard• Wife (6): Catherine Parr

4 5

6

2

3

Succession to the throne:

• King Edward VI(1537 – 1553)

• Queen Mary I (1516 – 1558)

• Queen Elizabeth I (1533 – 1603)

Protestant

Catholic

Protestant

The Elizabethan Era

Accomplishments

• PEACE in the kingdom (more than 50 years)• INDEPENDENCE (Spain, France)• FREEDOM to choose a religion• Discovery of NEW LANDS (America) + the

beginning of the English Empire• Period of GREAT DEVELOPMENT of arts,

sciences, etc. • SHAKESPEARE – perfection of English language