History of Great Britain

History of Great Britain Anglo-Saxon BeginningsWhat is England?England is both a place and a cultural idealWales and Scotland, though included in the study of British Lit. are separate cultural identities.England has diversity just as America does. For example, Southerners have a differing culture than we do in the Midwest.The differences in England are cultural, economic, and political

The Development of the British IsleThe first settlers of England were the Celts.These people came from east of the Danube. They controlled what we now know as the British Isles and France.

54 BC to 427 ADThe Romans conquered Gaul and the British IslesThey built walls to establish how far North they conquered --which really went to the Southern border of modern Scotlandnot even the Romans could conquer all of the Celts.Romans convert to Christianity and they carry this conversion to the British Isles.

Around 400 ADThe Angles, Saxons, and Jutes began to invade. They eventually took over, driving the Romans out.Christianity is lost to the Isles.

Around 597Several Celtic kingdoms begin to emerge loosely in the area of modern Wessex.Seven of these kingdoms are relatively stable though in constant border disputes.Missionaries have reintroduced Christianity to the region.

8th CenturyThe Vikings/Danes begin hit and run raids on the region.613-1017Alfred the Great emerges to unite England and drive out the invaders.A unified region begins to emerge under Alfred, but his successors are weak leaders who cant keep the various peoples united.Again, none of the people under his reign would have thought of themselves as part of England or even as affliated under the idea of a nation

1016-1042Danish rule begins under CanuteWith his death The Danish empire begins to collapseVikings begin to raid again

Driving out the VikingsEdward the confessor (plays a part in Macbeth) drives out Vikings.Pertinent to Macbeth, kings at this time are chosen by Witan Court---appointed successors usually the kingdoms strongest man.

1066 William the Conqueror & the Battle of HastingsThis Duke of Normandy (France) , illegitimate son of the French king, conquers and becomes king of the British Isles.At this point we start the division that will mark the English language. The upper classes will speak French, the lower classes, English---still seen in words today.