HISTORY AND CULTURE OF
THE ENGLISH-SPEAKING
WORLD
Levi Vandelanoitte
UGENT
, History and Culture of the English-speaking world
50% multiple choice
50% open questions
50% British Isles 50% Empire + US
Les 1
British Isles before the Norman Conquest of 1066
Permanently settled since 10.000BC
Neolithic revolution
4000 BC:
Hunter-gatherers settled in hamlets
4-5 houses grouped together – max 60 ppl
Not a real village yet
1000 BC:
Deteriorating climatological circumstances -> peasants (farmers) had to
expand
Deforestation because of this
-> no longer heavily forested
- Social inequality
Slavery, patriarchy,..
- Technological development
Metallurgy (use of metals)
Stonehenge was built – they couldn’t write -> no preserved texts (we
don’t know what it’s for)
Close interactions w the continent – megaliths in Britain & France
600 BC:
Emerge of Celtic societies
Shared language
Religion: multiple gods
1
, - - Celtic religion: multiple gods
Polytheistic
Nature-centred
Political fragmentation
No shared identity/ government
Independent polities = wars
o Even if the celts shared the same language and religious
ideas, the tribes all fought w each other
- - political fragmentation = wars
Matrilocality: women = powerful
In some tribes
“Warrior Queens” (women ruling the army & in combat)
- - no written text = did came in contact w/ Rome
- - matrilocality: women = powerful!!!
Man leaves hometown to live with woman (not vice versa)
Roman Britain
1st century CE:
1st visit: British tribes invited Caesar to help them as an ally in war against
other tribes
2nd visit (Claudius) = conquered British Isles
Roman colony = ‘Britannia’
Geographical perspective: Roman settlement remained limited (current
border England-Scotland)
Border: Hadrian’s Wall (against Picts)
Military camps developed into cities (contrast w hamlets Celts)
Impact of Rome
- Literacy = important
- Integration in Roman economy
o Roman coins: provided base for trading networks
o Metalwear, pottery
o Large population
o Town names = -ester today
- Roman roads
- Latin = language spoken by elite
Rest of society spoke Celtic languages
- Own religion = allowed
- Introduction Christianity
o Very late
2
, o Restricted impact
Fall of Roman Britain
350-420 CE:
- Rapid & far-reaching transformation
- Scottish & Irish raiders attacked frequently
Growing need to use the funds for military defense
Ruined the economy
Ordinary ppl suffered
Roman emperor left Britannia
Germanic settlers invaded (Angles & Saxons mainly)
- Reinforced the crisis of urban society – cuz Germanics preferred
the countryside (agrarian orientation)
- End of Christianity & Latin -> resurgence of Celtic languages and
practices
- Introduction of Germanic languages and practices
Long-term impact Roman era = limited
The Dark Ages
5-6th C
Following centuries: not well-known
Consequence of decline in literacy – few written sources (hence
‘Dark Ages’)
- On average = better fed & taller people
- No taxes due to loss of empire
Formation of linguistic-cultural spheres:
- formation of Old English
- Germanic society → English
- Scottish, Irish, Welsh societies = continuity of range of Celtic
languages
- Beowulf = 300 years after forming Old English
3
THE ENGLISH-SPEAKING
WORLD
Levi Vandelanoitte
UGENT
, History and Culture of the English-speaking world
50% multiple choice
50% open questions
50% British Isles 50% Empire + US
Les 1
British Isles before the Norman Conquest of 1066
Permanently settled since 10.000BC
Neolithic revolution
4000 BC:
Hunter-gatherers settled in hamlets
4-5 houses grouped together – max 60 ppl
Not a real village yet
1000 BC:
Deteriorating climatological circumstances -> peasants (farmers) had to
expand
Deforestation because of this
-> no longer heavily forested
- Social inequality
Slavery, patriarchy,..
- Technological development
Metallurgy (use of metals)
Stonehenge was built – they couldn’t write -> no preserved texts (we
don’t know what it’s for)
Close interactions w the continent – megaliths in Britain & France
600 BC:
Emerge of Celtic societies
Shared language
Religion: multiple gods
1
, - - Celtic religion: multiple gods
Polytheistic
Nature-centred
Political fragmentation
No shared identity/ government
Independent polities = wars
o Even if the celts shared the same language and religious
ideas, the tribes all fought w each other
- - political fragmentation = wars
Matrilocality: women = powerful
In some tribes
“Warrior Queens” (women ruling the army & in combat)
- - no written text = did came in contact w/ Rome
- - matrilocality: women = powerful!!!
Man leaves hometown to live with woman (not vice versa)
Roman Britain
1st century CE:
1st visit: British tribes invited Caesar to help them as an ally in war against
other tribes
2nd visit (Claudius) = conquered British Isles
Roman colony = ‘Britannia’
Geographical perspective: Roman settlement remained limited (current
border England-Scotland)
Border: Hadrian’s Wall (against Picts)
Military camps developed into cities (contrast w hamlets Celts)
Impact of Rome
- Literacy = important
- Integration in Roman economy
o Roman coins: provided base for trading networks
o Metalwear, pottery
o Large population
o Town names = -ester today
- Roman roads
- Latin = language spoken by elite
Rest of society spoke Celtic languages
- Own religion = allowed
- Introduction Christianity
o Very late
2
, o Restricted impact
Fall of Roman Britain
350-420 CE:
- Rapid & far-reaching transformation
- Scottish & Irish raiders attacked frequently
Growing need to use the funds for military defense
Ruined the economy
Ordinary ppl suffered
Roman emperor left Britannia
Germanic settlers invaded (Angles & Saxons mainly)
- Reinforced the crisis of urban society – cuz Germanics preferred
the countryside (agrarian orientation)
- End of Christianity & Latin -> resurgence of Celtic languages and
practices
- Introduction of Germanic languages and practices
Long-term impact Roman era = limited
The Dark Ages
5-6th C
Following centuries: not well-known
Consequence of decline in literacy – few written sources (hence
‘Dark Ages’)
- On average = better fed & taller people
- No taxes due to loss of empire
Formation of linguistic-cultural spheres:
- formation of Old English
- Germanic society → English
- Scottish, Irish, Welsh societies = continuity of range of Celtic
languages
- Beowulf = 300 years after forming Old English
3
