Early Britain (BC 600 – AD 43)
The Celts: First people who settle in England - Origins: The Celtic people arrive from
Central Europe. - They were farmers and also fierce warriors. - The Celts were a collection
of tribes - They were barbarians, harsh, strong people. - The Celtic tribes lived in scattered
villages. They lived in round houses with thatched roofs of straw or heather. - They were
somehow democratic because they chose their leaders -- the chief or the head of the tribe.
- They believed were pagans, and they had priests called Druids who used to teach people
the religion.
Romans (AD 43 - 410)
(AD 43) The Roman Army: Romans successfully invaded Britain in AD 43 and the latter
becomes part of the Roman Empire. Why the romans invade Britain - They came to Britain
looking for riches - land, slaves, and to exploit resources. - They found London, which used to
call it 'Londinium'. They built public paths, villas, and roads.
(AD 60) Boudica’s Revolt: Boudica revolts against Romans because they ill-treated her. Taking
advantage of Romans forces were away fighting in Wales, she united many tribes in a revolt.
They destroyed many cities including London, killing and torturing tens thousands of
inhabitants. However, When Romans had come back, they defeated her. So, she took
suicided using poison.
(AD 122) Hadrian’s Wall: Separating between England and Scotland, Hadrian’s wall stretched
for a 117 km from cost to cost. It was set with small forts a 1.6 km apart. The 4-meter-high
wall got its name after the emperor Hadrian who ordered its building in AD 122. Purpose: The
wall serves as barrier against raiding from north and it may also have been a starting point
for future Romans expanding in Scotland.
(AD 180) Uprisings: Despite the fact that Romans had the largest army of any province in the
Roman empire, many uprisings happened at that time. (AD 313) Persecution of Christians
Ends: Christianity was persecuted until the emperor Constantine, who was sympathetic to
Christianity, decreed that Christians were free to practice their religion. That was in AD 313,
after a vision the Cross brought him victory.
(AD 391) Paganism Outlawed: in AD 391, the emperor Theodosius outlawed worship of other
gods, and he made Christianity the official religion of the whole Roman empire. Christian
churchmen exercised great power.
(AD 410) Britain Breaks with Rome: After 350 years of Roman rule, all Britons thought
themselves as Romans. However, Britons declared independence from the empire because
generals took most soldiers from Britain to Europe in order to make themselves emperors.
That was in around AD 409, but in AD 410 when barbarians sacked Rome itself. Britain ceased
to be part of the Roman empire.
Early Medieval England (AD 410 - 1066)
Anglo-Saxon Period
Who were they? The Angle, Saxon, and Jute are known as the Anglo-Saxons. They were
warriors and farmers came from Denmark, the Netherlands, and northern Germany. They
were tall, fair-haired men, armed with swords and spears and round shields. They loved
fighting and were very fierce. They were pagans worshiped lots of different gods. Kingdoms:
The Anglo-Saxons divided England into kingdoms, each with its own royal family. The five
main kingdoms were Northumbria, Mercia, Wessex, Kent and Anglia. The Saxons settled in
areas of Essex, Sussex, Middlesex, and Wessex. The Jutes settled mainly in Kent. They did not
call themselves 'the Jutes', they referred to themselves as 'the Kentings', which means the
men living in Kent. The Angles settled in East Anglia.
by: Salah Eddine Benchabiba, Semester 3, Department of English Faculty of Letters and Humanities, Chouaib
Doukkali University.
, Important Events in the (First) Anglo-Saxon Period:
* 410-450 Angles and Saxons invade from Baltic shores of Germany, and Jutes invade from
Jutland peninsula in Denmark, thus driving out the Celts. * Nine Anglo-Saxon Kingdoms
eventually become the Anglo-Saxon heptarchy (England not unified) or ―Seven Sovereign
Kingdoms. * King Alfred the Great managed peace against the Danes for about a generation,
until William of Normandy defeated them in 1066.
(AD 560) Saxon Farms and British Rivers (Impact / Legacy): They gave names in their own
language to the places they lived in. Many Saxon place names end in ‘ham’ (meaning a village)
or ‘ton’ (a homestead or farm). ‘Nottingham’. Days, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and
Friday, were named after gods like Tiw, Woden, Thor and Frey.
Vikings Period
The Vikings: Vikings were tall people with fair hair. They were ruthless pirates, fearless raiders
from Norway and Denmark. They were pagan believe in many gods. They had the knowledge
of building ships and navigation. They tried to repair what Anglo-Saxons had destroyed of the
Roman civics. - Origins: The Vikings originated in what is now Denmark, Norway and Sweden
- Physical appearance: Tall, fair hair - Language: Germanic, English mixture between Vikings
and Anglo-Saxons languages - Religion: They were pagans, yet they converted later to
Christianity - First attack: Viking were raiders. Their first raid was on Dorset coast around the
end of 8th century. However, their first serious attack was in Northumbria when they attacked
a defenceless monastery. They killed all monks and plundered all its treasure. - Travels: They
were travellers. They travelled to Russia, India, Iraq… Their journeys brought them fortunes,
civic knowledge.
(AD 787) First Viking Raids: and (AD 850) Viking Raiders Become Invaders: The Vikings were
strong pagan raiders from Norway and Denmark. Their first raids on England began in the late
of 700s. However, their first serious attack was on a rich monastery in AD 793, where they
slaughtered the monks and stole the treasures. Viking raids at first menaced only coastal
areas, but in mid of 800s, a Viking army stayed in England because of the winter, so they were
ready to start raiding again when spring came. This led to turning raiders into invaders.
(AD 800) The Law of the Land: Anglo-Saxons laws protected the rights of free men as well as
setting out their duties. They also tried to keep the peace and prevent blood-feud happening
if someone was killed. • The killer should pay what it called a ‘man price’ to the dead’s man
family to prevent the vengeance and blood feuds happening.
(AD 878) Vikings Defeated at Edington: Early in AD 878 the Vikings suddenly attacked Wessex
in midwinter. King Alfred gathered a new army and completely defeated the Vikings at the
Battle of Edington. This was the first time the Vikings had ever been so badly defeated in
England. Their leader, Guthrum, agreed to become a Christian.
(AD 954) The Danelaw: The Danelaw is the parts of eastern England where retired Vikings
settled down as peaceful farmers. It called so because the people there kept their Danish
language and Danish laws. These included the judgement of law cases by a ‘jury’ of 12 men,
a system the English took over. The most important Viking-settled town was York. This kept
its Scandinavian rulers until the last of them, the violent Bloodaxe.
Medieval Britain (1066-1485)
(AD 1042) Edward the confessor: Regarded as saint by many of his poor subjects. He was a
devotedly religious person. His mother was from Normandy. He preferred the Norman ways.
His most famous achievement was founding the great Westminster Abbey which is still used
for coronations and royal burials up to day.
The Normans (1066 - 1154): William I 1066 – 1087 / William II, Rufus 1087 – 1100
Henry I 1100 – 1135 / Stephen 1135 – 1154 / Empress Matilda 1141
by: Salah Eddine Benchabiba, Semester 3, Department of English Faculty of Letters and Humanities, Chouaib
Doukkali University.
The Celts: First people who settle in England - Origins: The Celtic people arrive from
Central Europe. - They were farmers and also fierce warriors. - The Celts were a collection
of tribes - They were barbarians, harsh, strong people. - The Celtic tribes lived in scattered
villages. They lived in round houses with thatched roofs of straw or heather. - They were
somehow democratic because they chose their leaders -- the chief or the head of the tribe.
- They believed were pagans, and they had priests called Druids who used to teach people
the religion.
Romans (AD 43 - 410)
(AD 43) The Roman Army: Romans successfully invaded Britain in AD 43 and the latter
becomes part of the Roman Empire. Why the romans invade Britain - They came to Britain
looking for riches - land, slaves, and to exploit resources. - They found London, which used to
call it 'Londinium'. They built public paths, villas, and roads.
(AD 60) Boudica’s Revolt: Boudica revolts against Romans because they ill-treated her. Taking
advantage of Romans forces were away fighting in Wales, she united many tribes in a revolt.
They destroyed many cities including London, killing and torturing tens thousands of
inhabitants. However, When Romans had come back, they defeated her. So, she took
suicided using poison.
(AD 122) Hadrian’s Wall: Separating between England and Scotland, Hadrian’s wall stretched
for a 117 km from cost to cost. It was set with small forts a 1.6 km apart. The 4-meter-high
wall got its name after the emperor Hadrian who ordered its building in AD 122. Purpose: The
wall serves as barrier against raiding from north and it may also have been a starting point
for future Romans expanding in Scotland.
(AD 180) Uprisings: Despite the fact that Romans had the largest army of any province in the
Roman empire, many uprisings happened at that time. (AD 313) Persecution of Christians
Ends: Christianity was persecuted until the emperor Constantine, who was sympathetic to
Christianity, decreed that Christians were free to practice their religion. That was in AD 313,
after a vision the Cross brought him victory.
(AD 391) Paganism Outlawed: in AD 391, the emperor Theodosius outlawed worship of other
gods, and he made Christianity the official religion of the whole Roman empire. Christian
churchmen exercised great power.
(AD 410) Britain Breaks with Rome: After 350 years of Roman rule, all Britons thought
themselves as Romans. However, Britons declared independence from the empire because
generals took most soldiers from Britain to Europe in order to make themselves emperors.
That was in around AD 409, but in AD 410 when barbarians sacked Rome itself. Britain ceased
to be part of the Roman empire.
Early Medieval England (AD 410 - 1066)
Anglo-Saxon Period
Who were they? The Angle, Saxon, and Jute are known as the Anglo-Saxons. They were
warriors and farmers came from Denmark, the Netherlands, and northern Germany. They
were tall, fair-haired men, armed with swords and spears and round shields. They loved
fighting and were very fierce. They were pagans worshiped lots of different gods. Kingdoms:
The Anglo-Saxons divided England into kingdoms, each with its own royal family. The five
main kingdoms were Northumbria, Mercia, Wessex, Kent and Anglia. The Saxons settled in
areas of Essex, Sussex, Middlesex, and Wessex. The Jutes settled mainly in Kent. They did not
call themselves 'the Jutes', they referred to themselves as 'the Kentings', which means the
men living in Kent. The Angles settled in East Anglia.
by: Salah Eddine Benchabiba, Semester 3, Department of English Faculty of Letters and Humanities, Chouaib
Doukkali University.
, Important Events in the (First) Anglo-Saxon Period:
* 410-450 Angles and Saxons invade from Baltic shores of Germany, and Jutes invade from
Jutland peninsula in Denmark, thus driving out the Celts. * Nine Anglo-Saxon Kingdoms
eventually become the Anglo-Saxon heptarchy (England not unified) or ―Seven Sovereign
Kingdoms. * King Alfred the Great managed peace against the Danes for about a generation,
until William of Normandy defeated them in 1066.
(AD 560) Saxon Farms and British Rivers (Impact / Legacy): They gave names in their own
language to the places they lived in. Many Saxon place names end in ‘ham’ (meaning a village)
or ‘ton’ (a homestead or farm). ‘Nottingham’. Days, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and
Friday, were named after gods like Tiw, Woden, Thor and Frey.
Vikings Period
The Vikings: Vikings were tall people with fair hair. They were ruthless pirates, fearless raiders
from Norway and Denmark. They were pagan believe in many gods. They had the knowledge
of building ships and navigation. They tried to repair what Anglo-Saxons had destroyed of the
Roman civics. - Origins: The Vikings originated in what is now Denmark, Norway and Sweden
- Physical appearance: Tall, fair hair - Language: Germanic, English mixture between Vikings
and Anglo-Saxons languages - Religion: They were pagans, yet they converted later to
Christianity - First attack: Viking were raiders. Their first raid was on Dorset coast around the
end of 8th century. However, their first serious attack was in Northumbria when they attacked
a defenceless monastery. They killed all monks and plundered all its treasure. - Travels: They
were travellers. They travelled to Russia, India, Iraq… Their journeys brought them fortunes,
civic knowledge.
(AD 787) First Viking Raids: and (AD 850) Viking Raiders Become Invaders: The Vikings were
strong pagan raiders from Norway and Denmark. Their first raids on England began in the late
of 700s. However, their first serious attack was on a rich monastery in AD 793, where they
slaughtered the monks and stole the treasures. Viking raids at first menaced only coastal
areas, but in mid of 800s, a Viking army stayed in England because of the winter, so they were
ready to start raiding again when spring came. This led to turning raiders into invaders.
(AD 800) The Law of the Land: Anglo-Saxons laws protected the rights of free men as well as
setting out their duties. They also tried to keep the peace and prevent blood-feud happening
if someone was killed. • The killer should pay what it called a ‘man price’ to the dead’s man
family to prevent the vengeance and blood feuds happening.
(AD 878) Vikings Defeated at Edington: Early in AD 878 the Vikings suddenly attacked Wessex
in midwinter. King Alfred gathered a new army and completely defeated the Vikings at the
Battle of Edington. This was the first time the Vikings had ever been so badly defeated in
England. Their leader, Guthrum, agreed to become a Christian.
(AD 954) The Danelaw: The Danelaw is the parts of eastern England where retired Vikings
settled down as peaceful farmers. It called so because the people there kept their Danish
language and Danish laws. These included the judgement of law cases by a ‘jury’ of 12 men,
a system the English took over. The most important Viking-settled town was York. This kept
its Scandinavian rulers until the last of them, the violent Bloodaxe.
Medieval Britain (1066-1485)
(AD 1042) Edward the confessor: Regarded as saint by many of his poor subjects. He was a
devotedly religious person. His mother was from Normandy. He preferred the Norman ways.
His most famous achievement was founding the great Westminster Abbey which is still used
for coronations and royal burials up to day.
The Normans (1066 - 1154): William I 1066 – 1087 / William II, Rufus 1087 – 1100
Henry I 1100 – 1135 / Stephen 1135 – 1154 / Empress Matilda 1141
by: Salah Eddine Benchabiba, Semester 3, Department of English Faculty of Letters and Humanities, Chouaib
Doukkali University.
