Summary History and Culture of the English-speaking World (Part 1)

HISTORY OF THE BRITISH ISLES
0. Introduction
- Lens of geographical determinism
 Societies developed on a different historical trajectory than
European content societies
 North Sea as effective barrier to migration & social exchange
 British History supposedly different nature

- Historical perspective
 North Sea = effective transport route
 Pre-industrial society: transport over water more efficient and
cheaper
 Population developed close to maritime trade routes
 Constant contact w European continent
 Migration & trade
 Partially invaded by armies from continental polities

- 17thC : pattern changed
 English state / British Empire: development of naval power
 Fleet of warships as shield for invasions
 Connection w continent:
 Military perspectives: more independent
 Societies economically, socially, culturally and politically
engaged
 Some developments faster than continent, some developments
later

- Most developments meaningfully compared to trends on EUR continent =>
BR history best imagined as distinct strand within EUR history


1. The British Isles before the Norman Conquest of 1066
1.1 Celtic and Roman Era
- BR history: same starting point as rest of EUR
 Permanently settled +/- 10.000 BCE
 Neolithic Revolution: development of agrarian societies =>
gradually developed Celtic cultural profile

- Societies confronted w growing influence of Roman Empire in north-
western EUR
 Neolithic Revolution (NR):
 Migratory hunter-gatherers settled in network of hamlets +
earned their living from farming

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,  Agrarian economy shaped by opportunities/constraints of
soil types & landscapes
 Deteriorating climatological circumstances => decline of
surplus farmed land => peasants expanded cultivation of
arable land (areas untouched by NR)
 Came with deforestation: shaped the landscape

 Absence of written rules
 Not much known about soc, eco, pol and cul organization of
societies
 Archaeological evidence:
 Social inequality => elites: command resources and
labour
 Increasing technological expertise

 6thC BCE: articulation of Celtic cultures (also in EUR)
 Shared language, religion & cultural practices
 No shared identity / government
 Patchwork of independent polities, dominated by own
warrior elite & warlord
 Often war between polities
 Position of women: some tribes had matriarchal slant =>
“warrior queens”

- 1stC: part of BI = Roman Empire (RE) (due to Roman conquest of Gaul).
First contacts: BR tribes invited to BI Caesar to help against other tribes as
ally
 Roman settlement (geographical perspective):
 Limited to part of BI
 Not in Ireland
 Northern boundary of Britannia: close to current Scottish &
English border
 Now Ireland & Scotland: remained Celtic

 Development of Roman province
 Introduction of Roman lifestyle
 Urban
 Importance of literacy

 Roman part of BI integrated in economy of vast RE
 Stimulus for trading networks
 Development of industries



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,  Roman roads: connect newly emerging Romano-BR
towns => adhere to roman conventions in
architecture & urban planning
 Countryside: dotted with Roman-style villas
 4thC: robust economy => most prosperous

 Result of Roman conquest: introduction of Latin
 Gaul: vernacular Latin widely spoken
 Latin: language of elites in Britannia
 Rest of society: Celtic languages

 New religion: Christianity
 Religion of state in RE (4th C)
 Did not imply complete disappearance of older beliefs
& customs

1.2 The ‘Dark Ages’ (5th & 6th C)
- Roman province on BI collapsed = end of Roman Rule
 Social & economic transformation

- Start of problems:
 Frequent attacks on colony by SC & IR raiders
 Need to use available funds for military defence = ruined
economy (cost on shoulders of ‘ordinary’ people)
 Inability of RE to provide military support

- Results:
 Withdraw of legions => local population left to fend for themselves
 Taxes compromised purchasing power of inhabitants => demand
for goods produced in towns declined
 Less organized industrial production of pottery & iron
 Villas into disuse
 Urban network collapsed

- Germanic settlers
 5thC: Roman Britain invaded by tribes => most important: Angles &
Saxons
 Gradual process
 Reinforced crisis of urban society (preferred to dwell on
countryside)
 Basis of Roman culture disappeared in favour of pre-established
Celtic culture + new Germanic culture
 Use of Latin disappeared

3

,  Long-term impact of Roman era = limited

- Following centuries decline in literacy => few written sources
 Not much known
 Rural society
 Development of 4 cultural & linguistic spheres (3 Celtic, 1
Germanic) => long-lasting impact
 England: Germanic society
 New settlement from Continent
 Result of complex process:
1) Confrontations w Romano-Celtic inhabitants &
Germanic immigrants
2) Ger. Settler-farmers became dominant
3) Ger. Ruling class merged w local population =>
community became known as ‘English’ (8 thC),
referred to the Angles (most prominent)
 Early English / early medieval period
 English language developed
o Linguistic transformation (Old English)
language
o Language of governance, administration,
justice ( RE: Latin)
o Latin remained language for elite + popular in
Gaul & Spain

 Wales (mountainous region): belonged to Britannia
 Resisted Germanic invaders
 Celtic society w own Celtic language
 Welsh became minority language in favour of ENG
(20thC)

 Scotland: escaped Roman occupation
 Fusion of Celtic inhabitants & ‘Scoti’ (settlers from
Ireland) => hybrid community became known as
‘Scots’
 Celtic language dominant until 11thC

 Ireland: escaped Roman occupation
 Patchwork of polities
o Politically independent
o Shared Celtic culture
 ENG introduced in 12thC (dominant over Irish Gaelic)



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