TRAVELING AROUND LONDON.

Roman London.

 People have lived in the London area for more than years, but there used to be forests and marshes instead of a city. London itself was begun by the Romans about years ago. They called their town Londinium.

Soldiers and settlers.  In the first century, Roman soldiers came to take over Britain. Some of them settled by the Thames and built Londinium. This was the beginning of London.  Roman ships sailed up the Thames, bringing supplies. The Romans built a bridge over the Thames, and there has been a bridge in the same area ever since.

Soldiers and settlers.  A native people called the Iceni, led by Queen Boudicca, set fire to Londinium and killed everyone in the town.  In the end, the Romans defeated Boudicca and Londinium was built again. A wall was built around the new town. You can still see parts of the wall today.

Inside Londinium.  I nside the wall, Londinium had houses, bath houses temples, shops and markets. Nowadays, this area is a business district, known as the City.

Anglo- Saxon

 A t the end of the fourth century, the Roman Empire began to fall apart and the Romans left Britain. People called Angles, Saxons and Jutes then came to Britain from Holland, Germany and Denmark. Together, these peoples are called the Anglo- Saxons.

Roman ruins.  After the Romans left, Londinium probably lay in ruins. The city grew up again, however, because it was a useful port.

Saint Pauls.  Many people became Christians. In 604, the first Saint Paul's Cathedral was built. There is still a Saint Paul's on this site today.

Viking attack.  In the ninth and tenth centuries, London was attacked by Danish Viking who sailed up the river to the city and settled there.

London Bridge is falling down.  In 1014, Anglo-Saxons and Norwegian Vikings attacked the Danish Vikings in London. The Danish Vikings threw spears at them from the old London Bridge. The attackers used roofs to protect their boats. They tied ropes to the bridge and pulled it down. This led to the song «London Bridge is falling down». Viking attacks on London ended when Canute became King in he united the invaders and the Anglo- Saxons. Peace came and London grew wealthy.

Edwards Abbey.  Seven years after Canute died, Edward the Confessor became king. He built Westminster Abbey. The Abbey was finished in 1065, just before Edward died. Edward was buried in the Abbey. After his death, Edwards was made a saint. His Abbey no longer stands. The Abbey you see today was built by Henry III.

Medieval London.

In 1066, after Edward the Confessors death, William the Conqueror invaded England from France. The centuries from the invasion up until 1485 are known as the medieval period in English history. In 1066, after Edward the Confessors death, William the Conqueror invaded England from France. The centuries from the invasion up until 1485 are known as the medieval period in English history.

The medieval city. M Medieval London was much smaller than today's London. The streets would have looked very different, too. The houses were made mainly of wood, and the roads were covered in stones called cobbles.

Merchants and craftsmen. There were many merchants and craftsmen. Street were named after them, for example, bread was sold on Bread Street. Merchants and craftsmen joined together to form powerful groups called Guilds, which still exist today. Each Guild had a coat-of-arms. There were many merchants and craftsmen. Street were named after them, for example, bread was sold on Bread Street. Merchants and craftsmen joined together to form powerful groups called Guilds, which still exist today. Each Guild had a coat-of-arms.