British History

Outline Early history ( Celts, Roman occupation, Anglo-Saxons, Vikings) Norman invasion Middle Ages in Britain ( Magna Charta and the beginning of the British parliamentary system, Hundred Years’ War, The War of Roses, the Tudor Age - Henry VIII , Elizabethan Age) Civil War and the Glorious Revolution Oliver Cromwell The Napoleonic Wars Victorian era Modern history, 20th century (WWI, WWII) famous personalities in British history (own choice)

The Pre-Celtic Period (before 800BC) Stonehenge – comes from that time, settlers from Europe arrived between 3500BC and 3000BC - introduced pottery, farming and stone tools

The Celtic Period (800BC-43AD) the Celts started to invade Britain from the 10th century BC one of their tribes was called the Britons, the most important survival is the existence of three Celtic languages: Welsh, Irish and Gaelic.

Romans occupied the country from 55BC when Julius Ceasar invaded Britain, they stayed till the 5th century AD Hadrian's wall (defensive wall marking the northern frontier of the Roman Empire) the Roman roads are still in use influenced English lang.

Angles, Saxons, Jutes (middle of 5th cent. – 1066) came from Germany and Denmark and the Netherlands in the 5th century the best known king was Alfred the Great – translated books from Latin to English, well educated

The Vikings arrived from Scandinavia throughout the 9th century and in 1066 the Normans invaded from France 1066 – the Battle of Hastings – the English were defeated by a French Army led by William, Duke of Normandy William the Conqueror became a British king

The Period of Feudalism (1066-15th cent.) English langauge and nation came into being a period of frequent wars and suffering, prepared the way for England´s rise as a real power

12th cent.- the struggle for power between the King and the church – it resulted in the murder of Thomas Becket 13th cent.- granting of Magna Carta Libertatum - 1215 John Lackland – limited the power of the King 1265 – the first House of Commons

14-15th century Hundred Year´s War with France (1348-1452)- England´s defeat the Black Death – a violent epidemic of plague in 1348, the number of pop. was reduced from 4 mil. to two million The Wars of Roses a struggle for the Crown between the house of York and the House of Lancaster, whose emblems were a white and a red rose

Lancaster York

The Tudor Period (1485-1603) England became one of the leading world powers The Age of Renaissance

Henry VIII. had six wives proclaimed himself the head of the Church of England despotic rule beheaded two of his wives Sir Thomas More executed (disapproved of the King´s policies) arguments with the Pope

Elizabeth I (16th cent.) Elizabethan Age – a popular monarch encouraged trading expeditions often combined with piracy (e.g. Sir Walter Raleigh and Sir Francis Drake) the world´s greatest playwright W. Shakespeare big prosperity

The Stuarts and the English Revolution (1603-1688) -a growing conflict between the King and Parliament ------ led to the Civil War (abolition of the monarchy and Cromwell´s military rule) 1660 – the monarchy was restored again 1688 – the Glorious Revolution – the Bill of Rights limited the power of the King and strenthened the power of Parliament

Lord Protector

18th cent.- Industrial Revolution (1750s-1950s) Britain – the first industrial power in the world colonial expansion important inventions: steamships railways decline of feudalism

The Napoleonic Wars the British Army defeated Napoleon at Waterloo (Wellington) in 1815

1783 -loss of US colonies the US proclaimed independence, so India became the main stronghold of the British Empire

The Victorian Era (1837-1901) strongest power – industrial, commercial, greatest sea power, colonial power (esp. Africa) Trade unions – Britain is the cradle of the trade union movement – industrial workers started to organize themselves to defend their interests Social changes – low wages, slums, cheap child labour New division of society – working class people Victorian morality

20th cent. - decline 1910 House of Windsor 1921-Ireland-independence WWI WWII- W.Churchil (1940-45)