History of Great Britain Anglo-Saxon Beginnings

What is England? England is both a place and a cultural ideal Wales and Scotland, though included in the study of British Lit. are separate cultural identities. England has diversity just as America does. For example, “Southerners” have a differing culture than we do in the Midwest. The differences in England are cultural, economic, and political

The Development of the British Isle The first settlers of “England” were the Celts. These people came from east of the Danube. They controlled what we now know as the British Isles and France.

54 BC to 427 AD The Romans conquered Gaul and the British Isles They built walls to establish how far North they conquered --which really went to the Southern border of modern Scotland—not even the Romans could conquer all of the Celts. Romans convert to Christianity and they carry this conversion to the British Isles.

Around 400 AD The Angles, Saxons, and Jutes began to invade. They eventually took over, driving the Romans out. Christianity is lost to the Isles.

Around 597 Several Celtic “kingdoms” begin to emerge – loosely in the area of modern Wessex. Seven of these kingdoms are relatively stable though in constant border disputes. Missionaries have reintroduced Christianity to the region.

8 th Century The Vikings/Danes begin hit and run raids on the region.

Alfred the Great emerges to unite England and drive out the invaders. A unified region begins to emerge under Alfred, but his successors are weak leaders who can’t keep the various peoples united. Again, none of the people under his reign would have thought of themselves as part of “England” or even as affliated under the idea of a nation

Danish rule begins under Canute With his death The Danish empire begins to collapse Vikings begin to raid again

Driving out the Vikings Edward the confessor (plays a part in Macbeth) drives out Vikings. Pertinent to Macbeth, kings at this time are chosen by Witan Court---appointed successors– usually the kingdom’s strongest man.

1066 William the Conqueror & the Battle of Hastings This Duke of Normandy (France), illegitimate son of the French king, conquers and becomes king of the British Isles. At this point we start the division that will mark the English language. The upper classes will speak French, the lower classes, English---still seen in words today.