1. A Basic Introduction to British History
British Literature 11
Miss Vent

2. Let’s start at the beginning…
800 to 600 B.C.
Celts invade British Isles
Farmers and hunters
Clans
Druids

3. And then… 55 B.C.: Romans invasion under Julius Caesar
Lasts more than 300 years
Roads and aquaducts
407 A.D. – Anglo-Saxon invasion
Main concern: survival
Thus begins our story…

4. Anglo-Saxon Rule
3rd Century A.D. - The Romans brought Christianity to Britain.
The Celtic Christian Church thrived even after the Anglo-Saxon invasion.
The conversion of the pagan Anglo-Saxons to Christianity can be traced in their literature.
First monastery at Canterbury – St. Augustine (a Roman cleric, not the Doctor of the Church)

5. The Vikings… Vikings (Danes) arrive and conquer: 9th century A.D.
Alfred the Great: peace between the Danes and the Saxons
End of Anglo-Saxon Rule: 1066 – death of King Edward “The Confessor”

6. But here come the Normans…
William of Normandy
Suppressed the Anglo-Saxons
Took the land and gov’t. control
Gov’t. and business in French and Latin
Feudal system