1. Celtic and Anglo-Saxon Britain

2. Vocabulary building
Find in the section the relevant words for each heading. Be ready to give their Italian equivalent.
Architecture
Monument
Temple
Wall
Cities/towns
Road systems
Geography
Britain
Scotland
Ireland
Germany
Jutland
Wales
England
North (of England)
Midlands
Danelaw
People
Britons
Pre-celtic people
Celtic tribes
Romans
Angles
Saxons
Jutes
Anglo-Saxons
Greeks
Vikings
Danish
Military expeditions
Conquest
Emperor
Control
Province
Invade
Fight
Invaders
Leader
King
Empire
Warlike
kingly

3. Study questions
Who were the original inhabitants of Britain?
The Celts were the original inhabitants of the island.
What traces of pre-Celtic presence can we still find?
Stonehenge, a religious monument made of a circle of monolithic stones
is the best example of pre-Celtic civilization
When did Julius Caesar invade Britain?
In 55 B.C., when his legions started the colonization of the island.
Who began the Roman conquest? When?
Emperor Claudius began the conquest in 43 A.D.
How did the Romans fortify their northern border?
By building a huge wall at the border between modern England and
Scotland which is known as Hadrian’s Wall after the name of the emperor
who planned it.
When was Christianity introduced into Britain?
The Celtic tribes became Christian in the fourth century.

4. What still testifies to the Roman presence in Britain?
The names of some towns ending in –chester and –cester from the latin
word “castra”, as well as the old road systems and the foundations of
some of today’s major cities, including London.
When did the Anglo-Saxon invasion begin?
It began in 449 A.D. after the withdrawal of the Roman forces in 410 A.D.
Who were the new settlers and where did they come from?
The Angles, the Saxons and the Jutes.they were northern tribes who came
from northern Germany and the Jutland peninsula.
What happened to the original inhabitants of the land, the Celts? Who was King Arthur?
The Celts had to retreat to the inner parts of Wales where their language
is still spoken nowadays. King Arthur was a legendary Celtic king. The
stories about him would later become the inspiration for much literary
material.

5. How would you describe the Germanic element in the life of England’s new settlers?
They all shared a common Germanic heritage. They were all warlike tribes
and shared the ideal of a kingly behaviour.
Name some of the small Anglo-Saxon kingdoms.
Northumbria, Mercia, Kent and Wessex
Which invasions did the Anglo-Saxons have to face?
They had to fight against the Vikings,who started to invade in about 800
A.D. The Anglo-Saxon king Alfred the Great ( ) fought them but
then had to divide England with them.
How far did Canute’s kingdom stretch?
The Danish king Canute ( ) conquered and reigned not only over
all of England but also over the Viking homelands (Denmark, Norway and
partof Sweden).