Group 1
History of Britain
Table of contents
The Prehistory
The Roman period
The Germanic invasion
The Medieval period
16th - 20th century
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I. THE PREHISTORY
Iron Age Celtic culture developed across
the British Isles, with Celts integrating
with the native inhabitants.
Religious sites predating the Celtic period
continued to be used during this time.
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II. THE ROMAN PERIOD (43-410)
43 AD : The Romans came to stay
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II. THE ROMAN PERIOD (43-410)
Roman rule led to a division among Celtic
groups.
The Romans' lasting influence in Britain was
limited.
Most Roman structures and cities in Britain
were quickly destroyed.
The main lasting traces are some place
names derived from Latin.
Anglo-Saxon culture dominated most of England and parts of Southern Scotland.
From Rome via St. Augustine
From Ireland
to Scotland and Northern England
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III. THE GERMANIC INVASION (410-1066)
The Celtic model lasted longer in
Scotland and Ireland, with less
centralization.
This affected the power structure in
these two countries, making it more local
and less stable than in the Middle Ages.
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III. THE GERMANIC INVASION (410-1066)
The 8th century : the Vikings/Norsemen/Danes invaded.
The 9th century : They occupied Northern, Western
Scotland and some coastal areas of Ireland.
Their conquest of England was stopped by King Alfred of
Wessex.
The result : England was divide into Wessex in the South
and West, and the Danelaw in the North and East.
King Alfred of Wessex
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III. THE GERMANIC INVASION (410-1066)
Cultural differences between Anglo-
Saxons and Danes were minor.
The Danes soon converted to
Christianity.
England had become a single kingdom
with a Germanic culture.
Most of modern-day Scotland was united.
IV. THE MEDIEVAL PERIOD (1066 - 1485)
The Norman invasion brought Britain into Western
European cultural mainstream.
Scotland maintained Scandinavian links longer:
+ Western isles until 13th century.
+ Northern isles until 15th century.
English kings ruled continental lands, often conflicting with
French kings over ownership.
IV. THE MEDIEVAL PERIOD (1066 - 1485)
Norman invasion was small-scale
without separate Norman
settlements.
Norman soldiers were given
ownership of land and people
living on it.
IV. THE MEDIEVAL PERIOD (1066 - 1485)
A strict feudal system was imposed:
Great nobles (barons) answered directly to the
king.
Lesser lords owning villages answered to
barons.
Peasants were tied to local lords with strict
obligations.
IV. THE MEDIEVAL PERIOD (1066 - 1485)
Class and language division:
+ English-speaking Saxon peasants.
+ French-speaking Norman lords and barons.
=> Made the Anglo-Norman kingdom become the
most powerful force in the British Isles.
IV. THE MEDIEVAL PERIOD (1066 - 1485)
Over 250 years, English monarchs extended authority
to other parts of the islands.
By late 13th century, much of Eastern Ireland was
controlled by Anglo-Norman lords under the English
king.
Wales came under English control, initiating the
tradition of naming the monarch's eldest son as "Prince
of Wales".
IV. THE MEDIEVAL PERIOD (1066 - 1485)
Scotland maintained political independence in the medieval period
but faced occasional wars.
Germanic language became dominant.
The Anglo-Saxon concept of common law formed the basis of the
legal system.
Northern and Central Wales were settled by large numbers of Saxon
or Norman people.
IV. THE MEDIEVAL PERIOD (1066 - 1485)
Celtic Welsh language and culture remained
strong.
Anglo-Norman lords in Eastern Ireland remained
loyal to the English king but often adopted Gaelic
language and customs.
A gradual switch to English language and customs
in the lowland areas.
IV. THE MEDIEVAL PERIOD (1066 - 1485)
Celtic kings in Scotland adopted an Anglo-
Norman style of government to strengthen royal
power.
A cultural split developed between the lowlands
and the highlands.
IV. THE MEDIEVAL PERIOD (1066 - 1485)
Parliament began its gradual evolution into a
democratic body.
“Parliament” : from French, first used in 13th
century England to describe an assembly of
nobles.
In 1295, the Model Parliament set the pattern
for future parliaments.
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The 16th, 17th
&
18th centuries
Scotland
Scotland
England
England
France
France
Lancaster York
Black Death War of Roses
THE 16TH CENTURY
I. Tudor Dynasty and Political Reform
The Tudor dynasty ruled England
Parliament had two Houses: the House of Lords and the
House of Commons.
The Tudors strengthened central government and
reduced the power of feudal nobility.
The House of Commons gained influence, reflecting the
growing power of the middle class and peasantry.
THE 16TH CENTURY
II. Henry VIII and the English Reformation
Henry VIII's desire to divorce his wife led to the
establishment of the Church of England.
Popular discontent with the Catholic Church and
Protestant influence contributed to the religious change.
King is the supreme head of the Church of England
Church of England changes: allowing priests to marry,
but also retained some traditional elements.
Martin Luther John Calvin
THE 16TH CENTURY
II. Henry VIII and the English Reformation
Henry VIII's desire to divorce his wife led to the
establishment of the Church of England.
Popular discontent with the Catholic Church and
Protestant influence contributed to the religious change.
King is the supreme head of the Church of England
Church of England changes: allowing priests to marry,
but also retained some traditional elements.
THE 17TH CENTURY
I. Stuart Dynasty and English Influence
James I's accession: King James I of
Scotland became King of England in
1603.
English language spread: English
gained prominence in Scotland due to
English Court influence and the
English Bible.
THE 17TH CENTURY
II. Religious and Political Tensions
James I and Charles I believed in the divine right
of kings, leading to clashes with Parliament.
Charles I sought to impose Anglicanism, causing
discontent among other religious groups.
Financial strain
THE 17TH CENTURY
III. The English Civil War
The culmination of these tensions was the English Civil
War (1642-1651).
King Charles I was captured and executed in 1649.
England became a republic under Oliver Cromwell's
leadership.
THE 17TH CENTURY
IV. The Glorious Revolution
The monarchy was restored in 1660.
James II's promotion of Catholicism led to the
Glorious Revolution of 1688.
William of Orange and Mary were invited to
take the throne with the support of Parliament.
The Bill of Rights established limited monarchy
and granted greater rights to Parliament.
King William III Queen Mary II
THE 17TH CENTURY
IV. The Glorious Revolution
The monarchy was restored in 1660.
James II's promotion of Catholicism led to the
Glorious Revolution of 1688.
William of Orange and Mary were invited to
take the throne with the support of Parliament.
The Bill of Rights established limited monarchy
and granted greater rights to Parliament.
Great fire of London
THE 18TH CENTURY
I. Political Stability and Cooperation
The monarchy and Parliament worked together,
with the monarch influencing elections through
patronage.
THE 18TH CENTURY
I. Political Stability and Cooperation
Two main political groups emerged: Whigs (Protestant values,
shared government) and Tories (monarchy, Anglican Church).
The annual budget and the Prime Minister as head of
government were established.
THE 18TH CENTURY
II. Union and Highland Uprisings
Scotland joined England and Wales, forming a
unified Parliament.
The Highlands supported failed attempts to restore
a Stuart monarch.
Conclusion
The Tudor dynasty strengthened central government and reduced the
power of feudal nobility.
The Reformation reshaped religious beliefs, with the establishment of
the Church of England.
The 17th century was marked by the English Civil War and the
execution of King Charles I.
The 18th century brought rapid economic growth and technological
advancements.
Britain expanded its empire, becoming a global power.
19th Century
1805: Defeated French invasion
1811: Conquered Java from the Netherlands
1819: Invaded Singapore
1826: Invaded Myanmar
1882: Expanded its authority in Egypt
1883: From South Egypt, Britain occupied Sudan
Also covered territories like Canada, Australia,
and New Zealand.
IRELAND
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland was formed in 1800.
In the 1840s, there was a terrible famine, and most Irish Gaelic language either died or emigrated.
End of the 19th century,nearly all the remaining population used English as their first language.
INDIA
A significant part of the Britain’s
empire
The British administered India
using a vast military force, imposing
British systems of governance
The British officials developed a
unique Anglo-Indian culture.
AFRICA
Africa was also a significant part of the empire,
with most British colonies starting as coastal
trading posts.
Industrial Revolution
Textiles Iron & Steel Railways Shipbuilding
CHANGE IN COLONIZING MINDSET
Previously, colonization was only a matter of possessing territory,
commerce, and military strategy.
Later, strong economic power and political stability made Britain
think it was the superior
Duty to spread cultural and civil values to the world.
CHANGES IN SOCIAL STRUCTURE.
MORAL POLITICAL
POWER VALUES REFORM PERSPECTIVE
Abolished slavery, Admired
Depended on Emphasized hard laws against countryside
factory owners work,religious beauty,
people based on
rather than observance, simplicity
religion.Protected
country family life, social more than in
workers, set up
landowners order. the past.
public services.
QUEEN VICTORIA.
Reigned Britain from 1837 to 1901
A symbol of Britain’s success, and
moral values
A diligent, religious mother to 9
children and a devoted wife
20TH CENTURY
TERRITORY
In 1914: World War 1 broke out. Roads and infrastructure
were damaged
In 1919: Iceland was free from Britain
In 1939: Britain joined WW2 and lost most of its colonies in
Southeast Asia
In 1945: The British Empire started to decline
In 1947: The remaining colonies gradually reclaimed their
independence.
POLITICAL
EXTREMISM
The Suffragettes
The problem of Ulster in the
north of Ireland
New types and levels of taxation
Rise of the urban working class
Finally began to make its voice heard
In 1926, they were powerful enough to hold a General Strike
From the 1930s until the 1980s, the Trade Union Congress
was probably the single most powerful political force
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