Story Event Entertain Story: Hi of Great Britain

History
of Great Britain

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is a country of great
history rich in important events and entertaining legends connected with them. It's not
enough to write several volumes to tell the full history of the country. That's why we'll
try to answer the question where the British come from and who they are.
They say, that in prehistoric times Britain was joined to Europe. So the first people
came there over dry land. The present English Channel which separates Britain from
Europe appeared at the end of the Ice Age. In the New Stone Age the hunters crossed
the sea to the west of the Channel and settled along the Western shores in search of
food. The first inhabitants of the island came from the Iberian peninsula, where Spain
is located, somewhere after 3000 ВС. After 2000 ВС the people from the east of
Europe entered the country. The two peoples intermixed. They left us Stonehenge and
Avebury as impressive monuments of their time.
After 800 ВС the Celts arrived from Central Europe and opened up a new important
page of the British history. The name «Britain» comes from the name of a Celtic
tribe known as the Britons. Their influence was greatest in Wales, Scotland and
Ireland, as they were driven to these parts by the invaders who followed them. That's
why these parts of Britain are very different from England in language, customs and
traditions.
In 55 ВС Julius Caesar, the Roman ruler, invaded Britain. However, his first
expedition was not successful, because his force was small, and the Celts fought well.
In the following year 54 ВС he invaded the country with a larger army and this time
the expedition was successful: the Celts were defeated. But Caesar didn't stay in
Britain. He left the country with slaves and riches and made the Celts pay a regular
tribute to Rome.
Some 90 years later, in 43 AD, the country was conquered by the Romans and the
occupation continued to the beginning of the 5 century (410 AD). Roman influence
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was greatest in the south and south-east, while in the north and west the country
remained untouched. The Romans built many towns, connected them by good roads.
The largest of the towns was called Londinium. Roman culture and civilization had a
positive influence on the development of the country. When the Romans left, Britain
remained independent for some time.
However quite soon it was attacked by Germanic tribes: the Jutes, the Saxons and
the Angles. And by the end of the 5 century the greater part of the country was
th
occupied. People began to call the new land of the Angles and Saxons England.
Wales, Cornwall, the northern part of Britain and Ireland remained unconquered and
preserved Celtic culture.
The Saxon kingdoms fought one against the other. In 829 the greater part of the
country was united under the name England.
The northern part was the home of the Picts and Scots. After the conquest of the Picts
by the Scots in the 9 century this territory was called Scotland. And in the 11 century
th th
a united Scottish kingdom was formed.

An important event which contributed to the unification of the country was the
adoption of Christianity in England in 664.
In the 9 century the Danes attacked England. It was Alfred who defeated the Danes
th
making them sign a peace agreement.

The last of the invaders to come to Britain were the Normans from France. In 1066
Duke William of Normandy defeated the English at the battle of Hastings and
established his rule as king of England known as William the Conqueror. The French
language became the official language of the ruling class for the next three centuries.
This explains the great number of French words in English. The power of
the state grew and little by little England began to spread its power. First on Wales,
then on Scotland and later on Ireland. Wales was brought under the English
parliament in 1536 and 1542 by Henry VIII.
In 1603 the son of Mary Queen of Scots James Stuart became James I of England.
The union of England, Wales and Scotland became known as Great Britain. However
the final unification of Scotland and England took place in 1707 when both sides
agreed to form a single parliament in London for Great Britain, although Scotland
continued to keep its own system of law, education and have an independent church.
Ireland was England's first colony, but even now there are problems there connected
with religion. The Irish people can be divided into two religious groups: Catholics and
Protestants. The fighting between these groups is connected with the colonial past. In
the 16 century Henry VIII of England quarreled with Rome and declared himself
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head of the Anglican Church, which was a Protestant church. He tried to force Irish
Catholics to become Anglican. This policy was continued by his daughter Elizabeth I.
The «Irish question» remained in the centre of British politics till 1921. After a long
and bitter struggled the southern part of Ireland became a Free State. The northern
part of Ireland where the Protestants were in majority remained part of the UK. After
all the years of confrontation the people of Northern Ireland understand that only
through peace talks and respect for the rights of both Catholics and Protestants can
peace be achieved.
Recently, there have been many waves of immigration into Britain. Now Britain is a
multinational society, which benefits from the influence of different people and
cultures.

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History

a united Scottish kingdom was formed.

making them sign a peace agreement.

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