Course: British Culture and Civilization 2023-2024

Level: 2nd Year L.M.D (Groups: 1-2-3-9)

-A Brief Overview of British History-

From prehistoric origins to the 18th century, major events and eras in British history are outlined in this
document. Its goal is to draw attention to significant political, cultural, and societal developments that shaped
Britain’s transition into the modern era. While not thorough, it offers a broad narrative picture of British history by
highlighting notable figures, places, and key events.
8300B.C- 1900A.D
Events Time / Period
6500B.C English Channel formed and separated 8300B.C-A.D 42
Britain from the rest of Europe. Neolithic, Bronze & Iron Ages
From earliest times, depending on historical
factors, the English Channel served as a route
for, and a barrier to, invaders of Britain from
the Continent. Early Stone Age people crossed
the Strait of Dover; later invaders crossed the
western end of the channel, trading the
copper, tin, and lead they found in Devon and
Cornwall, and successive Bronze and Iron Age
invaders followed the same route.

The English Channel

3100 B.C-1500 B.C Stonehenge built during this

period
The first Stonehenge was a large
earthwork or Henge, comprising a ditch,
bank, and the Aubrey holes, all probably built
around 3100 BC. The second and most
dramatic stage of Stonehenge started around
2150 BC.
The third stage of Stonehenge, about 2000
BC.
The final stage took place soon after 1500 BC
when the bluestones were rearranged in the
horseshoe and circle that we see today. The Aerial view of Stonehenge, Wiltshire, England.
original number of stones in the bluestone
circle was probably around 60, these have
long since been removed or broken up.

750 B.C Iron is introduced to Britain

The period known as the Iron Age lasted in
Britain for about 800 years (from 750 BC to AD
43). Many changes and technological
innovations occurred during this time.

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43A.D Romans arrive and found Londinium
(London).
A century before, in both 55 and 54 BC,
Julius Caesar had invaded Britain (taking the Iron Tools
Dover route of the English Channel) with the
aim of conquest. But revolt in Gaul (modern- 43A.D-A.D 410
day France) had drawn him away before he Roman Britain
had beaten down determined British guerrilla
resistance. In 43 AD Emperor Claudius resumed
the work of Caesar by ordering the invasion of
Britain under the command of Aulus Plautius.

64 A.D Boudica and her worriors burn

Londinium to the ground.
Prasutagus king of the Iceni tribe died. His
queen took the lead. Under Boudica's
leadership the Iceni together with their
southern neighbours the Trinovantes revolted,
burning to the ground Londinium (London). Roman Soldiers
Boudica poisoned herself ( or killed herself)
after her army was virtually annihilated by
Roman legions returning from active service in
North Wales.

100 A.D A new Londinium is made capital of

Roman Province of Britain Boadic(e)a (or Boudicca) statue's horse on
The Romans regained control and over the Westminster Bridge and Big Ben in London.
next 20 yeas rebuilt Londinium. By AD 100, the
city was thriving again. At its peak the new 410 A.D Roman Armies withdraw
Londinium city had a population of up to The Romans never did succeed in subduing all of Britain. They
60,000 people and for 300 years it was the always had to maintain a significant military presence to control
largest city in Britannia (The Roman name for the threat from the unconquered tribes. But most people in
Britain). The Romans built a wall around the southern Britain settled down to Roman order and discipline.
city to protect it from further invasion.
After the Romans’ withdrawal, Britain's coasts were under attack
410A.D -1066 by Germanic raiders all along the "Saxon Coast" of South and
East England.

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New people came in ships across the North Anglo-Saxons began to arrive in 410A.D
Sea – the Anglo-Saxons. The Anglo-Saxon age
in Britain was from around AD 410 to 1066.
They were a mix of tribes from Germany,
Denmark and the Netherlands. The three
biggest were the Angles, the Saxons and the
Jutes. The land they settled in was 'Angle-
land', or England.
If we use the modern names for the countries
they came from, the Saxons were German-
Dutch, the Angles were southern Danish, and
the Jutes were northern Danish.

A modern drawing of a Saxon thane, a local leader. Thanes had land and led
soldiers to battle, but they had to obey the king

1066 William the Conqueror defeats King

Harold at the Battle of Hastings
Edward the Confessor died without leaving an
Anglo-Normans &Middle Ages: 1066-1347
heir in 1066, and this set in motion events that
would lead to the end of the Anglo-Saxon era
in England.
The Battle of Hastings in 1066 saw William, the
Duke of Normandy; defeat King Harold II to
become King of England. William's forces
decisively won the battle, despite being
outnumbered by Harold's army. The battle
lasted around nine hours, with casualties
believed to be in the thousands. William’s
victory irrevocably transformed England,
bringing Norman rule and the English
language, as we know it today. William on horseback, as depicted in the ‘Bayeux Tapestry’

1455 The Wars of the Roses begin

The Wars of the Roses were a series of battles
fought in medieval England from 1455 to 1485
between the House of Lancaster and the
House of York. The name Wars of the Roses
(sometimes mistakenly referred to as War of
the Roses) is based on the badges used by the
two sides, the red rose for the Lancastrians
and the white rose for the Yorkists.

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 The Tudors
1517 Britain’s first recorded race 1536 Henry VIII executes the first 1603 Queen Elizabeth I dies
riot breaks out in London on May of his wifes Elizabeth was the only surviving
Day The first wife of King Henry VIII of child of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn.
England. The refusal of Pope At the time of her birth she was heir
The First of May in Tudor England
Clement VII to annul Henry's to the throne.
was a traditional public holiday, The Elizabethan Era is associated
marriage to Catherine triggered the
normally set aside for celebration with Queen Elizabeth I’s reign (1558–
break between Henry and Rome
and light-hearted revelry, but on and led to the English Reformation. 1603) and is often considered to be
that day in 1517 the City of London the golden age in English history. It
exploded into a destructive race was the height of the English
riot that must have terrified peace- Renaissance which saw the
abundance of English poetry,
loving citizens almost as much as
theatre, music and literature.
its intended victims. Her death ended the Tudor dynasty.
Elizabeth died on 24 March 1603,
and is buried at Westminster Abbey.
The Stuarts
the Stuart era was an important The settlement in the New World The Restoration of the House of
phase in England’s The first waves of immigrants Stuart, that is the reestablishment of
progress towards the modern (under James I and Charles I) went the monarchy with
system of Parliamentary to the Bermudas, the the return of Charles II was put into
government, freedom of person Caribbean (called West India) and to effect by two people: General Monk
and speech, and good local the colony of Virginia where the who took control of the army and
administration. climate offered made it possible for the Parliament
better conditions for agriculture. In to be elected, and Edward Hyde,
1620, the first group of Puritans who later became Earl of Clarendon
who were later nicknamed Pilgrim and Lord Chancellor. His moderation
Fathers established the Plymouth combined
Colony on the northeastern coast of with the King’s shrewdness
America. prevented the Cavaliers from taking
revenge on the Puritans.

17th century – Glorious revolution

After the Civil War (started in 1640) between the king’s army and the parliamentary forces led by Oliver Cromwell,
the monarchy was restored in 1660 and Charles II succeeded to the throne. Later, when King James II (brother of
Charles II) was suspected of imposing the catholic faith on the English, the King was deposed and James’ son-in-
law William of Orange and his wife Mary became joint sovereigns after a bloodless invasion from Holland in 1688.
This event is commonly known as the Glorious Revolution.
18th century – British Empire
Britain and France had been bitter rivals in the race to conquer the world. In 1759, British victories in West Africa,
the West Indies, and on the battlefields of Europe, India, and Quebec established the British Empire ‘on which the
sun never set’.
In conclusion, this succinct study of British history provides an understanding of the crucial occasions and periods
that shaped the country. From the country's prehistoric beginnings to the height of the British Empire, it underwent
conquests, revolutions, and significant changes. Britain's chaotic yet dynamic past left it fundamentally changed, but
it also left behind a strong heritage of governance and culture that continues today. Although there is much more to
explore, this revised history offers a broad overview of the British people and their nation.
Useful Websites: N.B: All the websites were visited in October 2023.
1-Stonehenge Tour Guide | Great Britain | Stonehenge.co.uk 2- BBC - History: British History Timeline
3- http://www.dot-domesday.me.uk 4- http://roman-britain.co.uk/
5- http://www.englishcrown.co.uk