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The Native Celts • There were probably people in Britain before the Celts, but we know very little about them. • The Celts are the earliest known group of people to live on the island. Around 700 BC. • They were the ancestors of the Scots, Irish, and Welsh. The Native Celts • May have built Stonehenge? – Between 3000-1000 BC. • Their religion was Druidism. • Their language was not English. It was similar to Gaelic (old language of Ireland) and Welsh (old language of Wales). Many Celtic Tribes • Picts • Gaels • Britons Roman Britain • Julius Caesar, the Roman Emperor, invaded England in 55 BC. • This was the beginning of England’s written history, because the Celts did not have a written language. • The Celts tried to resist, but the Romans took over England. • The Romans couldn’t defeat the Picts (Scotland), and so they built Hadrian’s Wall, to keep the Picts out of England. Roman Britain • The Romans brought new technology and knowledge, and built many strong walls and stone buildings. • They made London their capital. • Roman travelers and monks came and brought the Christian religion. Some Celts became Christians. • England (“Britannia”) became part of the Roman Empire. But the Roman culture did not influence the Celtic culture very much. Londinium • Romans built a fort on the banks of the Thames River • They named it Londinium • Londinium became London Roman Empire • Rome conquered the entire Mediterranean • Rome controlled most of Europe, including much of Britain • The Roman Empire happened at the same time as Han China The Anglo-Saxon Conquest • In 410 AD, Germanic tribes started attacking the Roman Empire. So the Romans left Britain to return home and fight. • But the Celts were not strong without the Romans to defend them, so the Germanic people invaded England too in 446 AD. • The Celts stayed in Wales, Scotland, and Ireland. • The Anglo-Saxons stayed in England. The Anglo-Saxons • Angles, Saxons, and Jutes settled in different parts of England and fought against each other. • They brought their culture to Britain. • Their religion worshipped many gods. English names for the days of the week were named after those gods. • Their language became the English language. – “English” comes from “Anglo”. Viking Invasions • Starting in the 8th century, Vikings (from Norway) and Danes (Denmark) tried to invade England many times. • They took parts of England, but couldn’t conquer all of it. • They called their part Danelaw. Alfred the Great • He was an Anglo-Saxon king who defended England against the Vikings/Danes. • He was a Christian, and tried to convince the Vikings to become Christians too. • He also tried paying them money to leave England. They left, but more kept coming back. • He built the first English Navy, and reorganized the army. • In the end, he made a treaty allowing the Danes to settle in the eastern part of England. King Canute • He was a Danish leader. • He became King of England in 1016. • He made England part of the Viking Empire (Scandinavia). • He wisely, and shared power with the AngloSaxons. • He forced Scotland to submit to him as ruler. Edward the Confessor • • • • Last Anglo-Saxon king of England. 1042-1066. Lived most of his life in France. Appointed many Normans to top jobs. • After he died, his son Harold became king. • But Edward’s cousin William (also from Normandy) wanted to be king… The Norman Conquest • In 1066, William “the Conqueror” invaded England. • The first battle was at Hastings. • The Normans rode horses (cavalry) and used arrows. But the English were on foot and carried axes. • Harold was killed in battle, and William became king. • 1st AngloNorman king of England. Effects of the Norman Conquest • Feudalism was introduced. – Nobles were given land by the king. – They had to pay taxes to the king. – They had to send soldiers from their region to fight for the king. – The land was split up between lower nobles and freemen to use. They had to pay taxes to the nobles and serve them. Effects of the Norman Conquest • • • • • • • Construction of Tower of London, etc. Replaced English bishops with Normans. King became head of bishops. Domesday Book 1085 – property record. 2 languages in England until c. 1400. Oppression, then intermingling. Growth of feudalism. King Henry II • Great Grandson of King William. • Founder of Plantagenet Dynasty – Ruled in England and France. – Plantagenet Dynasty lasted from 12th to 15th centuries • Acquired ½ of France through marriage to a French princess. Henry II’s Reforms • Reformed judicial system. – Travelling judges sent from London. – Common law – based on social customs. – Jury system replaced trial by torture and fighting. • Centralized his power to better rule his large kingdom. • Reformed taxes. Henry II and the Church • He wanted the Church to submit to the King, not to the Pope in Rome. • In 1162 he made Thomas Becket Archbishop of Canterbury. • But Becket did not want to change the laws. He wanted to obey the Pope. • Henry’s knights murdered Becket. So the Pope wanted to excommunicate Henry. • King did public penance (showed he was sorry) at Becket’s tomb. • Becket was made a saint; pilgrimages to tomb. • Geoffrey Chaucer’s, Canterbury Tales, 1400, tells about the pilgrims’ journeys. King John 1199-1216 • Son of Henry II. • Tyrannical & greedy. • Brother King Richard I (the Lionhearted) – Crusader – kidnapped on trip home. • Legend of Robin Hood. • Forced to sign Magna Carta in 1215. The Great Charter (Magna Carta) 1. King observes rights of barons (land owners); barons observe rights of their vassals (people under them). 2. No taxes without consent of Great Council; farmers & merchants protected from too harsh fines. 3. Right to jury trial. 4. Merchants can move freely. Magna Carta • Key point in English history. Similar to the Declaration of Independence for the Americans. • Protects only freemen (12% of population). • Later extended to serfs (lower workers). • Social order now regulated by law – began to end unfair feudalism. • The beginning of a constitutional gov’t. King Henry III • Son & successor of King John • Started wars with France. • People disliked Henry III Because: – He disobeyed the Magna Carta by taxing the people – He obeyed the Pope Beginning of Parliament • Simon de Montfort, the King Henry III’s brother-in-law, led a rebellion of barons – defeated and imprisoned the king. • Simon invited knights and representatives to join the Great Council (made up of nobles). • 1265 the first meeting. Earliest “Parliament”. • House of Lords was the most important house in parliament. Edward I (“Longshanks”) • Son & successor of Henry III. • Conquered Wales. • Heir to the throne given the title Prince of Wales. • Invaded Scotland. • Opposed by William Wallace (Braveheart). Decline of Feudalism • Feudalism only lasted from the 11th to 14th c. • Class structure in 14th century: – Upper landed class (nobles) – Lower upper class (gentlemen, knights) – Lower class (land workers, craftsmen) – There was starting to be a bigger middle class. Hundred Years’ War 1337-1453 • • • • England vs. France (France won) Main issue: succession to French throne England invaded France English victories at first Henry V • Henry V, 1413-1422 • Invaded France, then retreated in face of bigger French army • Stopped retreat • French army drank & boasted on eve of battle Battle of Agincourt, 1415 • Made famous by Shakespeare, Henry V • Great English victory • The English longbow • Gunpowder changed the war Joan of Arc • French peasant girl – religious visions • National heroine • Captured & burned as a witch • Inspired French peasants to victory Results of War • English kings no longer control France. • English kings now focus on England. • English now official language in England. The Black Death • • • • Bubonic Plague 1348-1349 Wiped out half of population Labor shortage: demands for better wages & working conditions. • Gov’t made laws to try to preserve serfdom. • Widespread peasant unrest. Wycliffe and the Lollards • Oxford religious reformer. • Lollards preached equality of men before God & communal ownership of all things. • Opposed tyranny. • First English translation of Bible. • Democratic ideas & practices. • “Priesthood of all believers” – don’t need priests to talk to God. • Early example of Protestant Reformation. The Peasant Uprising (1381) • King Richard II deceives & killed peasant leaders. • King granted some of their demands. • Serfdom begins to die out after revolt. • Labor shortage from Black Death & peasant revolt weakens feudalism. • New class of free farmers (yeoman) emerges. • Paves the way for capitalism. The Wars of the Roses • 1455-1485 • Between 2 parts of the Plantagenet family: – House of Lancaster – Red Rose – House of York – White Rose • • • • War between “rival gangs of nobles” Many jobless soldiers from Hundred Years’ War. Reduced noble class and feudalism. Common people mostly did not care about the noble houses. • Strengthened royal house & central gov’t. Henry Tudor • The Wars of the Roses ended in 1485 when Henry Tudor became King Henry VII. He was the founder of the Tudor Monarchy. • House of Tudor marks the end of Middle Ages & beginning of modern world history. Required Reading • Vol 1; Ch 2; Sec 4 – The New Monarchy; Henry VII; Henry VIII and Reform of the Church; Elizabeth I. • Vol 1; Ch 2; Sec 5 – Background to the Revolution; James I and the Parliament; The Civil Wars; Restoration.