Download E_The history of great britain

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Module E ▫ History
The History
of GREAT BRITAIN
THE EARLIEST INHABITANTS For thousands of years before the
birth of Christ Britain was inhabited by primitive races who were armed
with stone weapons1, were dressed in skins2 and who made their homes
in caves. The magnificent wooden and stone circles that they built,
called henges, are masterworks but their significance is a mystery. The
best-known henge is Stonehenge, Europe’s most famous prehistoric
monument, which was begun around 3,500 years ago.
Battersea
Shield, 350 B.C.
The Sutton Hoo
helmet, early
7th century A.D.
THE CELTS About 500 B.C.3 tribes of people whom we know as Celts
came to Britain from central Europe. They had weapons made of iron
so they won some of the land from those people whose weapons were
made of bronze. As time went on, they conquered most of the island.
We usually call these Celtic people the Ancient Britons. The Celts left
us no writings, but shields4, helmets, jewellery5 and pottery6 which
were made by them have been found in Britain. Their priests were
called Druids.
ROMAN BRITAIN In 55 B.C. Julius Caesar arrived in Britain with
an army7 of 10.000 soldiers. The Britons fought fiercely to prevent
the Romans from landing but they were driven back. Caesar did not
conquer the country. The real invasion of Britain was planned8 by the
Emperor Claudius in A.D.9 43 and by A.D. 75 the Romans had conquered
most of 10 the country. During the Roman occupation the Romans made
roads and built forts, villas, towns and public buildings. They built a
wall, Hadrian’s Wall, as a defence against the Scots.
THE ANGLO-SAXONS The Roman rule in Britain came to an end
in the fifth century when German pirates from Europe began to raid11
the Empire. In A.D. 409 the Romans left Britain. English history begins
with the landing of tribes of the Teutonic race called Angles, Saxons
and Jutes who by 600 had conquered much of Britain. Within 100 years
seven Saxon kingdoms12 including Wessex, Northumbria and Mercia,
had been established over the entire country. The Anglo-Saxons were
tall and had fair13 hair and blue eyes.
1. arma. 2. pelle. 3. B.C., Before Christ.
4. scudo. 5. gioielli. 6. ceramiche.
7. esercito. 8. programmata.
9. A.D., Anno Domini, After Christ.
10. la maggior parte. 11. saccheggiare.
12. regno. 13. capelli biondi.
14. feroce. 15. centro di commercio.
THE VIKINGS In the year 851 fierce14 pirates, known as Vikings,
attacked Britain and began to settle in the country. They came from
Norway and Denmark and were the same race as the Anglo-Saxons
themselves. The Vikings were good sailors and they loved battle. In
865 they invaded Britain and in five years they had conquered Mercia,
Northumbria and East Anglia. York became the Viking capital and an
important trade centre15. The kingdom of Wessex alone, governed by
Alfred the Great, was left to resist them.
Module E ▫ History
3
THE NORMAN CONQUEST In 1066, the last invasion of England
saw William, Duke of Normandy, defeat and kill the Anglo-Saxon King
Harold at the Battle of Hastings. William then marched to London and
on Christmas Day of the same year he was crowned King of England
in Westminster Abbey. The new king divided the land among his
followers16, nobles who protected him with soldiers. William introduced
the feudal system. The Normans introduced changes to the language
and culture. They built heavy, massive castles, like the Tower of London.
16. seguaci.
ACTIVITIES
TRUE/FALSE
1. Prehistoric Britain was characterized by henges, mysterious circles of stones,
built by the pagan people who inhabited the country.
T F
2. The Celts, who came from Europe about 5000 years ago,
used iron to make their weapons and left many artefacts all over the country.
T F
3. By A.D. 75 Julius Caesar had managed to conquer most of the country
and built roads and towns and a defensive wall against the Scots.
T F
4. Seven Saxon Kingdoms were established throughout Britain by A.D. 700
and the country was ruled by Teutonic tribes from Germany.
T F
5. The Vikings were excellent seafaring warriors who eventually took over
the entire country, establishing York as their capital city.
T F
6. The Norman invasion in 1066 resulted in a new king from the Continent
FILL IN
THE BLANKS
who brought many changes to the lives of the British population.
T F
Use the words listed below.
The Romans • The Vikings • The earliest inhabitants •
The Celts • William the Conqueror • The Anglo-Saxons
1. ………………………… lived in caves or pits.
2. ………………………… came from Central Europe.
3. ………………………… landed in Britain in 55 B.C.
4. ………………………… had fair hair and blue eyes.
QUESTIONS
5. ………………………… came from Northern
Europe.
6. ………………………… defeated and killed
Harold near Hastings.
1. When was Britain inhabited by primitive races? What were their weapons made of?
2. When did the Celts cross the English Channel? Where did they come from?
3. When did Julius Caesar first come to Britain? Who planned the real invasion of Britain?
4. Name Britain’s new invaders and say what they were like.
5. Where did the Vikings live? When did they attack Britain?
6. Where was William, Duke of Normandy, crowned King of England?
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The first page of the manuscript of «Beowulf»,
the only epic poem written in Old English known
to us
Module E ▫ History
THE ROOTS OF ENGLISH The story of English begins when a large
group of people in central Europe, the Indo-European tribes, started
to travel. Some went to the east and others to the west.
The travellers who settled in Britain were the Celts and their language
was the first important step in the
development of English. In 55 B.C.
The Romans invaded
Britain and stayed for nearly 500 years, but
hardly
changed the language of the Celts at all: the Romans
spoke one
language and the ancient Britons spoke another.
English began to change after the Roman Empire collapsed and a second
invasion took place. This time
the invaders, the Angles, the Saxons and
the Jutes came from northern Europe. They settled in different parts of
Britain and slowly began to introduce their languages. The result was
an Anglo-Saxon language which is now called “Old English”.
The next chapter in the story of English began when St. Augustine
arrived in Britain bringing with him Latin, the language of the church.
By the middle of the 8th century Old English consisted of Celtic, AngloSaxon and Latin words.
There were two more important influences in the development of
English. The first came from Scandinavia with the Vikings and the
second from France. This last major influence on English arrived in
1066 when William the Conqueror, Duke of Normandy, became King of
England. As he was French, Britain soon became a tri-lingual country
with French the language of the court, Latin the language of the church
and of education, and Anglo-Saxon the language of the common people.
In the two centuries that followed these three languages became one.
ACTIVITIES
TRUE/FALSE
MULTIPLE
CHOICE
1. The Indo European tribes who travelled east eventually settled in Britain.
2. The development of the English language began with the Celts.
3. “Old English” was the result of the Roman invasion in 55 B.C.
4. With the Norman invasion a third language was introduced into Britain. T F
T F
T F
T F
Complete the sentences by choosing the correct ending.
1. The first foreigners to influence the
development of English were:
the Celts.

the Romans.

the Angles.

the Saxons.
3. “Old English”:

was the language spoken
by the Celts.


was brought to Britain
by the Saxons.

eventually included Celtic, AngloSaxon and Latin.
2. Latin was brought to Britain:
was spoken by the Vikings.
when the Romans invaded

the country in 55 B.C.
4. After 1066:

by the invading Anglo-Saxons.

Anglo-Saxon disappeared.

by the Church of Rome.

Latin was only spoken at school.

three languages, French, Latin and


y the Vikings coming from
b
Scandinavia.
Anglo Saxon were spoken in Britain.
Module E ▫ History
5
BECKET AND HIS KING In 1154 Henry II mounted the throne of
England. He was a strong King. Henry’s great friend and adviser1 was
Thomas Becket whom the King made his Lord Chancellor, his chief
minister. Henry tried to bring the Church under his control. To do
so, he hoped to have the support of Becket whom he had appointed2
Archbishop3 of Canterbury. As Archbishop Becket fought for the liberty
and the authority of the Church.
Thomas Becket’s
reliquary
MURDER 4 IN THE CATHEDRAL When Henry wanted to have
supreme rule over the Church courts, Becket opposed him. Henry was
very angry and the good friends became bitter5 enemies. In 1170 four
of the King’s knights6 went to Canterbury Cathedral and murdered
the Archbishop on the steps7 of the altar. The effects of this deed were
terrible for the king. After Becket’s canonization in 1173 Canterbury
became a major centre of pilgrimage.
MAGNA CARTA During the reign of King John, known as
“Lackland”8, the powerful English barons, to protect themselves and
the Church from arbitrary taxation, compelled the king to sign9 a great
charter, or Magna Carta, limiting the royal powers10, on 15th June
1215 at Runnymede in Surrey. This document, an important symbol of
political freedom, marked11 the beginnings of the freedom the British
enjoy today.
THE WAR OF THE ROSES This long war began in 1455 and lasted12
until 1485. It was a bitter struggle13 for power between two factions of the
royal family - the Houses of York and Lancaster. For 30 years the struggle
went on: sometimes the Yorkists won and sometimes the Lancastrians.
The war came to an end when Henry Tudor, a member of the House of
Lancaster, sailed14 from France and defeated Richard III at Bosworth.
King Richard III
1. consigliere. 2. nominò, designò. 3. arcivescovo. 4. assassinio. 5. implacabile.
6. cavalieri. 7. gradini. 8. Senzaterra. 9. firmare. 10. potere. 11. segnò. 12. durò.
13. lotta. 14. salpò.
ACTIVITIES
QUESTIONS
MATCHING
1. Who was King Henry II’s great friend and adviser?
2. To what office was Becket appointed after being Chancellor?
3. When did King Henry and Thomas Becket become bitter enemies?
4. Where and by whom was the Archbishop of Canterbury killed?
5. Where and when was King John forced to sign the Magna Carta?
6. What do documents like this guarantee to the people of a country?
7. How long did the Wars of the Roses last?
8. When did the Wars of the Roses finish?
Match the dates with the historical events.
1215 • 1485 • 1170 • 1154
1. ……………… Henry II, also called Henry Plantagenet, became King of England.
2. ……………… Four of the King’s knights killed the Archbishop of Canterbury.
3. ……………… The barons forced King John to sign the Magna Carta.
4. ……………… The long Wars of the Roses came to an end.
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Module E ▫ History
THE HOUSE OF TUDOR Henry Tudor was crowned King in 1485 as
Henry VII and was succeeded by his son Henry in 1509. Tudor rule is
often considered one of the most important periods in English history.
Henry VIII was a handsome1 monarch. He was a fine musician and a
writer. He had been married to Catherine of Aragon for twenty years
and she had given him a daughter. The King wanted a son and he asked
the Pope to allow2 him to divorce Catherine. As the Pope refused, Henry
broke3 with the Church of Rome and by the Act of Supremacy (1534)
declared himself Head of the Church of England. Henry then divorced
Catherine and married Anne Boleyn. The King closed monasteries and
other religious houses, took4 church property, and imprisoned or killed
all those who opposed him. Sir Thomas More, a well-known scholar,
was executed because he refused to recognize Henry VIII as head of
the church. Henry VIII had six wives and died in 1547.
Edward VI, Henry VIII’s son, was only a child when he became king so
the country was ruled by a Council.
Mary I, daughter of Catherine of Aragon, became queen when Edward
died in 1553 at the age of fifteen. She was a strong Catholic.
Mary’s
main object was to restore5 Catholicism. She was called “Bloody6 Mary”
because she prosecuted and sentenced to death hundreds of Protestant
martyrs. The country became alarmed when she married King Philip
of Spain. The English hated7 the idea of a foreign8 husband. Mary died
in 1558.
Queen Elizabeth I. Elizabeth was the only child of Henry VIII and his
second wife Anne Boleyn. She was twenty-five years old when she
became queen in 1558. Elizabeth was an intelligent woman and had
inherited her father’s charm9 and determination.
1. di bell’aspetto, attraente.
2. concedere, consentire. 3. ruppe.
4. sottrasse. 5. ristabilire, ripristinare.
6. sanguinaria.
7. non vedevano di buon occhio, odiavano.
8. straniero. 9. fascino. 10. fece in
modo. 11. flotta. 12. marinai.
13. si rivelò. 14. figli, prole.
During her reign the Protestant Church secured its position. To
this end, the queen managed10 to keep Catholics and Protestants in
harmony.
In 1588 King Philip II of Spain sent a fleet11 of 130 ships,
the Invincibile Armada, to invade England. The English fleet, though
inferior in number, attacked the Armada and, favoured by the wind,
damaged the whole Spanish fleet. Only fifty-three vessels returned to
Spain. Both before and after the Armada, Elizabeth encouraged English
sailors12, like Francis Drake and Walter Raleigh, to attack and destroy
Spanish ships bringing treasures from the new continent. In her long
reign, Elizabeth showed herself 13 to be an able queen. She was a real
Renaissance monarch. The nation prospered in all directions. Literature
flourished and produced its greatest genius, William Shakespeare.
Elizabeth I died in 1603. She never married and she had no children14.
ACTIVITIES
QUESTIONS
1. Who was the second Tudor king? When did he become King of England?
2. What title had the Pope given to King Henry VIII? Why?
3. Why did King Henry VIII and the Pope quarrel?
4. Who ruled England for Edward VI? Why?
5. Who was Mary Tudor’s mother?
6. What was Mary Tudor’s religion?
7. When did Elizabeth I come to the throne?
8. What did she inherit from her father?
9. Name two Elizabethan sailors and say why they are famous.
Module E ▫ History
7
ACTIVITY PAGE
FILL IN
THE BLANKS
Read this passage and fill in the spaces using the words listed below.
Defender • England • king • divorce • Pope • Catholic • head • reign
Henry VIII as a young ………………………… had defended the church against Martin Luther’s
attacks, and the ………………………… had given him the title of ………………………… of the Faith”. Before
the end of his ………………………… , however, Henry had become the bitter enemy of the Roman
………………………… Church. When the Pope refused to give his permission to …………………………
Catherine of Aragon, Henry made himself ………………………… of the Protestant Church of
………………………… .
MULTIPLE
CHOICE
1. Henry VIII had had a daughter by Catherine of Aragon but:




e was tired of being married to Catherine and wanted a divorce.
h
he wanted a son.
he also had six other children by his other six wives.
he did not want her to be Catholic so he broke with the Church of Rome.
2. Henry VIII’s oldest daughter Mary:




s ucceeded her cousin Edward VI upon his death.
was a Protestant martyr.
wanted Britain to become Catholic again.
married a foreigner who became very popular with the English.
3. In 1558 Elizabeth I became Queen:




nd restored the Church of England, outlawing Catholicism.
a
and hers was a long and extremely prosperous reign.
the English fleet, with only 53 ships, defeated the Invincible Spanish Armada.
was only 25 years old when she died.
4. The Tudors:




MATCHING
r uled England for over 100 years.
were all able and much loved rulers.
hated the Spanish.
reigned over one of the most peaceful and prosperous periods in English history.
Match the dates with the historical events.
1547 • 1534 • 1485 • 1588 • 1558
1. ……………… Edward VI was a boy of nine when he came to the throne.
2. ……………… T he English fleet destroyed the Spanish Armada sent by King Philip II
to conquer England.
3. ……………… H
enry Tudor defeated King Richard III and was proclaimed King of England
as Henry VII.
4. ……………… M
ary Tudor nicknamed Bloody Mary died and Elizabeth I became
Queen of England.
5. ……………… H
enry VIII declared himself head of the Church of England.
8
Module E ▫ History
THE STUARTS When Elizabeth I died in 1603 the throne passed to
James I whose belief 1 that kings ruled by divine right provoked a conflict
with Parliament. Under his son, Charles I (1625-1649), the conflict
provoked a Civil War that ended with his execution2. On the king’s death
the country became a republic known as the Commonwealth. Oliver
Cromwell was a strict3 Protestant and a champion
of the rights4 of
Parliament. He led5 the Parliamentary forces to victory in the Civil War.
He became Lord Protector of the Commonwealth from 1653 to 1658.
In 1660 Charles II regained the throne, but after his death James II
lost his kingdom because he wished to restore the Catholic religion
to England. Protestantism was reaffirmed with William of Orange and
his wife Mary who became king and queen as William III and Mary II.
THE HOUSE OF HANNOVER After William’s death, Mary’s sister,
Anne became queen and when she died in 1714 Parliament offered the
crown to her Protestant relative6, George of Hannover, who became
King George I. The time between 1714 and 1830 is known as the Georgian
Age because four kings named George succeeded in turn. Britain
entered the French revolutionary wars in 1793 and the commander of
the British fleet, Lord Admiral Horatio Nelson, won brilliant victories
over the French Navy. He became a national hero after his death at
the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805. In this period Britain developed as an
industrial nation; laid7 the foundations of the British Empire; improved8
the working life of the poor; and limited hours of work for children and
women in particular.
Lord Admiral
Horatio Nelson
Queen Victoria
THE VICTORIAN AGE William IV succeeded his brother George
IV in 1830 and when he died the crown passed to his niece9 Victoria.
Queen Victoria. When Victoria became queen in 1837, she was only 18.
Her reign was one of the most glorious in British history. Loved and
esteemed by her people, Victoria ruled over Britain and the British
Empire. The Great Exhibition of 1851, was organized by Prince Albert,
the Queen’s husband. It celebrated Britain’s industry and technology.
1. convinzione, credenza.
2. esecuzione (capitale). 3. severo.
4. diritti. 5. guidò, condusse.
6. parente. 7. gettò. 8. migliorò.
9. nipote. 10. approvate, promulgate.
11. obbligatoria. 12. gratuita.
13. potente, forte. 14. ciò nonostante.
Under Queen Victoria’s reign there were important social and political
reforms. Laws were passed10 limiting working hours and improving
the conditions of the workers. More people got the vote; universal
education was introduced and made compulsory11 and free12.
When Victoria died in 1901 Britain was the richest and most powerful13
industrial nation in the world. In spite of that14, millions of people
were still living in miserable conditions. They had poor food and bad
houses.
ACTIVITIES
TRUE/FALSE
1. At the end of the English Civil War Charles II was executed
and the Commonwealth republic was established.
2. Cromwell ruled Parliament and was a popular Protestant monarch for 5 years.
3. In 1660 Charles II was crowned King and the monarchy was restored.
4. When William and Mary’s reign ended, Mary’s sister Anne ascended the throne.
5. The Georgian Age was a period of expansion when industry developed.
6. Working hours were limited for women and children in British factories.
7. Queen Victoria ruled Britain for sixty-four years.
8. Her reign was characterized by great social reforms.
T F
T F
T F
T F
T F
T F
T F
T F
Module E ▫ History
9
ACTIVITY PAGE
MULTIPLE
CHOICE
1. Charles I’s reign:




as followed by the restoration of Catholicism.
w
brought republican ideas to the monarchy.
was succeeded by a period of Protestant Victories over Parliament
from 1653 to 1658.
was characterized by a civil war and his execution.
2. King George I:




built the British Empire.
was the first king of the Georgian Age, which lasted until 1830.
was a famous commander of the British Navy.
was a Catholic from Hannover.
3. Victoria became Queen in 1837 and:




FILL IN
THE BLANKS
as George IV’s niece who inherited the crown upon his death.
w
was a very popular and able ruler until her death in 1901.
ruled over a small territory with a reduced population.
passed many laws limiting working conditions and compulsory education.
Use the names listed below.
Oliver Cromwell • Horatio Nelson • James I • George I • Queen Victoria • Charles I
1. ………………………… and his son Charles II believed in the Divine Right of Kings.
2. ………………………… regained the throne but his brother James II lost his kingdom (the crown).
3. ………………………… governed Britain from 1653 until his death in 1658.
4. ………………………… was the first king of the House of Hannover.
5. ………………………… was one of Britain’s greatest heroes. He was killed at Trafalgar.
6. ………………………… was the niece of William IV. Her reign was a period of great social reforms.
QUESTIONS
MATCHING
1. What provoked a conflict between the Stuart monarchs and Parliament? 2. Who ruled England after the death of King Charles I? 3. Who was the first king of the House of Hannover? When did he ascend the throne? 4. What do we mean by the Georgian Age? How long did this period last?
5. Who was Horatio Nelson? Why is he considered a hero of English History?
6. The Victorian Age was an age of progress. Can you say in what directions?
Match the two parts.
1. K
ing James I believed in the Divine
a. B
ritain was an Empire
Right of Kings.
2. T he Civil War of 1642 between
the King and Parliament
3. W
hen Queen Victoria died in 1901
and a prosperous nation.
b. H
e believed that kings were
appointed by God.
c. e nded with the execution of King
Charles I.