Munteanu Lorena

Evaluation
I. *The Celtic tribes, spreading slowly west from the Danube, arrived around 700 BC they brought their own tradition of agriculture, tending flocks and using shallow ploughs, storing the grain in great underground granaries. * The vast majority of Saxons made their living from farming, and fields were divided into 2 or sometimes 3 huge strips: one strip was ploughed and sown with crops while the other was left fallow. * Ealdorman, along with Bishop, and King Representative, presided over the meetings of free men, who gathered twice a year. *The Druids formed a large clergy which had many diverse and specialized functions: their efforts preserved common culture, religion, history, laws, scholarship, and science. The name Essex originates from "The Land of the East Saxons". propitiation hurscarls * During the Saxon kingdom of England every free man enjoying Mund Byrd, one of the two rights provided by law, which recognized that "Englishman's home was his castle". pompergation Shire Moot Procurator doons Earthbanks * The Saxons raised herds of goats, cattle and pigs and flocks of sheep. * In Saxon society thralls or slaves had no Were Gild. *The king of the Saxon kingdom was assisted by a council of wise men, Witan, who assist him to rule, to decide on peace and war, and to make laws. *Caledonia is the Latin name given by the Romans to the land in today's Scotland north of of the Antonine Wall. * In the late 9th century and early 10th century Saxon kings created fortified settlements called burhs who was more than just forts. II. 55BC Roman Conquest of England 700BC Settiement of the Celts in Britannia 60 London becomes Britain's administrative capital 77 Organising Britannia as a Roman province 410 Retreat of Roman troops from Britannia 590 The Heptarchy 789 Thefirst Viking attacks an England 871 Defeat of Anglo-Saxon kingdoms by the Vikings 901 Death of Alfred the Great III.

Munteanu Lorena

Evaluation
Gaius Julius Caesar (13 July 100 BC-15 March 44 BC) was a Roman general and statesman. He had changed the nature of the Roman empire, he had swept away the old, corrupt system of the late Roman republic and had set an example to future Roman emperors as well as other future European leaders to live up to. Caratacus was a historical British chieftain of the Catuvellauni tribe, who led the British resistance to the Roman conquest. He was sentenced to death as a military prisoner, but made a speech before his execution that caused the Emperor, Claudius to spare him. Publius Aelius Hadrianus (24 January 76 - 10 July 138) was Roman Emperor from 117 to 138. He is best-known for building Hadrian's Wall, which marked the northern limit of Roman territory in Britain. In Rome, he built the Pantheon and the Temple of Venus and Roma. He was the third of the so-called Five Good Emperors. King Arthur was a legendary British leader of the late fifth and early sixth centuries, who led the defence of Britain against Saxon invaders in the early sixth century. He was a professional soldier: a brilliant military leader employed in an official capacity by an alliance of British Kings to carry out their warfare against all coming enemies. St. Patrick Ethelbert, king of Kent, was the first of English kings that received baptism. He reigned fifty-six winters, and was succeeded by his son, Eadbald. Among the other benefits which in his care for his people he conferred on them, he also established for them with the advice of his councillors judicial decrees after the examples of the Romans, which, written in the English language, are preserved to this day. Venerable Bede was a monk at the Northumbrian monastery of Saint Peter at Monkwearmouth, today part of Sunderland, England, and he is well known as an author and scholar, and his most famous work, The Ecclesiastical History of the English People, gained him the title "The Father of English History". In 1899, Bede was made a Doctor of the Church by Leo XIII, a position of theological significance; he is the only native of Great Britain to achieve this designation. Guthrum (d 980) was King of Denmark and East Anglia. Guthrum invaded Wessex in 878 and was defeated by Alfred the Great at Eddington. Instead of destroying him, Alfred split the country in two. The north was for the Danish and known as Danelaw whilst the south was controlled by Alfred. Guthrum was baptised as a condition of peace.

Munteanu Lorena

Evaluation
Alfred the Great became King of Wessex during a time of constant Viking attack. Alfred created a series of fortifications to surround his kingdom and provide needed security from invasion. The reign of Alfred was known for more than military success. He was a codifier of law, a promoter of education and a supporter of the arts. IV.

V. Referring to the ancient history of Britain three distinct periods have to be considered. The first one is the period from 700 BC when Celts arrived in Britain until 55 BC when Julius Cesar conquered the island. The second one, when Britain was known as the Roman Britain, spreads from 55 BC to 410 AD when Roman legions were withdrawn. The third period begins with the Saxon invasion in 449 DA. There were big differences in the Britain society within the three mentioned periods. The structure of the Celtic society was based on the way the people were divided. They were living organized in tribes, each tribe dominating an area and had its own king. Below the king there were three classes: the nobles, the Druids and the masses. The nobles were fighters, while the Druids were judges and teachers, but also a sort of sorcerers, dealing with charms, magic and incantations. The rest of the people were almost slaves, working the fields. Celts did not know how to write, and their religion was a polytheistic one, around the spirits of the woods, rivers, sky and sea. The Roman conquest represents a break point in Britain's history. Rome has a very advanced civilization compared to the Britain's at the time. Roman soldiers were more then brave and very organized fighters: they could read and write, they knew how to plan cities and design buildings, construct roads and waterways, and some of they had medicine knowledge. Therefore, under Roman domination Britain society changed for better. The most important person was the governor, appointed by the emperor for a period of 3-5 years. The title was offered to the most outstanding legionary commanders. The procurator, also appointed by the emperor, had civil tasks, such as task collecting. Each town had a senate, an assembly of the most important citizens. Four magistrates were elected annually, two were judges and two to control finances. The villages were well maintained during the Roman domination, and the same were the roads. In 410 AD the Romans legions left Britain, leaving behind a strong and well organized infrastructure. Although, the native population, who had no need to fight in wars all these years, had left the skills and knowledge to defend themselves. In these conditions it is easy to understand why the island was conquered by the Saxons, the fiercest race of pirates that Europe has ever known. Though, it took more then 100 years to take control over the entire island. In 590 England (as it became to be known) was formed by seven kingdoms: Northumbria, Mercia, East Anglia, Essex, Sussex, Wessex

Munteanu Lorena

Evaluation
and Kent. The Saxon kingdom were divided in large districts, called Shires. The Saxons enforced their own society structure: the most important person was the king. The title was not inherit, but it was chosen from among the best warriors. A council of wise men had the role to assist the king. Saxon did not know how to read or write, but they had a very strict code of laws and punishments, and also they put in place the Shire Moot and the Court of Appeal to enforce these laws. Saxons' gods were pagans, such as: Woden, Thunor or Frig. Their names gave us Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. As a conclusion, we can say that while Celts and Saxons were mainly warriors, Romans were more than this: they played an very important role in development of Britain, leaving behind an advanced civilization.