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
The Romans regained control and over the
next 20 yeas rebuilt Londinium. By AD 100, the
city was thriving again. At its peak the new
Londinium city had a population of up to
60,000 people and for 300 years it was the
largest city in Britannia (The Roman name for
Britain). The Romans built a wall around the
city to protect it from further invasion.
410A.D -1066
Boadic(e)a (or Boudicca) statue's horse on
Westminster Bridge and Big Ben in London.
410 A.D Roman Armies withdraw
The Romans never did succeed in subduing all of Britain. They
always had to maintain a significant military presence to control
the threat from the unconquered tribes. But most people in
southern Britain settled down to Roman order and discipline.
After the Romans’ withdrawal, Britain's coasts were under attack
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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1517 Britain’s first recorded race
riot breaks out in London on May
Day
The First of May in Tudor England
was a traditional public holiday,
normally set aside for celebration
and light-hearted revelry, but on
that day in 1517 the City of London
exploded into a destructive race
riot that must have terrified peace-
loving citizens almost as much as
its intended victims.
the Stuart era was an important
phase in England’s
progress towards the modern
system of Parliamentary
government, freedom of person
and speech, and good local
administration.
The Tudors
1536 Henry VIII executes the first
of his wifes
The first wife of King Henry VIII of
England. The refusal of Pope
Clement VII to annul Henry's
marriage to Catherine triggered the
break between Henry and Rome
and led to the English Reformation.
The Stuarts
The settlement in the New World
The first waves of immigrants
(under James I and Charles I) went
to the Bermudas, the
Caribbean (called West India) and to
the colony of Virginia where the
climate offered
better conditions for agriculture. In
1620, the first group of Puritans
who were later nicknamed Pilgrim
Fathers established the Plymouth
Colony on the northeastern coast of
America.
1603 Queen Elizabeth I dies
Elizabeth was the only surviving
child of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn.
At the time of her birth she was heir
to the throne.
The Elizabethan Era is associated
with Queen Elizabeth I’s reign (1558–
1603) and is often considered to be
the golden age in English history. It
was the height of the English
Renaissance which saw the
abundance of English poetry,
theatre, music and literature.
Her death ended the Tudor dynasty.
Elizabeth died on 24 March 1603,
and is buried at Westminster Abbey.
The Restoration of the House of
Stuart, that is the reestablishment of
the monarchy with
the return of Charles II was put into
effect by two people: General Monk
who took control of the army and
made it possible for the Parliament
to be elected, and Edward Hyde,
who later became Earl of Clarendon
and Lord Chancellor. His moderation
combined
with the King’s shrewdness
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