Event - Celts came to Britain in late Iron Age. The three tribes were called the the Scots ,the Picts, and the Britons. The Picts settled in the north of Britania(which wasn't called that at the

1.The Celtic invasion

Date - 600 -300 BC

Event - Celts came to Britain in late Iron Age. The three tribes were called the the Scots,the Picts, and the Britons. The Picts settled in the north of Britania(which wasn't called that at the time). The Scots settled in Ireland, but soon after that they moved and settled near to the Picts in the north. The Britons were the largest of three tribes. The Celts were pagans, and they worshipped nature (Moon, sky, earth. etc.). Druids were mental and religious leaders of tribes of that time. They were also doctors and claimed to be able to use magic. The Celts made up many legends which were written down in the Middle Ages by monks and other educated people. Up to that moment these stories were passed from generation to generation. Celts wore long moustaches (mostly man), lived in tribes and were ruled by war chiefs who were their military leaders. Celts crafted tools and weapons made of copper, tin, iron. They also kept large herds of cattle for furs, meat and milk, cultivated crops and made clothes from nature materials (like linen and wool).

Sources - Caesar ‘Commentaries on the Gallic War’ and the Celtic Sagas – a series of stories written down in the Middle ages (as all the legends and myths of Celtic tribes)

Influence -Runes of Celts. Also worshipping nature was taught by druids. Some henges (like Stonehenge) are said to be built by Celts.

Language -Many Celtic words are used in modern English(like avon, the downs, loch, ben, glen, and many, many others)

2. The Roman Invasion

Date -July 54 BC - First invasion (Caesar)

22 August, 55 BC - Second invasion (Caesar)

43 AD (Claudius)

Event - On the 25 of August 55 BC, Caesar crossed the English Channel to Dover with two legions. The weather caused problems and Britons fought fiercely, including warriors in horse-drawn chariots but the Romans forced Britons to flee. However this expedition hadn’t been successful –12 vessels and many men were lost. So Caesar decided to retreat and return later with a better army. In July 54th BC, Caesar made the trip with 800 ships and 2,500 men. The Romans had much better army and they were better trained. The second invasion was much more successful. And still, Caesar died, and the Britain wasn't conquered. The Emperor Claudius started his reign with some instability and a lack of support from people of Empire. He needed to ensure his position as an Emperor. In order to achieve this he decided to attempt to conquer Britain. Emperor Claudius army of some 20000 men landed in the Kent shores. The Islanders were not expecting them and the Romans marched inland wining easily. The Romans moved north through England and Wales but were stopped by the fierce tribes which were living in what is now Scotland. Emperor Claudius died suddenly in 54 AD, and the Roman army didn't advanced further inland, but occupied the already conquered territories.

Sources - "Commentaries on the Gallic wars"

Influence - Romans influenced construction, religion, language and other sapects of British life.

Language - Many Latin words were borrowed (priest,mess, wine and many, many other)

3.The Teutonic Invasion

Date - 449 BC

Event - After the Roman troops were recalled from the Island, Celtic trives fell into the pre-Roman pattern of warring tribes. Celts were in need of a leader. About the 500 the resistance achieved a victory under a warrior called Arthorius, who is known as King Arthur. It took the Angles, the Saxons and the Jutes more than century to re-conquer the greater part of the island. Many Celts were killed and taken prisoners. The rest of them stayed in Cornwell, Wales, Scotland, Ireland and the North - West of France. By the end of 6^th and the beginning of the 7^th centuries the invaders formed 7 kingdoms: Kent was settled by the Jutes,the Saxons formed Sussex, Wessex and Assex, the Angles founded Northumbria, Mercia and East Anglia.

Sources -Beowulf (Old English Poem), Stories about King Atrhur

Influence -"New" gods and worships -Thor, Woden, Freya, etc.

Language -Anglo - Saxon language became the main language of the Britania. Also the names of Gods became the name of days of week (Thursday - Thor,Friday - Freya and so on)

4.The viking invasion

Date -From 8th to 11th century

Event -In 793 the Vikings carried out their first raid to Britain. They came in spring and summer to plunder and returned to their homes for the winter time. In 865 they came to conquer the land, so that they could stay and live there.

In 838 the Vikings attacked Wessex, but King Agbert organized a well trained force of men and defeated the attackers. In 871 vikings invaded Wessex again and were once more defeated by King Alfred. At the end of the 9th century the Vikings attacked England again, and this time it was a success. King Aethelred "The Unready" (978-1016) tried to bribe the Vikings with the money that he collected by introducing a special tax called "Danegeld", but it didn't worked out so well, and vikings continued to terrorize the country. Later, King Cnut (1016-1035) became a King of England. He made England the part of the Scandinavian Empire and divided the country into four earldoms. But, what is unusual - he ruled the country according to the Anglo - Saxons laws.

Sources - " The Anglo - Saxon Chronicle"

Influence -Vikings had built many towns, which now can be recognized by specific endings in the names of towns and cities (-by, -toft, -throb), like Scunthorpe, Derby and others. They also taught Anglo - Saxons navigation, and how to create new and yet unknown tools for them (Anglo - Saxons)

Language -New names of places appeared. Many Scandinavians surnames ending in “son” were adopted from the vikings. Scandinavian words of everyday use were also borrowed (neck, ship, seal, happy, window and many others.)

5.The Norman Conquest

Date -the 14th October 1066

Event -William Duke of Normandy claimed his rights for the throne of England. But Harold, who was crowned as the King, ignored Williams claims, and so the conquest started.

William's army consisted of 7000 thousand men, well armed and well trained. They were all mercenaries, who were promised to be granted with land if William would won the war. Harold's army consisted of 5000 men, who were exhausted from first fighting vikings in the north and then marching down 250 kilometers to the next battlefield. Those were mostly infantrymen, peasants, king's bodyguards. They were badly equipped and poorly trained. Although at first the Harold was taking over the William, William won the battle of Hastings, and so the faith of England was determined.

Sources -

Influence -England became organized according to the feudal system. Church had strengthened its positions on the Island. King abolished the great earldoms - Northumbria, Mercia and Wessex, and the country was divided into shires. Many castles were built to emphasize the Norman presence.

Language -Many borrowings in English from Norman French (Archer, Arson, Error, Fraud, Dungeon and others)

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