Early Britain Flashcards
Who were the first people to live in Britain?
Hunter gatherers in the Stone Age
During the Stone Age, who and how was Britain populated?
Britain was connected to the continent by a land bridge. People came and went following the herds of deer and horses which they hunted.
When did Britain become permanently separated from the continent?
Britain became permanently separated by the Channel about 10,000 years ago.
When did the first farmers arrive in Britain and where were they from?
The first farmers arrived in Britain 6,000 years ago. The ancestors of these farmers probably came from south-east Europe.
What county is Stonehenge in?
Wiltshire
What is the name of the best preserved prehistoric village in Northern Europe and where is it?
Skara Brad, Orkney, Scotland.
When was the Bronze Age and what was significant about the people at this time?
The Bronze Age was around 4,000 years ago and the people were accomplished metalworkers.
When was the Iron Age and what was significant about it?
The Iron Age was after the Bronze Age when people learned to make weapons and tools from iron. They also made the first coins to be minted in Britain, some inscribed with the names of Iron Age kings.
What language did people speak in the Iron Age?
The language was part of the Celtic language family. Similar languages were spoken across Europe and related languages are still spoken today in parts of Wales, Scotland and Ireland.
Who led a Roman invasion of Britain and when?
Julius Caesar in 55 BC. This was unsuccessful and Britain remained separate from the Roman Empire for nearly 100 years.
Who led the Roman army in a new invasion and when?
Emperor Claudius in AD 43. It was successful in occupying almost all of Britain.
What was the name of the tribal leader who fought against the Romans in AD 43?
Boudicca, queen of the Iceni - now eastern England.
Which part of Britain was not conquered by the Romans? How was this area delineated?
Scotland was never conquered by the Romans, and the Emperor Hadrian built a wall in the north of England to keep the Picts (ancestors of the Scottish people) out.
How long did the Romans stay in Britain? What was their contribution?
The Romans stayed in Britain for 400 years. They built roads and public buildings, created a structure of law, and introduced new plants and animals.
When did Christian communities begin appearing in Britain?
Christian communities began to appear in Britain during the 3rd and 4th centuries AD.
When did the Roman army leave Britain?
The Roman army left Britain in AD 410 to defend other parts of the Roman Empire and never returned.
After the Roman army left Britain, who invaded?
After the Roman army left Britain, tribes from Northern Europe, the Jutes, the Angles and the Saxons invaded.
When were Anglo-Saxon kingdoms established in Britain?
Anglo-Saxon kingdoms were established in Britain by about AD 600. The languages they spoke are the basis of modern-day English.
Which parts of Britain were free from Anglo-Saxon rule?
Parts of the west of Britain, including much of what is now Wales and Scotland, remained free of Anglo-Saxon rule.
Who is St Augustine?
St Augustine led missionaries from Rome, who spread Christianity in the south of Britain. He became the first Archbishop of Canterbury.
Who were the Vikings and when did they come to Britain?
The Vikings came from Denmark and Norway. They first visited Britain in AD 789 to raid coastal towns and take away goods and slaves. then they began to stay and form their own communities in the east and England and Scotland. The Vikings settlers mixed with he local communities and some converted to Christianity.
What were the kingdoms during the time of the Vikings and who ruled them?
- The Anglo-Saxon kingdoms in England united under King Alfred the Great, who defeated the Vikings.
- In the north, Scotland, the threat of attacks by Vikings encouraged people to unite under King Kenneth MacAlpin.
There was also a short period of Danish kings, the first was Cnut (also called Canute).
Who was William the Conqueror?
William the Conqueror was the Duke of Normandy, what is now northern France. He defeated Harold, the Saxon king of England at the Battle of Hastings in 1066 to become king of England.
What commemorates the Norman Conquest and where is it?
The Battle of Hastings is commemorated in the Bayeux Tapestry, which can be seen in Normandy, France today.
