Early Britain: Key Historical Periods
Explore the foundational periods in British history, from the Stone Age to the Norman Conquest. This overview highlights the first inhabitants, the rise of agriculture, the influence of Romans, Anglo-Saxons, Vikings, and Normans on the development of Britain’s culture, language, and political structures.
| SN |
Period |
Key Points |
| 1 |
Stone Age |
- Paleolithic Era (Old Stone Age): 2.6 million - 10,000 BC
- Neolithic Era (New Stone Age): Began around 10,000 BC
- First inhabitants: Hunter-Gatherers
- Britain was connected to Europe by a land bridge
- Permanent separation from the continent by the English Channel ~10,000 years ago
- First farmers arrived from Southeast Europe ~6,000 years ago
- Famous sites: Stonehenge (Wiltshire) & Skara Brae (Orkney)
|
| 2 |
Bronze Age |
- Started around 4,000 years ago
- People lived in roundhouses and built round barrows for burials
- Skilled metalworkers: Bronze and Gold artifacts
|
| 3 |
Iron Age |
- Development of iron tools and weapons
- Hill forts built for defense, e.g., Maiden Castle (Dorset)
- People spoke Celtic languages
- First coins minted in Britain, bearing names of Iron Age kings
|
| 4 |
The Romans |
- Julius Caesar attempted invasion in 55 BC but failed
- Emperor Claudius successfully invaded in AD 43
- Major resistance by Boudicca, queen of the Iceni tribe
- Romans built roads, buildings, and introduced new crops & animals
- Remained in Britain for 400 years
- First Christian communities appeared in the 3rd-4th centuries AD
|
| 5 |
Anglo-Saxons |
- Roman army withdrew in AD 410
- Britain invaded by the Jutes, Angles, and Saxons
- Spread of Christianity by St. Augustine & St. Columba
- Famous burial site: Sutton Hoo (Suffolk)
|
| 6 |
The Vikings |
- First Viking raid in AD 789
- Came from Denmark, Norway, and Sweden
- Established Danelaw (Eastern and Northern England)
- Defeated by King Alfred the Great
|
| 7 |
The Normans |
- 1066: William the Conqueror(France) defeated King Harold at the Battle of Hastings
- Last successful foreign invasion of England
- Famous artifact: Bayeux Tapestry depicting the battle
- Domesday Book recorded details of land, towns, and people post-conquest
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