Early Britain a History of Invasions
MESSANO MARIA
The history of early Britain is dominated by the
invasion of different peoples who settled in the
island and helped to create what is now known as
Great Britain.
The main invaders were the Celts, the
Romans, the Anglo-Saxons, the Vikings and
the Normans.
The first invaders of Britain
ca 600BC – 50 AD
43 AD
5th century
9th century
1066
The Celts
The Romans
The Angles and the Saxons from
Germany and Scandinavia
The Vikings arrived from Denmark and
Norway
The Normans were the last invaders of the
British Isles, they came from France
THE CELTS
They brought with them an already sophisticated
culture.
They were organized into tribes.
Women were almost equal to men.
They believed in the immortality of the soul.
Their places of worship included numerous stone
circles erected during the Bronze age .
The most famous surviving circle is Stonehenge
in the south-west of England.
THE ROMANS
• The Romans introduced a literate culture into Britain: the
Latin language and civilisation became part of British
society.
• They built roads, fortifications, towns, baths and
amphitheatres where they settled.
• The Celtic population adapted to Roman ways quite
happily, while educated Romans were fascinated by
Celtic religion.
• The Romans built Hadrian’s Wall. It was intented to
keep out raiders from the north. But it also marked the
border between the two later countries, England and
Scotland.
THE ANGLO-SAXONS
• By the end of the 6th century, the Anglo-Saxons had
established seven kingdoms in Britain: Essex, Kent, Sussex,
East Anglia, Northumbria, Mercia and Wessex.
THE VIKINGS
Soon after establishing their kingdoms in England, the AngloSaxons had to defend themselves from a new wave of invasions
from Norway and Denmark: the Vikings.
The Vikings managed to occupy large parts of
Northumbria, Mercia and East Anglia.
As a result of the Viking incursions, the Anglo-Saxons
were forced to regroup their forces in Wessex, under
the leadership of King Alfred the Great (849-99).
Alfred reconquered the lands the Vikings had
occupied and became the first King of England.
King of Wessex from
871 to 899.
The Normans
In 1066, William the Conqueror of Normandy defeated
Harold II, the last Anglo-Saxon King.
William organised his English kingdom according
to the feudal system.
The central idea was that all land was owned by
the king but it was held by others,called ‘vassals’,
in return for services and goods.
FEUDALISM
King
Grants land to
Provide money and
knights
Barons
Grant land to
Provide protection
and military service
Knights
Grant land to
Provide food and services
when demanded
Villeins