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6000 BCE
The End of the Last Ice Age
The British Isles used to be connected to the European mainland until the end of the last Ice Age. By about 6000 BC, the ice had melted and the land bridge that connected Britain with Europe was covered in water. This made Britain an island. -
Period: 3000 BCE to 2300 BCE
Stone Age
The island used to be inhabited by Stone Age people who were called the Iberians. They lived in limestone caves and used primitive tools made of stone and bones. -
Period: 2300 BCE to 700 BCE
Bronze Age
During the Bronze Age different people from Central Europe settled in Britton. These people mined tin, gold, copper and bronze. They also built various monuments around the island. -
Period: 700 BCE to 43
Iron Age
Britain during the Iron Age was vastly inhabited by the Celts. -
600 BCE
The Celts
During the fifth century BC people who were called the Celts came to Britain. Not only did they know how to farm and breed animals, but some Celtic tribes (such as the Britons) also traded with the Gauls, learned the art of pottery and knew how to smelt iron. This knowledge gave them a significant advantage when battling with other tribes. The Celts practised a cruel religion and often gave human sacrifices to their gods. -
43
Roman Invasion
The Romans, who were the most powerful and ethnically diverse people on Earth, invaded Britain in two waves 2000 years ago. The invasion's leader was Julius Caesar, who defeated the Celts with his well-organized army, although they did not enslave them. After a short absense due to a rebellion the Romans returned. The Romans brought with them their advanced civilization and Christianity. In 410 AD the Roman forces in Britain were withdrawn back to Rome to protect the city from barbarians. -
Period: 45 to 787
Pre-Modern Era
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400
Anglo-Saxon Dynasty
After the withdrawal of Roman forces from Britain different Germanic tribes who called the Angles, Saxons and the Jutes came to invade it. They came from the shores of the North and Baltic seas. The Britons initially held their lands successfully, but in time Britain became under the rule of the Anglo-Saxons. The Anglo-Saxons were relatively more advanced, artistic and poetic, but were brave and hardy nonetheless. -
787
Viking Attacks
In the year 787 the Vikings began invading Britain from Denmark. The Vikings were fierce pagan warriors who would pillage villages without mercy, managing to conquer almost every Anglo-Saxon kingdom, except Wessex, which's king, Alfred the Great, held them off. After this, the Vikings held a lengthy war with the Saxons for control over Britain until the Vikings were finally defeated and the Anglo-Saxon dynasty was restored. -
Period: 787 to 1500
Middle Ages
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1066
Norman Conquest
After the arrival of a new millennium William the Conqueror defeated the Saxon King Harold he became the king of England. The Norman social classes were vastly different from each other. The feudals lived in luxury although the poor barely ate meat. The people of England spoke three languages during the Medieval times. Latin was spoken by the clergy and scholars, Norman-French was spoken by the king and the aristocracy and Anglo-Saxon German was spoken by common people.
