Letteratura inglese. Storia della Britannia in Inglese

[Leon_96]

1.THE ORIGINS

Britain was known in ancient times to merchants from the Mediterranean area for its pearls gold ant tin (STAGNO)
its soil was fertile, climate was mild and was easily accessible from East and South coasts.


2000 a.c (before Christ)
The first known pre-celtic people were known as IBERIANS (from their origin) and during the Bronze Age and the Iron Age had gradually learned to :
use metals, 
build wooden huts (CAPANNE DI LEGNO), 
agriculture,
make routes to trade with distant tribes


800 b.c. first invasion
the GAELS, a Celtic tribe, invaded and settled in the North

500 b.c. second invasion
the BRITONS, the West and South-West



THE ROMAN CONQUEST

55/4 a.c.
Rome attacked the Gauls, the Britons helped them and JULIUS CAESAR successfully invaded Britain in 54 b.c.
He didn’t conquer the country but obtained tributes and slaves.
He deeply influenced Britains as well.

43 a.d.
CLAUDIUS conquered the country up SOUTHERN SCOTLAND and in order to defend Romans from the Scots built the HADRIAN’S WALL in 121 a.d.














3. ANGLO-SAXONS & DANES

410
Romans withdrew their legions to defend Rome from the barbarian attacks
GERMAN invaders began to settle in Britain driving the inhabitants into WELSH and CORNWALL.



What survived to the destroying invasion was:
commercial centre of London
paved roads
Christianity in Wales

WALES remained independent and the Welsh hated the Saxons so much that there were very few contacts between them.
Therefore (perciò) Welsh civilization remained Celtic (folklore and traditions - king Arthur Legend-)


597
CHRISTIANITY returned to Britain when ST. AUGUSTINE was sent (by Pope Gregory the Great) to convert England. after 70 years the Christian Doctrine was established in Southern Britain.
In Wales and in Ireland Christianity was not touched by the Saxon invasion.



England was now divided into 7 kingdoms
NORTHUMBRIA
KENT
ESSEX
SUSSEX
WESSEX
EAST-ANGLIA
MERCIA


797
first invasion
The DANES (Vikings) reached the british coasts from the North.
They didn’t conquer the land, they just came to plunder (SACCHEGGIARE)

855
second invasion
The Danes came with their families and settled in Northumbria, Mercia and East Anglia
Wessex resisted





878
ALFRED THE GREAT , king of Wessex, defended the country in the battle of ETHANDUNE

Wessex was kept safe and Danes settled in the Northern part of the country (called Danelaw) and converted to Christanity.

991
The Wessex reign survived to different invasions until ETHELRED lost his kingdom in the battle of MALDON against the king SWEYN and went to Normandie in exile.
After this 4 Danish kings ruled the country.


1042
After the fourth Danish king died without successor EDWARD the CONFESSOR was called back to Britain by the king’s council (WITAN).
He introduced Norman habits and the French language in the English court.
Died with no son and HAROLD (Wessex Family) was chosen as his successor.

[giada]

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