Medieval History Timeline

Early Inhabitants of Britain

• The Beaker people arrived in southeast Britain from Europe around 2400 BC, bringing metalworking skills and becoming leaders of British society.
• They were physically distinct from the Neolithic people, being round-headed, strongly built, and taller.
• Their arrival is marked by individual graves with pottery beakers, hence their name.

The Celts

• The Celts arrived in Britain around 700 BC from eastern Europe (Russia, Ukraine, etc.).
• They were small, dark, and long-headed people, likely the forefathers of the dark-haired inhabitants of Wales and Cornwall today.
• They settled in the western parts of Britain and Ireland.

Henges

• After 3000 BC, people started building henges, circles of earth banks and ditches, with wooden buildings and stone circles.
• Henges were centers of religious, economic, and political power, with the most famous one being Stonehenge.

Migration Patterns in Great Britain

• 3000 BCE: Neolithic people arrived from Africa/Middle East.
• 700 BCE: Celts arrived from eastern Europe.
• 43 CE: Romans arrived from Italy.
• 400 CE: Anglosaxons arrived from Northern Denmark, Southern Denmark, and Germany.
• 800 CE: Vikings arrived from Norway and Sweden.
• 1066 CE: Normans arrived from France.

The Celts

• The Celts were a bronze-age culture, with early priests called Druids.
• They were subjugated by the Romans and later introduced to Christianity by the Church.

Roman Britain Heritage

• The Romans left behind roads, villas, towns, administrative systems, comfortable homes, farming, central heating, and baths.
• They introduced Christianity to the ordinary people.

Anglosaxons

• They drove the native population to the furthest edges of the land.
• They established the Witan, divided the country into shires, and introduced the days of the week named after their gods.
• King Alfred held out against them, and they eventually established the Danelaw.

Vikings

• They came from Norway and Sweden, and found York and Dublin.
• They defeated Harold at the Battle of Hastings in 1066.
• They were descendants of the Norsemen.

Normans

• They came from Normandy and were disliked by the Godwinsons.
• William I (the Conqueror) was crowned on Christmas Day 1066.
• They had a shared cultural identity with the Anglosaxons.

Beowulf

• Beowulf is a poem that combines Anglosaxon and Viking cultures.
• It suggests a coherent, shared cultural identity for peoples with very different cultural backgrounds and political interests.

The Beaker People (Bronze Age)

• Arrived in southeast Britain from Europe around 2400 BC
• Physically distinct from the Neolithic people: round-headed, strongly built, and taller
• Their arrival marked by individual graves with pottery beakers, hence their name
• Became leaders of British society, introducing metalworking skills

The Celts (Iron Age)

• Arrived around 700 BC
• Physically distinct: small, dark, and long-headed
• Most likely the forefathers of the dark-haired inhabitants of Wales and Cornwall today
• Settled in western parts of Britain and Ireland

Henges

• Built after 3000 BC in Britain
• Circles of earth banks and ditches with wooden buildings and stone circles
• Centers of religious, economic, and political power
• Famous example: Stonehenge

Timeline of Migration Patterns in Great Britain

• 3000 bCE: Neolithicum from Africa/Middle East
• 700 bCE: Celts from Eastern Europe
• 43 CE: Romans from Italy
• 400 CE: Anglosaxons from Denmark and Germany
• 800 CE: Vikings from Norway and Sweden
• 1066 CE: Normans from France

The Celts

• Ancestor of many people from Scotland, Wales, and Ireland
• Bronze-age culture
• Early priests were called Druids
• Subjugated by the Romans
• Church brought Christianity to the ordinary people

Roman Britain Heritage

• Roads, villas, towns, administrative system, farming, baths, and comfortable homes
• Established the Witan, divided the country into shires, and preached Christianity

The Anglo-Saxons

• Fought the population, drove them to the edges of the land, and destroyed many monasteries
• King Alfred held out against them
• Area they ruled was known as Danelaw
• Were a nuisance to King Ethelred
• King Canute belonged to this group
• Founded York and Dublin
• Defeated Harold at the Battle of Hastings in 1066

The Normans

• Came from Normandy, France
• Were disliked by the Godwinsons
• William I (the Conqueror) crowned on Christmas Day 1066
• Were descended from the Vikings (Norsemen)

Beowulf

• A poem combining Anglosaxon and Viking cultures
• Suggests a coherent, shared cultural identity for peoples with very different cultural backgrounds and political interests

Synod of Whitby in 663

• King of Northumbria decided to support the Roman Church
• Roman Church extended influence over the Celtic Church
• By 660, nearly all of Britain was Christianized, except for Sussex and the Isle of Wight

The Beaker People (Bronze Age)

• Arrived in southeast Britain from Europe around 2400 BC
• Physically distinct from the Neolithic people: round-headed, strongly built, and taller
• Their arrival marked by individual graves with pottery beakers, hence their name
• Became leaders of British society, introducing metalworking skills

The Celts (Iron Age)

• Arrived around 700 BC
• Physically distinct: small, dark, and long-headed
• Most likely the forefathers of the dark-haired inhabitants of Wales and Cornwall today
• Settled in western parts of Britain and Ireland

Henges

• Built after 3000 BC in Britain
• Circles of earth banks and ditches with wooden buildings and stone circles
• Centers of religious, economic, and political power
• Famous example: Stonehenge

Timeline of Migration Patterns in Great Britain

• 3000 bCE: Neolithicum from Africa/Middle East
• 700 bCE: Celts from Eastern Europe
• 43 CE: Romans from Italy
• 400 CE: Anglosaxons from Denmark and Germany
• 800 CE: Vikings from Norway and Sweden
• 1066 CE: Normans from France

The Celts

• Ancestor of many people from Scotland, Wales, and Ireland
• Bronze-age culture
• Early priests were called Druids
• Subjugated by the Romans
• Church brought Christianity to the ordinary people

Roman Britain Heritage

• Roads, villas, towns, administrative system, farming, baths, and comfortable homes
• Established the Witan, divided the country into shires, and preached Christianity

The Anglo-Saxons

• Fought the population, drove them to the edges of the land, and destroyed many monasteries
• King Alfred held out against them
• Area they ruled was known as Danelaw
• Were a nuisance to King Ethelred
• King Canute belonged to this group
• Founded York and Dublin
• Defeated Harold at the Battle of Hastings in 1066

The Normans

• Came from Normandy, France
• Were disliked by the Godwinsons
• William I (the Conqueror) crowned on Christmas Day 1066
• Were descended from the Vikings (Norsemen)

Beowulf

• A poem combining Anglosaxon and Viking cultures
• Suggests a coherent, shared cultural identity for peoples with very different cultural backgrounds and political interests

Synod of Whitby in 663

• King of Northumbria decided to support the Roman Church
• Roman Church extended influence over the Celtic Church
• By 660, nearly all of Britain was Christianized, except for Sussex and the Isle of Wight

Migration Patterns in Great Britain

• Around 3000 BCE, people from Africa and the Middle East arrived in Britain, marking the Neolithic period.
• Around 2400 BCE, the Beaker people from Europe arrived in southeast Britain, bringing new metalworking skills and becoming leaders in British society.
• Around 700 BCE, the Celts arrived from Eastern Europe, settling in the western parts of Britain and Ireland.
• In 43 CE, the Romans arrived from Italy, and later, around 400 CE, the Anglosaxons arrived from Denmark and Germany.
• Around 800 CE, the Vikings arrived from Norway and Sweden, and in 1066 CE, the Normans arrived from France.

The Beaker People

• They were round-headed, strongly built, and taller than the Neolithic people.
• Their arrival in Britain marked the start of individual graves with pottery beakers, hence their name.
• They became leaders in British society, bringing new metalworking skills.

The Celts

• They arrived around 700 BCE from Eastern Europe.
• They were short, dark, and long-headed.
• They settled in the western parts of Britain and Ireland.
• They are the forefathers of the dark-haired inhabitants of Wales and Cornwall today.

Henges

• After 3000 BCE, people started building henges, circles of earth banks and ditches with wooden buildings and stone circles.
• Henges were centers of religious, economic, and political power.
• The most famous henge is Stonehenge.

Roman Britain Heritage

• The Romans left roads, villas, towns, and an administrative system.
• They brought comfortable homes, farming, central heating, and baths.
• They named the days of the week after their gods.
• They established the Witan and divided the country into shires.

The Vikings

• They came from Norway and Sweden, invading Britain around the end of the 8th century.
• They were known as "pirates" or people of the sea inlets.

The Normans

• They came from Normandy in France and defeated King Harold at the Battle of Hastings in 1066.
• They were descended from the Vikings (Norsemen).
• William I, also known as William the Conqueror, was crowned on Christmas Day in 1066.

Beowulf

• It is a poem that combines Anglosaxon and Viking cultures.
• It suggests a coherent, shared cultural identity for peoples with very different cultural backgrounds and political interests.

The Synod of Whitby

• In 663 CE, the King of Northumbria decided to support the Roman Church at the Synod of Whitby.
• The Roman Church extended its influence over the Celtic Church.
• By 660 CE, nearly all of Britain was Christianized, except for Sussex and the Isle of Wight.