Revision Notes: Early Britain

History of the UK before the Romans

Stone Age: The first inhabitants were hunter-gatherers who followed herds of deer and horses 🔗
Land Bridge: Britain was connected to the continent until about 10,000 years ago 🔗
First Farmers: Arrived about 6,000 years ago, likely from south-east Europe 🔗
Stonehenge: A monument built during the Stone Age, probably for seasonal ceremonies 🔗
Bronze Age: Began around 4,000 years ago, characterized by metalworking and round barrows 🔗
Iron Age: Followed the Bronze Age, with hill forts and the first British coins 🔗

Initial Invasion: Julius Caesar's unsuccessful invasion in 55 BC 🔗
Claudius' Conquest: Successful occupation of most of Britain in AD 43 🔗
Hadrian's Wall: Built to defend against the Picts in Scotland 🔗
Infrastructure: Romans built roads and public buildings 🔗
Legal System: Introduced a structure of law 🔗
Agriculture: Introduced new plants and animals 🔗
Christianity: First Christian communities appeared in the 3rd and 4th centuries AD 🔗

Anglo-Saxons: Jutes, Angles, and Saxons invaded after the Roman departure in AD 410 🔗
Anglo-Saxon Kingdoms: Established by about AD 600, mainly in what is now England 🔗
Vikings: First raided in AD 789, later formed communities in eastern England and Scotland 🔗
Danelaw: Area of Viking settlement in eastern and northern England 🔗
Danish Kings: Brief period of rule, including King Cnut (Canute) 🔗

Battle of Hastings: William of Normandy defeated Harold, the Saxon king of England 🔗
Last Successful Invasion: The Norman Conquest was the last successful foreign invasion of England 🔗
Governmental Changes: Led to significant changes in government structures 🔗
Social Changes: Altered social structures in England 🔗
Linguistic Influence: Norman French influenced the development of the English language 🔗
Domesday Book: Comprehensive survey of England's towns, villages, and resources 🔗

Who were the first people to live in Britain?
a) Romans
b) Anglo-Saxons
c) Hunter-gatherers
d) Normans
What monument, built during the Stone Age, still stands in Wiltshire?
a) Big Ben
b) Stonehenge
c) Hadrian's Wall
d) Tower of London
When did the Bronze Age begin in Britain?
a) About 2,000 years ago
b) About 4,000 years ago
c) About 6,000 years ago
d) About 10,000 years ago
Who led the successful Roman invasion of Britain in AD 43?
a) Julius Caesar
b) Emperor Claudius
c) Boudicca
d) Hadrian
What did the Romans build to defend against the Picts in Scotland?
a) Stonehenge
b) The White Cliffs of Dover
c) Hadrian's Wall
d) The Tower of London
Which groups invaded Britain after the Romans left?
a) Jutes, Angles, and Saxons
b) French, Spanish, and Portuguese
c) Greeks, Persians, and Egyptians
d) Huns, Goths, and Vandals
When did the Vikings first visit Britain?
a) AD 410
b) AD 600
c) AD 789
d) AD 1066
Who defeated Harold, the Saxon king of England, in the Battle of Hastings?
a) Julius Caesar
b) William the Conqueror
c) King Cnut
d) Emperor Claudius
What was the Domesday Book?
a) A religious text
b) A collection of Norman laws
c) A survey of England's towns, villages, and resources
d) A record of the Battle of Hastings
How did the Norman Conquest influence the English language?
a) It introduced Latin as the primary language
b) It had no impact on the language
c) It influenced the development of English through Norman French
d) It replaced English with French entirely

Answers: