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The English peoples have a
wonderful heritage and although they may not outwardly show the patriotism of
their American cousins, there is an underlying pride in this little island, of
the monarchy, the beautiful countryside, our historic buildings and national
sports. So what is it that make the English so… English?
It is thought that the first settlers arrived here around 250,000BC. The remains
of a woman were found at Swanscombe in Kent dating from around that time, but
the road that forged England as we see it today has been a turbulent one that
started when the land bridge, which connected England with France and the rest
of Europe, disappeared.
During the Bronze Age, there were already organised societies. Thousands of
people were employed on an amazing feat of engineering to build Stonehenge, on
Salisbury Plain. The stones were first cut in South Wales, carried by river and
sea, and dragged overland to their final resting-place.
The Celts, who were fond of war, arrived in about 600BC and later would trade
with Europeans from Carthage and Greece. They wanted our tin, gold and iron in
exchange for fine cloth and wine. The Celtic women were highly respected and
some became chieftains.
In 55BC, Julius Caesar led the first Roman army of about 10,000 soldiers to see
how strong these Celts, or British, really were, but it wasn’t until 43AD that
the Roman General Aulus Plautius arrived in Kent. He was determined to colonise
Britain and, with the exception of parts of Wales, Scotland and Cornwall had,
within a few years, achieved his goal, but at a heavy price.
In 60AD the Romans were almost driven out of England by the elected Queen of the
Iceni tribe in what is now Norfolk. Boudicca led a revolt against Rome and burnt
down London, Colchester and St. Albans. When finally defeated, she killed
herself.
After 400AD, when these shores were undefended, came the invasion of the
Anglo-Saxons, Jutes and others. The Saxons spoke different languages and it’s
from this mix that the English language evolved. About 400 years later the
Vikings arrived and, almost eighty years later, were defeated at the battle of
Ethandun by Alfred the Great (871-901AD). The country was split between Wessex
and Danelaw, but later Danelaw (part of the Midlands, South and SW England) were
recaptured until the time of Ethelred who wasn’t prepared for further Danish
raids.
Put this together with the Norman Invasion (1066 and all that), the Middle Ages,
the wars of the White Rose of York and the Red Rose of Lancaster, the time of
the Tudors, Cromwell, Victoria and the expansion of an Empire plus two World
Wars and the blitz, this is what makes the English.
Forged in the furnace of time. This is England.
Written by John Tocknell. You can talk to
John on our message boards.
See also a
comic song about the English
articles about England and the English
way of life.
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