10. The Anglo-Saxon

The Anglo-Saxon period lasted from 410 to 1066, and in that time Britain's political landscape had many changes.

The early settlers kept to small tribal groups, forming kingdoms and sub-kingdoms. By the 9th century, the country was divided into four kingdoms - Northumbria, Mercia, East Anglia and Wessex.

The Anglo-Saxon settlers were their own masters in a new land and they did little to keep the legacy of the Romans alive. They replaced the Roman stone buildings with their own wooden ones, and spoke their own language, which gave rise to the English spoken today. The Anglo-Saxons also brought their own religious beliefs, but the arrival of Saint Augustine in 597 converted most of the country to Christianity.

Anglo-Saxon rule came to an end in 1066, soon after the death of Edward the Confessor, who had no heir. He is thought to want William of Normandy become the king, but also Harold Godwinson.

Harold was crowned king immediately after Edward died, but William and an invading army crossed the Channel from France to claim the crown for himself. Harold was defeated by the Normans at the Battle of Hastings in October 1066, and thus a new era began.

11. Invasions of the Vikings.

A Vikings is one of the North explorers, warriors, merchants, and pirates who raided and colonized wide areas of Europe from the late 8^th to early 11^th centuries. Vikings used their longships travel as far east as Constantinople and the Volga river in Russia and as far west as Iceland, Greenland and Newfoundland.

This period of Vikings expansion is known as the Viking age, and forms a major part of the medieval history of Scandinavia, Britain, Ireland and the rest of Europe in general.

12. Alfred the Great (849 – 899) ruled from 871.

Was one of the best kings ever to rule mankind. He defended Anglo-Saxon England from Viking raids. In 871 AD, Alfred defeated the Danes at the Battle of Ashdown. He established a code of laws and a reformed coinage. He reorganised his army and built a series of well-defended settlements across southern England. He is the only English monarch known as 'the Great'.

13.Edward the Confessor (1009-1066). Was one of the last Anglo-Saxon kings of the House of Wessex, ruling from 1042 to 1066. His reign continued the disintegration of royal power in England and advanced in power of earls. It foreshadowed the country’s domination by the Normans, whose Duke William of Normandy was to defeat Edward’s successor Harold II and take the crown.

The battle of Hastings (14 October 1066) was the Norman victory in the Norman Conquest of England. It was fought between the Norman army of Duke William of Normandy and English army led by Harold II.

14. The Norman Conquest. William I the Duke of Normandy (1028 - 1087)

The Norman Conquest in England began in 1066 with invasion of the Kingdom of England by the troops of William (Duke of Normandy) and his victory at the battle of Hastings. This resulted in Norman control of England, which was firmly established during the next few years.

In 1086, William accepted the document that known as the Domesday Book and remains one of the oldest valid legal documents in Britain.

He spent the last months of his reign fighting Philip I, King of France. He died on 9 September 1087 from injuries received when he fell from his horse at the Siege of Mantes.