Our group has made the project work on the history of London.

We have researched the following questions:

• How did London begin its life?

• What contribution did the Romans make for the development of London?

• Who started the City of Westminster?

• Who built the Tower of London?

• What events struck London in the 17th century? What were their consequences?

• How did London develop in the 18^th century?

• How did London’s streets get their names?

I How did London begin its life? What contribution did the Romans make for the development of London?

This is the map of today’s London. Here we can see the City of London, the City of Westminster, the East End, the West End and the City of Southwark. But Roman London stood only at the territory of today’s City. It was only one square mile and rather dirty. But why was London named so?

At the beginning London was a small Celtic settlement called Lyndyn. After the Roman invasion in 55 B.C., it was called Londinium (from Celtic − wild, bald). The Romans built London on two hills covered with forest. It was a place where it was able to transport goods through the River Thames. Early Roman London occupied a relatively small area, roughly equivalent in size to Hyde Park. However, the city was quickly rebuilt as a planned Roman town. During the 2nd century Londinium was at its height and became the capital of Roman Britain Britannia). Its population was around 60,000 inhabitants. It boasted major public buildings, including the largest basilica north of the Alps, a governor's palace, temples, bath houses, amphitheatre and a large fort for the city garrison. Political instability and recession from the 3rd century onwards, however, led to a slow decline.

By the 5th century the Roman Empire was in rapid decline, and in 410 AD the Roman occupation of Britain came to an end. Following this, the Roman city went into rapid decline and by the end of the century had been practically abandoned.

II. Who started the City of Westminster?

After the Romans had left, seafaring Germanic tribes attacked London. The two powerful tribes, the Angles and Saxons, divided England into separate kingdoms. The Saxons controlled London. The Saxon king Edward the Confessor built a palace and rebuilt a church about two miles southwest of London. It became the start of the City of Westminster. The church became Westminster Abbey. It was founded in1050 on the site of an old church called St. Peter’s. The Abbey was blessed at Christmas in 1065 and Edward died a week later. Edward the Confessor was made a saint after his death and he is buried in a special chapel dedicated to him. Nine English kings and queens are buried in Saint Edward’s Chapel. The Abbey has been a scene of every coronation since William the Conqueror in 1066.

Parts of the abbey are set aside for the memorials and tombs of famous people. In Poet’s corner mane famous British poets, playwrights and novelists are buried and commemorated.

III. Who built the Tower of London?

The Norman invasion of Britain in 1066 is usually considered to be the beginning of the Medieval period. William, Duke of Normandy, killed English king Harold Godwinson in the Battle of Hastings. Although he burnt down Southwark, south of the bridge, he avoided London, instead waiting to the north-west at Berkhamsted until the city officials in London recognized him as King. They quickly did so, and William responded by granting the city a formal charter. Under William the Conqueror several royal forts were constructed along the riverfront of London (the Tower of London, Baynard's Castle and Montfichet's Castle) to defend against seaborne attacks by Vikings and prevent rebellions. He ordered the building of the great stone tower, later called the White Tower. The Tower of London long continued to be both a fortress and a palace. It was also a prison. At first prisoners were often foreign princes and nobles, who had been captured in war. But later on, in Tudor times, the Tower became the place where famous and infamous people were sent. Among the great men beheaded in the Tower were Sir Thomas More – the author of the famous Utopia, Sir Walter Raleigh – an explorer and historian, and others. After the Stuart few prisoners were brought to the Tower. Instead more and more visitors came to see the ancient armour and weapons and the Crown Jewels. The Crown Jewels are kept in the Jewels House at the Tower. The collection includes Saint Edward’s Crown, used for the coronation ceremony, the Imperial Sate Crown, containing the biggest cut diamond in the world, the “Star of Africa”. A group of ravens live at the Tower. There is a legend that the Tower will fall if it loses its ravens. Therefore the birds with clipped wings are carefully guarded.