- •1. Early Britain. Ancient population.
- •2. The Roman invasion.
- •4. The raids of the Danes and their role in the unification of the country.
- •5. The Norman invasion. The main principles of feudalism.
- •6. Early British education. The first universities. A medieval town.
- •7. England in the 14-15th centuries (the 100 Years’ War, the Peasants’ Revolt, the War of the Roses).
- •8. The policy of the new monarchs: Henry VII, Henry VIII, Elizabeth I.
- •9. Gaining power and expansion during the Tudor period.
- •10. British government and society in the 16th century.
- •11. British economy and the problems of the poor in the 16th century.
- •12. The Crown and Parliament during the Stuart period.
- •13. Republican and restoration Britain.
- •14. The 17th century British society.
- •15. Changes in political life in Britain in the 18th century.
- •16. Life of the British in town and in the country in the 18th century.
- •17. Industrial revolution in Britain and the war with Napoleon.
- •18. Reforms in Britain in the first half of the 19th century.
- •19. Britain’s international and home policy in the first half of the 19th century.
- •20. The years of self-confidence in Britain: industrial power, towns and the rise of the middle class.
- •22. Social and economic changes in Britain between 1876 and 1914.
- •21. The years of self-confidence: population, politics, the British Empire and life in Ireland.
- •23. Britain the World War I.
- •24. The after-effects of World War I for Britain.
- •25. Great Britain in World War II.
- •26. Britain after World War II. The Suez Canal conflict.
- •27. Attitude to the British towards the monarchy in the 20th century and Thatcher’s government.
- •32. Seas and coastline of the uk. Climate.
- •33. Britain in 1957-1979. Harold Macmillan.
- •Harold Wilson and Edward Heath
- •34. Tony Blair. Brown as Prime Minister.
- •Foreign policy. Brown remains committed to the Iraq War, but said in a speech in May 2007 that he would "learn the lessons" from the mistakes made in Iraq.
- •36. Legislative branch of government. Constitution. Passing a bill. Function of the monarch in the Parliament.
- •39. Migration in the uk.
- •37. Elections and parties. Local government. European Union.
- •38. Population of the uk. Population density and distribution.
- •40. Ethnic and geographic identity. Being British. Family and class.
- •41. The place of Britain in the world economy. Chief industries.
- •42. Agriculture. Transport and communication. Overseas trade.
- •43.Compulsory schooling. Educational reforms. Exams.
- •44. Post 16 education. Higher education.
- •45.British culture. Arts.
- •46. British culture. Science and technology. Religion. Religious, political, social and everyday contacts.
- •47. British culture. Sport. Food. National costume. Naming conventions.
- •48.British press.
- •Magazines
- •49. British radio and television. Television
- •50. Places to see in London.
4. The raids of the Danes and their role in the unification of the country.
In the 9’th century the country had to struggle with a new invaders. They were the Danes or Vikings, who attacked England and the Northman from Scandinavia who invaded England and Ireland. They also captured some of Scottish islands. The Danes were of the same Germanic race as the Anglo-Saxons and they came from the same part of the Continent. The Danes still lived in tribes. They were cruel and violent. They robbed and burnt houses, killed defenseless villagers. Most men and women and children were burnt in the flames of fire. They also burnt churches and monasteries. They were still pagans.
In 793 the Danes carried out their first raids on Britain.
The Danish raids were successful because the kingdom of England had neither a regular army, nor a fleet in the North Sea to meet them. Northumbria and East Anglia suffered most from the Danish raids. Soon after, the Danes conquered East Anglia, and then the large organized bands of Danes swept right over to the midlands. At last all England was in their hands. The kingdom of Wessex alone was left to resist them. It was lucky for Wessex to have a very talented king who organized the struggle against the Danes. This was Alfred who ruled from 871 to 901, and who eventually defeated the Danes making them sing a peace agreement.
Alfred managed to raise an army and to stop the offensive of the Danes. He made new rules for the army, in which every free man had to serve and to come provided with proper weapons. During the reign of Alfred the Great the first British Navy was built. Though the country was divided into two parts-one under the Saxons and the other- the North-East-under the Danes, peace was won, and later the English took over the land occupied the Danes.
At the end of the 10’th century the Danish invasions were resumed. The Anglo-Saxon kings gave the money to leave them in peace. The result was that they came again in greater numbers the following year to demand more. In order to make this payment to the Danes in 991 the government imposed a heavy tax called Dane money.
At the beginning of the 11’th century England was conquered by the Danes once more. The Danish king Canute became king of Denmark, Norway and England. He made England the centre of his power. But he was often away from his kingdom, so he divided the country into 4 parts called earldoms.
Supported by the Anglo- Saxon feudal lords Canute ruled in England till he died. After the death of Canute, an Anglo-Saxon king came to throne and the line of Danish kings came to an end. The Danish influence is still felt in some place-names ending in –by, -toft and some others. Alfred was a great ruler and an able warrior. He gathered together the men from different parts of the country. With their help he repaired the walls of many towns on the coast and at the mouths of the rivers. They built the fleet of ships and fortifications. So, he is considered to be the founder of the English fleet.
Alfred founded schools and did much to educate his people. His own translations from Latin are part of the earliest English literature. He is the only monarch in the history of England who was given the title “Alfred the Great”.