3.Examine the main stages in the formation of the population of gb (Ancient Britain, Celts, Romans, Anglo-Saxons)

In prehistoric times Britain was joined to the rest of Europe. The first people, came there over dry land. Towards the end of the Ice Age the low-lying land areas became covered with water, and thus the present English Channel was formed. The hunters of the New Stone Age crossed the sea to Britain to the west of tie Channel and settled along the Western shores in their search of food. First inhabitants of the island for whom a traditional name exists are the Iberian (ай’бириэн) or Megalithic people, who lived mainly in the western part of the country. They are thought to have come from the region of the Mediterranean (медит’рэйниэн) Sea (the Iberian peninsula where Spain is located) somewhere after 3000 B.C.. Soon after 2000 B.C. another people entered the country from the east of Europe. The two peoples intermixed.

The Celts arrived from Central Europe after 800 B.C. The name "Britain" comes from the name of a Celtic tribe known as the Britons who settled in the country. The Celts spoke the Celtic language. The influence of the Celts was greatest in Wales, Scotland and Ireland. They were driven to these parts by the invaders who followed them. Due to this, these parts of Britain are very different from England in language, custom, traditions.

Welsh is one of the Celtic languages, like Scottish and Irish Gaelic. Scottish Gaelic and Irish Gaelic are still spoken in Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Caesar (‘сизэ), the Roman ruler, first invaded Britain in 35 B.C., because Caesar knew that Britain produced corn (зерно) which the Romans needed. Tin (олово), widely used in Rome, was exported from Cornwall. And the Romans needed a fresh supply of slaves. Moreover, the Celts in Britain helped their kinsmen (‘кинзмен, родственник) in Gaul (гол) in their struggle against the Romans who wanted to conquer them. However, Caesar's first expedition was not successful, because his force was small, and the Celts fought well. So in the following year, that is in 54 B.C., he invaded the country with a larger army of 25,000 men. This time the expedition was successful, and the Celts were defeated. But Caesar did not stay in Britain. He left the country with many slaves and other riches, and he received a promise from the Celts that they would pay a regular tribute to Rome.

Some 90 years later, that is in A.D. 43 the country was conquered by the Romans. This occupation of Britain continued to the beginning of the fifth century. In the south and south-eastern parts Roman influence was greatest, while in the north and west the country remained much untouched.

Many towns were built by the Romans which were connected by good roads. Some of these roads still exist to this very day. For example, Watling Street from London to Chester, or Icknield [ˈɪkniːld] Way connecting London with Cirencester [ˈsʌɪrənˌsɛstə]. Most British towns with names ending with "chester" were, in Roman times, fortified camps. The largest of the towns was called Londinium. It began life as a Roman fort at a place where it was possible to cross the river Thames. However, when the Romans left the country at the beginning of the 5th century, Britain became open to the attacks of newcomers from the continent who destroyed Roman civilization and culture.

After the departure of the Romans, the Celts remained independent for some time, but quite soon the country began to be attacked by Germanic tribes from the continent. The Jutes and the Angles came from the Jutland peninsula [pə'nɪn(t)sjələ] (полуостров) (today southern Denmark) and the Saxons from the territory between the Rhine and Elbe rivers (northern Germany). At first they came as mercenaries [ˈməːsɪn(ə)ri](наёмник) hired by Celtic tribal chiefs who fought one against the other, then seeing that the country was weak to defend itself, they came in great numbers conquering it altogether.

The Jutes landed in Kent (the south-east) somewhere in 450. They were followed by the Angles and the Saxons so that by the end of the 5th century the greater part of the country (with the exception of Wales, Cornwall and Scotland) became occupied by the invaders.

The Angles and the Saxons formed the following small kingdoms: Northumbria, Mercia [ˈməːʃɪə], East Anglia, Kent.

The Saxons established the following kingdoms: Wessex, Essex, Sussex.

1)The Anglo-Saxons introduced the first administrative system in England.

The smallest element in this system was a village, which consisted of 20-30 families. The local problems were solved at a special meeting called moot (собрание свободных граждан).

Villages were united into hundreds. The main in a hundred was an olderman (член совета графства). Hundreds were united into shires (шайэ, графство). The main person was a sheriff. Finally, shires were united into one kingdom, the head was a king, but he was often assisted by the counsil of … called … which is considered to be the predi… of parlament.

2)The Anglo-Saxons rejected slavery and introduced a new system of relations between the land-owners and land-users in which the later had to pay for the right to use the land.

3) The most important historical event took place in the year 664 which is the official adoption of christianity in England.

4)There apeared the first written literary works: “The poem of Beowulf”, “King Arthur and the Knights of the Round table”.

5)Linguistic influence of the Anglo-Saxons, who initially were pagan (язычники)is reflected in modern English in the names of the days of week.

Tuesday – god Tue was a god of war.

Wednesday – god Wooden was the a god of kngs.

Thursday – god Thur was a god of storm and thunder.

Friday – godess Frida was a godess of love and beauty, Wooden’s wife.