Anglo-Saxon Invasion

5th c. A.D. (430) – the Germanic tribes started to arrive to Britain. The were 3 powerful tribes that came in 3 waves:

1)Jutes(Origin-Nothern Denmark or Scandinavia)-settled Kent, Isle of Wight

2)Saxons( origin-Germany)-settled Sussex, Essex, Wessex

3)Angles(origin- Southern Denmark)- settled East Anglia, Mercia, Northumbria

These Germanic tribes pushed the Celts to Cornwall, Wales, Scotland and Ireland. The 3 tribes were very close in speech, customs and traditions and gradually merged into one nation called the Anglo-Saxons.

4.) Describe Danish raids on England. The Struggle of Alfred the Great and its results
At the beginning of the 9^th cent. Wessex became the most powerful kingdom in England. However, it began to face a most dangerous enemy. They were the Danes and Northmen frequently called as the Vikings. These 2 Scandinavian people were closely related with one another, but in the main the Danes were invaders of England.

The Vikings came in their large open rowboats from the Scandinavian coasts and from Jutland (Denmark) to the British Isles as pirates, bent on plunder, but later they came in larger numbers, conquering one territory after another. The Vikings were great seamen known widely around the world. They ploughed the seas and oceans on their long-ships with their great square sail.

By the 60s of the 9^th cent. they began to attack east England conquering one territory after another. The kingdom of Wessex alone was left to resist them. Fortunately, there appeared a Saxon king to resist them. This was Alfred born 849.

At first fortune was not on his side, but eventually he gathered his men and defeated the Danes. As a result England was divided into 2 parts by a line drawn from London to Chester: the Dane-law and Saxon England.

Much effort was undertaken to fortify English towns and villages. He built many ships to keep off the Danes from English shores. He is considered to be the founder of the English fleet.

5.) Outline the Norman Conquest and the establishment of feudalism in England and further consolidation of the English state. The main dates in the formation of the U.K
The Norman conquest of England began in 1066 with the 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.

The Norman Conquest was a pivotal event in English history for several reasons. It largely removed the native ruling class, replacing it with a foreign, French-speaking monarchy, aristocracy, and clerical hierarchy. This, in turn, brought about a transformation of the English language and the culture of England.

By subjecting the country to rulers originating in France it linked England more closely with continental Europe, while lessening Scandinavian influence, and set the stage for a rivalry with France that would continue intermittently for many centuries.

The Norman Conquest is associated with the establishment of feudalism. The system of serfdom was imposed.

The king owned all or most of the land and gave it to his leading nobles in return for their loyalty and military service. The nobles in turn held land that peasants, including serfs, were allowed to farm in return for the peasants' labor and a portion of their produce. Under feudalism, people were born with a permanent position in society.

The written record of a census and survey of English landowners and their property made by order of William the Conqueror in 1085-1086 is known as the Domesday Book. According this register > 2 mln people lived in England. 90 % of the populations were serfs.

Unique features of feudalism:

- The system reached a higher regularity than elsewhere;

- The king’s power was greater than barons;

- The power of the state was built around the king’s power and the big lords had to accept it whether they liked it or not.

1066 - Death of Edward the Confessor in January, Harold II accedes to the English throne. Norman invasion and conquest of England, Harold II is killed and William the Conqueror becomes King of England.

1071 - Norman conquest of England complete

1096 - First crusade begins

1266 - Western Isles acquired by Scotland

1468 - Orkney and Shetland Islands acquired from Norway by Scotland

1536 – Henry VIII brought Wales under the English parliament through special Acts of Union.

16th century, legislation had united England and Wales.

1603 - the crowns of England and Scotland had been united

The 1707 Acts of Union were passed by the Parliaments of England and Scotland, forming the United Kingdom of Great Britain.

1800 - Great Britain was united with Ireland through another Act of Union to become the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland

6.) Describe GB as a constitutional monarchy and its role and social influence

The U.K. is a constitutional monarchy. In reality the monarch reigns but does not rule. As a constitutional monarch Queen Elizabeth the Second acts on advice of Her Prime Minister and does not make any major political decisions. The U.K. is actually governed by Her Majesty’s Government in the name of the Queen.

The Queen is the symbol of the national unity and stability. She personifies the state and has a lot of titles. She is: the Head of the Executive; a part of the Legislature; the Head of the Judiciary; the Commander-in-Chief of all armed forces of the U.K.; the Head of the Anglican Church; the Head of the Commonwealth.

Although the Queen is deprived of actual power, she has retained many important, though formal, functions. She: summons and dissolves Parliament; gives Her Royal Assent to bills passed by both Houses of Parliament; appoints the Prime Minister (usually the leader of the political party that has the majority in the House of Commons, i.e. the leader of the party that came first at General Elections), other ministers (on Prime Minister’s advice), judges, officials in the armed forces, governors, diplomatic representatives and bishops; confers peerages, knighthoods and other honours; gives audience to Her Ministers; receives accounts of the Cabinet decisions and is informed and consulted on every aspect of national life; has the power the declare war, make peace, recognise foreign states and governments, conclude treaties, etc.

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