Special project
History of London
Old Stone Age
The first men and women came to Britain over two and a half million years ago. It was normal for them to move from place to place so they could find new resources.
These people left no literature, but they did leave many burial chambers, monuments and artifacts. Stone circles, Neolithic tombs and tools have been found all over the British Isles from the tip of Cornwall in the south to the very north of Scotland.
Britain used to be joined to the European land mass by a land bridge. It is believed that Stone Age man migrated to Britain across the land bridge. Britain became an island separate from the rest of Europe about 8,500 years ago, when melting ice formed the English Channel.
These people left no literature, but they did leave many burial chambers, monuments and artifacts. Stone circles, Neolithic tombs and tools have been found all over the British Isles from the tip of Cornwall in the south to the very north of Scotland.
Britain used to be joined to the European land mass by a land bridge. It is believed that Stone Age man migrated to Britain across the land bridge. Britain became an island separate from the rest of Europe about 8,500 years ago, when melting ice formed the English Channel.
700,000 BC
People migrate to 'Britain' from Europe.
Britain is joined to Europe (no sea in between)
Mammoth, rhino and giant beavers live in 'Britain'
Date of earliest human tools found on Suffolk coast.
Britain is joined to Europe (no sea in between)
Mammoth, rhino and giant beavers live in 'Britain'
Date of earliest human tools found on Suffolk coast.
130,000 BC
Neanderthal Britain
The dominate human species is Neanderthal.
The dominate human species is Neanderthal.
25,000 BC
Ice Age
Northern Europe and most of modern Britain is plunged into a deep Ice Age
Northern Europe and most of modern Britain is plunged into a deep Ice Age
6,000 BC
Britain becomes an Island.
The land bridge joining Britain to Europe flooded as the sea level rose
The land bridge joining Britain to Europe flooded as the sea level rose
3,000 BC
New Stone Age begins: farming people arrive from Europe.
First stone circles erected.
First stone circles erected.
2,100 BC
Bronze Age begins
First metal workers
People learn to make bronze weapons and tools.
Introduction of cremation of the dead and burials in round barrows.
Beaker culture - their name is thought to originate from the distinctive beakers that accompanied their burials. They were farmers and archers. They lived in round huts (similar to the Celts) with a low stone wall for a base. The roof was made of thatch, turf, or hides.
First metal workers
People learn to make bronze weapons and tools.
Introduction of cremation of the dead and burials in round barrows.
Beaker culture - their name is thought to originate from the distinctive beakers that accompanied their burials. They were farmers and archers. They lived in round huts (similar to the Celts) with a low stone wall for a base. The roof was made of thatch, turf, or hides.
2,000 BC
Stonehenge completed
750 BC
Iron Age began
Iron replaces bronze as most useful metal.
Population about 150,000.
Iron replaces bronze as most useful metal.
Population about 150,000.
500 BC
The Celtic people arrive from Central Europe.
The Celts were farmers and lived in small village groups in the centre of their arable fields. They were also warlike people. The Celts fought against the people of Britain and other Celtic tribes.
The Celts were farmers and lived in small village groups in the centre of their arable fields. They were also warlike people. The Celts fought against the people of Britain and other Celtic tribes.
Roman Britain
The Roman Empire made its mark on Britain, and even today, the ruins of Roman buildings, forts, roads, and baths can be found all over Britain.
Britain was part of the Roman Empire for almost 400 years!
By the time the Roman armies left around 410 AD, they had established medical practice, a language of administration and law and had created great public buildings and roads.
Many English words are derived from the latin language of the Romans.
Britain was part of the Roman Empire for almost 400 years!
By the time the Roman armies left around 410 AD, they had established medical practice, a language of administration and law and had created great public buildings and roads.
Many English words are derived from the latin language of the Romans.
55 BC
Julius Caesar heads first Roman Invasion but later withdraws
43
Romans invade and Britain becomes part of the Roman Empire
50
London founded
70
Romans conquer Wales and the North
122-128
Emperor Hadrian builds a wall on the Scottish Border
140
Romans conquer Scotland
140
Romans conquer Scotland
350
The Picts and Scots attack the border
401 - 410
The Romans withdraw from Britain: Anglo Saxons migrants begin to Settle
Saxon
The Roman army left Britain about AD 410. When they had gone there was no strong army to defend Britain, and tribes called the Angle, Saxon, and Jute (the Anglo-Saxons) invaded. They left their homelands in northern Germany, Denmark and northern Holland and rowed across the North Sea in wooden boats.
The Anglo-Saxons ruled most of Britain but never conquered Cornwall in the south-west, Wales in the west, or Scotland in the north.
The Anglo-Saxons divided England into several kingdoms.
The Anglo-Saxons ruled most of Britain but never conquered Cornwall in the south-west, Wales in the west, or Scotland in the north.
The Anglo-Saxons divided England into several kingdoms.
450
First invasions of the Jutes from Jutland, Angles from South of Denmark and Saxons from Germany.
Britain is divided up into the Seven Kingdoms of Northumbria, Mercia, Anglia, Wessex, Essex, Sussex and Kent.
Britain is divided up into the Seven Kingdoms of Northumbria, Mercia, Anglia, Wessex, Essex, Sussex and Kent.
450
Saxons Hengist and Horsa settle in Kent.
516
The Battle of Mount Badon: Britons under an unknown leader defeat the Angles and Saxons
597
King Æthelberht became the first Anglo-Saxon king to turn his back on paganism and become Christian.
600
Æthelberht is now one of the most powerful kings in England
617
Northumbria becomes the Supreme Kingdom
