Lecture Notes: History of England

Early Inhabitants and Prehistoric England

• 800,000 years ago: The area now known as England was first inhabited, as evidenced by stone tools and footprints found in Happisburgh, Norfolk.
• Earliest Modern Humans: Jawbone from Kents Cavern dated to 41,000-44,000 years ago.
• 13,000 years ago: Continuous human habitation began after the Last Glacial Period.
• Mesolithic, Neolithic, and Bronze Age: Notable structures include Stonehenge and Avebury.
• Iron Age: Inhabited by Celtic Britons and some Belgic tribes. Roman conquest began in AD 43.

Roman and Post-Roman Periods

• Roman Rule: Romans occupied Britain until the early 5th century.
• Anglo-Saxon Settlement: Germanic tribes settled, forming several kingdoms and displacing Brittonic language with Old English.
• Viking Raids: Began around AD 800, leading to the establishment of Norse settlements.

Formation of the Kingdom of England and Norman Conquest

• 10th Century: Efforts to unite Anglo-Saxon kingdoms led to the emergence of the Kingdom of England.
• 1066: Norman conquest by William the Conqueror established the Norman dynasty.

Plantagenet Era and Magna Carta

• Plantagenet Dynasty: Significant events include the signing of the Magna Carta and the establishment of Parliament.
• Hundred Years' War: Series of conflicts over claims to the French throne.
• Wars of the Roses: Civil wars between the House of York and the House of Lancaster.

Tudor and Stuart Periods

• Tudors: Saw the consolidation of power and the English Reformation.
• Henry VIII: Notable for the English Reformation, breaking from the Catholic Church.
• Elizabeth I: Defeated the Spanish Armada, strengthening England's naval power.

English Civil War and Glorious Revolution

• Civil War: Conflict between Royalists and Parliamentarians resulted in the temporary establishment of a Commonwealth.
• 1660 Restoration: Monarchy restored under Charles II.
• Glorious Revolution (1688): William of Orange took the throne, leading to the English Bill of Rights.

Union with Scotland and the Industrial Revolution

• 1707 Act of Union: England and Scotland united to form Great Britain.
• Industrial Revolution: Shift from agrarian to industrial society, introducing social changes and urbanization.

Modern England

• 20th Century: Included World Wars and decolonization.
• 21st Century: Continued political developments, including debates on regional governance and England's role in the UK and EU.

Key Themes

• Cultural and Political Transformation: From early tribal societies to modern England.
• Influence of External Powers: From Roman rule to the Norman Conquest, and later European political alliances.
• Economic Shifts: Impact of the Industrial Revolution and transitions in economic power.

Additional Considerations

• The role of religion, the monarchy, and law in shaping England’s historical trajectory.
• The evolution of England’s parliamentary system and its influence on modern democracy.