Early Britain to the Norman Conquest
The first people to live in Britain were hunter-gatherers in the Stone Age. Britain was connected to the continent by land until about 10,000 years ago.
The first farmers arrived about 6,000 years ago. They built houses, tombs and monuments such as Stonehenge in Wiltshire. Skara Brae on Orkney is the best-preserved prehistoric village in northern Europe.
Around 4,000 years ago people learned to make bronze (the Bronze Age). They buried their dead in round barrows. In the Iron Age people built hill forts, such as Maiden Castle in Dorset. They spoke Celtic languages and made the first coins minted in Britain.
Julius Caesar led a Roman invasion in 55 BC that failed. Emperor Claudius invaded successfully in AD 43. Boudicca, queen of the Iceni in eastern England, fought against the Romans. The Romans built Hadrian’s Wall to keep out the Picts and stayed for about 400 years, leaving in AD 410.
Anglo-Saxon tribes (Jutes, Angles and Saxons) then invaded. Christian missionaries spread Christianity: St Patrick in Ireland, St Columba on Iona, and St Augustine, who became the first Archbishop of Canterbury.
Vikings from Denmark and Norway first raided in AD 789. Alfred the Great united Anglo-Saxon kingdoms and defeated them. In the north, Kenneth MacAlpin united the Picts and Scots into the kingdom of Alba.
In 1066 William, Duke of Normandy, defeated King Harold at the Battle of Hastings. This is the last successful foreign invasion of England. The battle is shown on the Bayeux Tapestry. William ordered the Domesday Book, a record of towns, villages, land and animals.
Key facts
- Stonehenge — Wiltshire. Skara Brae — Orkney.
- Maiden Castle — an Iron Age hill fort in Dorset.
- AD 43 — Roman invasion under Emperor Claudius. AD 410 — Romans leave.
- Hadrian’s Wall was built to keep out the Picts (ancestors of the Scottish people).
- Sutton Hoo in Suffolk is the burial site of an Anglo-Saxon king.
- 1066 — Battle of Hastings; Norman Conquest; Bayeux Tapestry; Domesday Book.
Important dates
| 55 BC | Julius Caesar’s unsuccessful invasion |
| AD 43 | Roman invasion under Emperor Claudius |
| AD 410 | Romans leave Britain |
| AD 789 | Vikings first visit Britain to raid |
| 1066 | Battle of Hastings — Norman Conquest |
Important people
- Boudicca: Queen of the Iceni who fought the Romans; statue on Westminster Bridge.
- Alfred the Great: Anglo-Saxon king who united kingdoms and defeated the Vikings.
- Kenneth MacAlpin: United the Picts and Scots into the kingdom of Alba.
- William the Conqueror: Duke of Normandy, won the Battle of Hastings in 1066.
Memory tips
- Romans: “43 in, 410 out”.
- 1066 is the most famous date in English history — “ten sixty-six, William’s tricks”.
Practice questions
1. Where is Stonehenge?
- Dorset
- Wiltshire
- Orkney
- Suffolk
Show answer
Stonehenge is in Wiltshire. It was probably a special gathering place for seasonal ceremonies.
2. Who was Boudicca?
- A Roman empress
- The queen of the Iceni who fought the Romans
- A Viking leader
- The first Archbishop of Canterbury
Show answer
Boudicca was queen of the Iceni in what is now eastern England. Her statue is on Westminster Bridge.
3. In which battle was King Harold defeated by William, Duke of Normandy, in 1066?
- Battle of Bosworth Field
- Battle of Hastings
- Battle of Bannockburn
- Battle of Agincourt
Show answer
William defeated Harold at the Battle of Hastings in 1066. This was the last successful foreign invasion of England.
4. In which year did the Romans, led by Emperor Claudius, successfully invade Britain?
- 55 BC
- AD 43
- AD 410
- AD 789
Show answer
Julius Caesar’s invasion in 55 BC failed. Emperor Claudius led a successful invasion in AD 43.
5. When did the Romans leave Britain?
- AD 43
- AD 122
- AD 410
- AD 1066
Show answer
The Romans left Britain in AD 410, after about 400 years, to defend other parts of their empire.
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