I would like to talk about the anglosaxon epic poem Beowulf and the anglo saxon and Roman

period in Britain.
The Anglosaxon period began in 650 and ended in 066 when !illiam the "on#ueror won the
battle of $astings and became king of %ngland.
The first people in %ngland were the pre&celtic people ' the Iberians.
Through modern radio carbon dating techni#ues' scientists ha(e disco(ered that these pre&
celtic people started to build )tonehenge& the most famous prehistoric monument in Britain.
It is a circle of big stones. Its original purpose is still unclear' but people ha(e speculated that it
was a temple made for worship . It has also been called an astronomical obser(ator* for
marking significant e(ents on the ancient prehistoric calendar.
After this pre&celtic ci(ilisation came the celts. The "elts were a group of peoples who had a
similar language' religion' and cultural expression. The small tribes of Br*thonic "elts grew o(er
the *ears into larger tribes with their own distincti(e identities li(ing in their own special
regions throughout Britain. %ach tribe had its own name. The* were warriors' li(ing for the
glor* of battle and plunder. +To take (aluable things from a l place using force'sometimes
causing a lot of damage , The Anglo&)axon era lasted for 600 *ears' until 066. -uring this
time' the "elts were pushed to the margins of Britain' ensla(ed or killed.
In 55 B.". the Roman general .ulius "aesar led his arm* across the sea from /aul to Britain. $e
wanted to make Britain part of Rome0s empire. The British Celts fought bra(el*' and "aesar
soon went back to /aul +modern&da* 1rance,
In 52 B"' .ulius "aesar in(aded Britain again' but re(olt in /aul drew him awa* .
3earl* a hundred *ears later' in A.-. 24' the Romans returned. %mperor "laudius sent an arm*
to in(ade Britain. The arm* had four legions. This time the Romans con#uered the southern half
of Britain' and made it part of the Roman %mpire.
The Roman empire lasted almost 200 *ears during this time the Roman arm* built forts and
settlements across much of Britain. 5robabl* the most famous Roman remain in %ngland is
$adrian0s !all. The %mperor $adrian came to the imperial throne in 6 A.-. $e decided that
the %mpire needed protection and in 77 he ga(e the order to build a wall across the northern
frontier. $adrian0s !all was built so well' that *ou can still go and see parts of it toda*' nearl*
7000 *ears after it was made.
The Romans founded the first towns with large public buildings' temples' bath houses and the
beginnings of local go(ernment. 8ondon +The Romans called it 8ondinium ,became the centre
of a ma9or network of roads +built primaril* to ser(e troop mo(ement,which led to the
expansion of trade. 8ondoninum became the most important town' and e(entuall* the capital'
of the new pro(ince of Brittania.
-uring the 2th centur* A-' the Roman %mpire in Britain ended. Roman troops were withdrawn'
exposing Britain to raids from the 3orth' %ast and !est.
At this time' )axons' Angles' .utes and 1risians all settled in Britain.
The term Anglo&saxons refers to the /ermanic tribes who came to dominate %nglish life' as
shown in the name of the countr* & from Angle&land.
t)axons'from /erman*'settle in :ent.
)e(en kingdoms are created across Britainh)e(en kingdoms are created across BritainTin heTo
350 - Anglo&)axons raid %nglish shores and are beaten back b* the Romans
410 Romans 8ea(e %ngland and %ngland shores are unprotected
449 -
550
450
556
597 )t Augustine brings "hristianit* to Britain from Rome and becomes
Archbishop of "anterbur*
617 3orthumbria becomes the )upreme :ingdom
779 ;ercia becomes the )upreme :ingdom and :ing <ffa builds a -*ke along
the !elsh Border
protect ttttttThe
The romans $adrian0s !all was