HISTORY :THE VIKINGS

About the year 800, bands of fierce raiders began to attack the English coasts. They were the Vikings. They came across the North Sea, just as the Anglo-Saxons had done 400 years earlier.
In time, like the Anglo-Saxons, they made their home here. They drove the Saxons out of part of the country and took it for themselves.
King Alfred, Saxon king of Wessex, fought them in a great battle, but he could not drive them right away and had to let them have part of the country, called Danelaw.

      -Where did the Vikings come from?

The Vikings lived over one thousand years ago and came from the three countries of Scandinavia: Denmark, Norway and Sweden.

  -Who were the Vikings?

Vikings were also known as the Norsemen. They were great travellers and sailed to other parts of Europe, where they traded, raided, and often settled

They were also farmers, fishermen, trappers and traders. Viking craftsmen made beautiful objects out of wood, metal and bone; Viking women were skilful weavers, produced fine, warm textiles.

Norsemen means 'people from the North'

Many Vikings were great travellers and sailed all over Europe and the Atlantic Ocean in their long ships.

 

   -When did they invade Britain?

The Viking Age in Britain began about 1,200 years ago in the 9th Century AD and lasted for 300 years. 

The Vikings first invaded Britain in AD 793 and last invaded in 1066 when William the Conqueror became King of England after the Battle of Hastings.

The first place the Vikings attacked in Britain was the monastery at Lindisfarne, a holy island situated off the Northumberland coast in the north east of England. A few years later the island of Iona (off the west coast of Scotland), came under attack and its monks were slaughtered.

Soon no region of the British Isles (Britain and nearby islands) was safe from the Vikings. They attacked villages and towns in Wales, Scotland, Ireland, the Isle of Man and England.

No matter how many times the Vikings were beaten, they always came back, and in the end all their efforts paid off.

 It was the Vikings (Norse) of Normandy who finally conquered England in 1066 and changed British history for ever.

   -Why did the Vikings invade Britain?

Most Vikings who sailed overseas were simply searching for better land for their farms. Their land was not very good for farming. Norway was very hilly, Sweden was covered in forests, and Denmark had a lot of sandy home land

    -Where did the Vikings settle in Britain?

The area eventually settled by Vikings was called the Danelaw. It formed a boundary separating Anglo-Saxon England from Viking England and was defined in a treaty between the English King Alfred and Viking King Guthrum in AD 880. It lay north of Watling Street, a Roman road running from London north-west to Chester and covered northern and eastern England. It included counties north of an imaginary line running from London to Bedford and then up to Chester.
The Vikings settled in:

• Islands off the coast of Scotland - Shetland, Orkney and The Hebrides
• Around the north and north west coast of Scotland
• Parts of Ireland - Dublin is a Viking city
• The Isle of Man
• Small parts of Wales
• Parts of England known as Danelaw

                                 HOUSES

Most people lived on farms. The Vikings lived in long rectangular houses made with upright timbers (wood), wattle and daub or stone. They were usually one room with a cooking fire in the middle. The smoke escaped through a hole in the roof.

Animals and people lived in the same building. The animals lived in a byre at one end of the house and the people lived at the other.

                

 - CLOTHES

Men wore tunics and trousers and women wore a long dress with a pinafore over it. Their clothes were fastened with belts and brooches. They made their clothes from wool and linen.

QUIZ 

 

Test your knowledge on the Vikings : http://www.factmonster.com/quizzes/viking/1.html

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/primaryhistory/vikings/what_happened_to_the_vikings/ 

The History Channel shows us the Lost World of the Vikings and the advances and technology of the Nordic culture

THE ROMANS

The Romans came to Britain nearly 2000 years ago . 

Even today, evidence of the Romans being here, can be seen in the ruins of Roman buildings, forts, roads, and baths can be found all over Britain.

(See map )   http://www.roman-empire.net/maps/map-empire.html

The Romans invaded other countries too. The Roman Empire covered much of Europe, north Africa, and the Middle East.

When did the Romans invade Britain?
First invasion - Caesar's first raid
 In August 55 B.C. (55 years before Jesus was born) the Roman general, Emperor Julius Caesar invaded Britain. He took with him two Roman legions. After winning several battles against the Celtic tribes (Britons) in south-east England he returned to France.

Second invasion - Caesar's second raid
The following summer (in 54 B.C.) Caesar came to Britain again landing at Walmer near Deal in Kent. This time he brought with him no fewer than five legions (30,000 foot soldiers) and 2,000 cavalrymen (horse riders). This time the Romans crossed the River Thames. After more fighting, the British tribes promised to pay tribute to Rome and were then left in peace for nearly a century.

Third and final invasion
Nearly one hundred years later, in 43 A.D. (43 years after Jesus was born), Emperor Claudius organised the final and successful Roman invasion of Britain. General Aulus Plautius led four legions with 25,000 men, plus an equal number of auxiliary soldiers. They crossed the Channel in three divisions, landing at Richborough, Dover, and Lympne.

Why did the Romans invade Britain?

Why the Romans came to Britain is not quite certain. Two reasons have been suggested:

1. The Romans were cross with Britain for helping the Gauls (now called the French) fight against the Roman general Julius Caesar. 
2.  
3. They came to Britain looking for riches - land, slaves, and most of all, iron, lead, zinc, copper, silver and gold.

How long did the Romans stay in Britain?

The Romans remained in Britain from 43 AD to 410 AD. That is almost four hundred years (four centuries).

Why did the Romans leave Britain?

Their homes in Italy were being attacked by fierce tribes and every soldier was needed.

What did the Romans call London?

The Romans called London 'Londinium'.
The River Thames was quick way to transport goods between Britain and the Continent. The Romans saw this and built the town of Londinium around the river's main crossing point.

Why was the Roman Empire important?

The Romans, even today, play an important part in our lives. Many of the things we do or have originated from the Romans.

                                   

                                                              QUIZ

To revise your lessons: :http://www.brims.co.uk/romans/
Test your knowledge on Romans:do the following quiz :
http://www.brims.co.uk/romans/quiz.html

 

SEQUENCE : HISTORY 1- THE CELTS

Revisions for your test  (Wednesday 21st November):

1 - Dig deep into the lives of the Iron Age Celts through games, stories and activities.:Click on the following link:: http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/celts/

2- How well do you know your lessons?
Do this quiz !!Click on the following link:http://www.caedraw.merthyr.sch.uk/CAEDRA~1/Celts_Quiz.html

Remembrance Day

Remembrance Day in Britain

November is the time of the year when we wear a red poppy in memory of those who sacrificed their lives for us during wars.

The eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month marks the signing of the Armistice, on 11th November 1918, to signal the end of World War One.

At 11 am on 11 November 1918 the guns of the Western Front fell silent after more than four years continuous warfare.

What is Remembrance Day?

Remembrance Day is on 11 November. It is a special day set aside to remember all those men and women who were killed during the two World Wars and other conflicts. At one time the day was known as Armistice Day and was renamed Remembrance Day after the Second World War.

Remembrance Sunday is held on the second Sunday in November, which is usually the Sunday nearest to 11 November. Special services are held at war memorials and churches all over Britain.

This year it is on 11 November!

A national ceremony takes place at the Cenotaph in Whitehall, London. The Queen lays the first wreath at the Cenotaph.





The Cenotaph in White Hall

Wreaths (= couronnes) are layed beside war memorials by companies, clubs and societies. People also leave small wooden crosses by the memorials in remembrance of a family member who died in war.

Poppy Day

Remembrance Day is also known as Poppy Day, because it is traditional to wear an artificial poppy. They are sold by the Royal British Legion, a charity dedicated to helping war veterans.

Two minute silence

At 11am on each Remembrance Sunday a two minute silence is observed at war memorials and other public spaces across the UK.

Remembrance Day quiz

How much do you know about the origins of Remembrance Day? 15 Questions.

Play quiz!       http://www.triviala.com/quizzes/play/id/3122

BRITISH FESTIVITY : GUY FAWKES NIGHT

           

             Guy Fawkes Night (Bonfire Night)

 Thanks to Elisa and Léa for their presentation on Guy Fawkes !!
 

 

On 5 November 1605, the infamous Gunpowder Plot took place in which some Catholics plotted to blow up the English Parliament and King James l, on the day set for the king to open Parliament. The men were angry because the king had treated them badly and they didn't like it.

The story is remembered each 5th November when 'Guys' are burned in a celebration known as "Bonfire Night".

Why did Guy Fawkes want to kill King James 1st and the king’s leaders?

When Queen Elizabeth 1st took the throne of England she made some laws against the Roman Catholics. Guy Fawkes was one of a small group of Catholics who felt that the government was treating Roman Catholics unfairly. They hoped that King James 1st would change the laws, but he didn't.

Catholics had to practise their religion in secret. There were even fines for people who didn't attend the Protestant church on Sunday or on holy days. James lst passed more laws against the Catholics when he became king.

What happened - the Gungpowder Plot

A group of men led by Robert Catesby, plotted to kill King James and blow up the Houses of Parliament, the place where the laws that governed England were made.

Guy Fawkes was one of a group of men

 The plot was simple - the next time Parliament was opened by King James l, they would blow up everyone there with gunpowder. The men bought a house next door to the parliament building. The house had a cellar which went under the parliament building. They planned to put gunpowder under the house and blow up parliament and the king.

Guy Fawkes Discovered

GuGuy Fawkes was given the job to keep watch over the barrels of gunpowder and to light the fuse. On the morning of 5^th November, soldiers discovered Guy hidden in the cellar and arrested him. The trail of gunpowder at his feet would never be lity hidden in the cellar and arrested him. The trail of gunpowder at his feet would never be lit.

Guy Fawkes was taken to the Tower of London

He was tortured and questioned about the other plotters. To start with he didn't tell the soldiers anything about the plot. But, eventually he started to tell the truth

A Celebration

In celebration of his survival, King James ordered that the people of England should have a great bonfire on the night on 5^th November.

Today Bonfire Night is celebrated all over the UK

        IN ENGLAND:

Throughout England, towns and villages....

• light huge bonfires,
• let off magnificent fireworks,
• burn an effigy (a homemade model of a man, like a scarecrow) and
• celebrate the fact the Parliament and James I were not blown sky high by Guy Fawkes 

Penny for the Guy

During the days before Bonfire Night, children used to take their home-made guys out on the street and ask for "a penny for the Guy" for fireworks. 

Traditional Bonfire Night Food

As well as burning effigy of Guy Fawkes, the bonfires are used to cook potatoes wrapped in foil (= papier alu) and to heat up soup for the crowds that come to watch the fireworks

The traditional cake eaten on bonfire night is Parkin Cake, a sticky cake containing a mix of oatmeal, ginger, treacle and syrup.

Other foods include sausages cooked over the flames and marshmallows toasted in the fire.

GAME


Test your knowledge of the Gunpowder Plot with this interactive quiz.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/civil_war_revolution/launch_gms_gunpowder_plot.shtml