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I have just been saddled with a 'short course' on "British History" with a group of 17 year old Romanian students.
I am looking for 5 or 6 Key Points - moments in time I can stick wider themes and ideas on.
Obviously (?) 1066 - but which point? The crowning of William? The arrival of the message up in Yorkshire that the Normans had landed? The turning of the wind?
I wouldn't mind a couple of 'Headline' moments", but I am also interested in other ways into history.
Any suggestions gratefully received.
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Help!
I have just been saddled with a 'short course' on "British History" with a group of 17 year old Romanian students.
I am looking for 5 or 6 Key Points - moments in time I can stick wider themes and ideas on.
Obviously (?) 1066 - but which point? The crowning of William? The arrival of the message up in Yorkshire that the Normans had landed? The turning of the wind?
I wouldn't mind a couple of 'Headline' moments", but I am also interested in other ways into history.
Any suggestions gratefully received.
Re: Help!
I think you must be very careful when assigned a topic on ‘British History’. For a start ask yourself when did Britain come into being as a nation state or a term peoples in the periods you discuss would recognise? It is very easyt to be sucked into synonymously thinking of English as British. While your question may have been carelessly set in terms of the use of the label ' British' 'Britain' and Britishness it is in fact as a concept, a political term arguably conceived and coined as a convenience during the reign of James the VI and I to ease the process of the Union of the Crowns in 1606. Consider the act of Union in 1707 and what it means today. Its revision as currently being debated could mean an end to Britain as a political union. If Scotland were for instance to again regain sovereignty what would the rump of the current Union be called? Britain? Some may think so but why? What therefore is British history?
More importantly if you choose some of the key events suggested then you need to consider them in a wider context than the impact on only one part of today’s Britain. Britain is islands made up of four home nations. For instance Romans: end of a Celtic pre roman proto England but not dominant Celtic cultures in pre roman what is now Wales, Ireland and Scotland. William the Conqueror: foundation of an Anglo Norman ruling class that conquered the Anglo Saxon English realm but as a class of powerfull magnates were 'invited' to rule in the independent Scots/Celtic Kingdom under an independent Scots King (David I), annihilation and annexation of the independent Welsh Pricipality and decimation/annexation of parts of Ireland. Cromwell: overthrow of a monarchy and regicide that impacted differently in Scotland and Ireland. Henry: Reformation that was taking place all over Europe and certainly was a different process in both England Scotland and Ireland.
My advice is define what is meant by 'British History' and do not allow yourself to be fooled into equating England and English History as being the same as British.
The United Kingdom: To Clarify Things!
The United Kingdom of England & Wales
By Acts of Parliament passed in 1536 and 1543, under Henry VIII. However the first Prince of Wales was invested in 1301. He was Edward of Caernarfon [the future Edward II], eldest son of Edward I.
However the Welsh Flag is a separate entity from the Union Jack. The Red Dragon on the green and white was the banner of Henry VIII’s father, Henry Tudor [later Henry VII], who defeated Richard III at Bosworth in 1485.
The United Kingdom of England & Scotland
The first Union Jack designs were drawn up in 1604. With just the Crosses of Saints George [England] and Andrew [Scotland]. Although there was a Union of Crowns, they were in fact separately regarded.
After 1606 [James I], there were two more failed attempts to unite England and Scotland by Act of Parliament under Charles II [1667], and William III and Mary II [1689].
It did take just over a century for the English/Scottish Union to 'officially' be created. The Acts were passed in 1706 and 1707. The two Parliaments then merged.
The reason for it derived from Scotland’s financially disastrous attempts to found colonies in North America. Threatened by the Spanish, and abandoned by the English, to whom they appealed for aid, their ‘experiment’ failed.
The United Kingdom of England & Ireland
Created in 1800/1801 by the Act of Union. Although the Crown of Ireland Act was passed under Henry VIII in 1542. Due to the 1800 Act the Union Jack we see today - with the Cross of St Patrick - was created.
In 1920 the Government of Ireland Act was passed. In 1921 North-East Ireland became British, the rest became the Republic of Ireland or Eire [correctly The Irish Free State]. But it wasn’t until 1983 the Act of Union was finally repealed.
There is technically no emblem for Northern Ireland [the Red Hand of Ulster] in the Union Jack. Yet it is usually centred on the Cross of St George.
The Royal Standard
Top left and bottom right:
Three Lions of England. This was the Coat of Arms of the Plantagenet Kings 1198 [Richard I] to 1340 [Edward III]. They were originally Leopards! The Channel Islands have the Two Lions, as they are the only Norman possession Britain has left!!
From 1340-1801 [George III]] the Fleur de Lis of France appeared [due to English conquests]. Although the last English possession Calais was lost under Mary I [1553-1558].
Top right: The Lion of Scotland, added in 1603.
Bottom Left: The Harp of Brian Boru - Ireland.
Re: Help!
Union of England and Wales. No real choice from the Welsh there. Hitler also united most of Europe you know.
The Panama colonisation by Scotland was an outstanding idea deliberately sabotaged by an English navy blockade to bankrupt Scotland and force union.
England, Wales, Scotland with Ireland wasn't voted for by the Irish either.
Oh, and it's a Union Fag except when flown at sea, when it becomes a Jack.
In spite of this I am all for the Union, a United Europe and World. I wish for a world where we're all the same colour, speak the same gobbledygook and everyone is unique. The strongest people are teams and the strongest part of a team is the individual.
Re: Help!
Hmm... you could choose points where 'British' history was influenced by forces from without the Islands:
Perhaps Caeser landing at Deal
Cromwell, certainly
Pope refusing Henry's annullment?
The signing of lend-lease and the shift to the 'special relationship'
Independence movement in India, perhaps?
Re: Help!
At the moment, it's looking like this:
1. Winter 3807 BC - Spring 3806 BC;
2. 1066 (date to be decided - possibly Christmas Day);
3. 1278
4. 1606
5. 24 November 1859
Not fixed.
(Another discussion going on over in the OU Learning Space).
Re: Help!
Not sure about Caesar - but take your point about the Romans: What about Boudicca's daughters being raped by Roman soldiers - opening for modern behavior in war as well as shift in culture?
Cromwell, yes - but when? Taking over the country? Entering parliament? Signing the King's death warrant? Or body being dug-up and executed?
Like the last two too.
Thank You.
Re: Help!
Cromwell, yes - but when? Taking over the country? Entering parliament? Signing the King's death warrant? Or body being dug-up and executed?
Like the last two too. Thank You.
OK.... Hope this helps:-
Boudicea/Boudicca
Her revolt against the Romans - and the sack of London, Colchester and Verulanium [St Albans] was in 61 AD.
Julius Caesar
He[lived 102 to 44 BC] invaded England from Gaul in 55 and 54 BC. He did land at Deal [Kent] in the former year. And met resistance, so had to retreat. The next year he returned with five legions and defeated the Britons, led by King Cassivelaunus. Caesar had to leave due to trouble in Gaul.
Oliver Cromwell
After Charles I surrendered in 1646 [Second Civil War] Oliver Cromwell, and his son in law, Henry Ireton, were the most influential men in England. Attempts to settle with the King failed.
The House of Commons was 'purged' by Colonel Thomas Pride [6 December 1648] of those sympathetic to the King. This left the 'Rump' as it was called.
Cromwell supervised the trial and execution of Charles in January 1649. The king was beheaded on the 30th for High Treason against his own people.
Cromwell was the first Chairman of the Council of State set up by the Rump on 17 February 1649. After Charles II lost the Battle of Worcester in 1651, Cromwell was the most powerful man in the country.
He dissolved the Rump on 20 April 1653. He was Commander in Chief of the Army. But refused the Crown when offered it . Instead he became Lord Protector until his death on 3 September 1658. He had a State Funeral, ironically with royal regalia on his coffin. And was buried in Westminster Abbey. His body was dug up after the Restoration of Charles II [23 May 1660] and hung at Tyburn.
William the Conqueror
He landed at Pevensey [Sussex] on 28 September 1066. And won the Battle of Hastings [more accurately Senlac Hill] on 14 October. He was crowned on Christmas Day the same year.
The wind did indeed delay the landing of his fleet. King Harold, who had been crowned on 6 January, thinking an invasion was off, disbanded his own fleet. The King of Norway - Harald Hardraada - had timed his invasion in the North to coincide with William. Harold had to rush up the country to meet him.
Harold defeated Hardraada and his own brother Tostig at Stamford Bridge on 25 September. The news of William's landing made his rush South again. Unfortunately, the finest of his army had been killed, so he had to recruit en route to Hastings.
The main events of William's claim to the throne and the Battle are in the Bayeaux Tapestry....