(This is sort of like covering the majority of (This is sort of like covering the majority of North American history in 6 slides!)North American history in 6 slides!)

BCE years - native Britons / Celts inhabited the areaBCE years - native Britons / Celts inhabited the area

CE 43 - Romans arrived in Britain CE 43 - Romans arrived in Britain (eventually built Hadrian’s Wall)(eventually built Hadrian’s Wall)

CE 500s - Angles / Saxons arrived CE 500s - Angles / Saxons arrived from Europe from Europe

CE 800s - Vikings arrived & CE 800s - Vikings arrived & eventually settled during the Early eventually settled during the Early Middle Ages Middle Ages

1066 - Anglo-Saxon king Edward died with no heir1066 - Anglo-Saxon king Edward died with no heir

Thus, Britain’s throne was “open” & William the Thus, Britain’s throne was “open” & William the Conqueror (of Normandy, France) invaded - he Conqueror (of Normandy, France) invaded - he became the King of Englandbecame the King of England

He and his successors established a strong High Middle He and his successors established a strong High Middle Ages kingdom by:Ages kingdom by:Creating the Creating the Domesday BookDomesday BookCreating a royal treasuryCreating a royal treasuryFounding common law and royal courts with juriesFounding common law and royal courts with juriesTrying clergy members in courtsTrying clergy members in courts

Four generations after William the Conqueror, one of Four generations after William the Conqueror, one of his descendants, John, became king (we will fill his descendants, John, became king (we will fill

in in these gaps later)these gaps later)

John was not popular due to military defeats & tax John was not popular due to military defeats & tax increases, & in 1215 he was forced by nobles to increases, & in 1215 he was forced by nobles to accept the Magna Cartaaccept the Magna Carta

The Magna Carta limited royal power, The Magna Carta limited royal power, prevented prevented the the king from raising taxes w/out king from raising taxes w/out consulting consulting the nobles, the nobles, & granted trial by jury& granted trial by jury2 major modern day legacies of this document are due 2 major modern day legacies of this document are due

process and habeas corpusprocess and habeas corpus

John’s heirs saw the writing John’s heirs saw the writing on the wall - they would on the wall - they would have to consult the nobles have to consult the nobles & the growing middle class & the growing middle class merchants of the Late merchants of the Late Middle AgesMiddle Ages

In other words, they In other words, they consulted Parliamentconsulted Parliament

By CE 1400 (Late Middle By CE 1400 (Late Middle Ages) Parliament was Ages) Parliament was divided into the House of divided into the House of Lords (nobles & clergy) & Lords (nobles & clergy) & the House of Commons the House of Commons (knights & merchants)(knights & merchants)

During this same time period (Late Middle Ages) During this same time period (Late Middle Ages) England was at war with France (because, for one England was at war with France (because, for one reason, France wanted all European continental reason, France wanted all European continental land controlled by England)land controlled by England)

This was the Hundred Years’ War (1337-1453), & This was the Hundred Years’ War (1337-1453), & France won (aided by Joan of Arc)France won (aided by Joan of Arc)

This war delayed the arrival of the Renaissance in This war delayed the arrival of the Renaissance in England (late 1400s)England (late 1400s)

The Hundred Years’ War also created an internal The Hundred Years’ War also created an internal English conflict - noble families upset about English conflict - noble families upset about England’s defeat struggled to gain the throneEngland’s defeat struggled to gain the throne

This new conflict was the War of the Roses - This new conflict was the War of the Roses - the the Lancaster family’s symbol = red rose & the York Lancaster family’s symbol = red rose & the York family’s symbol = white rosefamily’s symbol = white rose

Finally, in 1485, a Lancaster (Henry Tudor) won, Finally, in 1485, a Lancaster (Henry Tudor) won, married the York heiress, & became Henry VIImarried the York heiress, & became Henry VII

This marked the beginning of Absolutism in England This marked the beginning of Absolutism in England (an admittedly weak “absolutism”)(an admittedly weak “absolutism”)

The Age of Absolutism (~1500 - 1789) was a The Age of Absolutism (~1500 - 1789) was a period period during which powerful European monarchs ruled, & during which powerful European monarchs ruled, & believed that their right to rule came directly from Godbelieved that their right to rule came directly from God

This latter belief was known as “divine right” - the This latter belief was known as “divine right” - the theory that monarchs received power from God, theory that monarchs received power from God, & & answered only to God for their actionsanswered only to God for their actions