英国文学1.pptVIP

英美文学 Part one Early and Medieval English Literature Chapter one the making of England The Britons: The English people are of a mixed blood. The early inhabitants in the island now we call England were Britons, a tribe of Celts. From the Britons the island got its name of Britain, the land of Britons. The Britons were a primitive people. The Britons lived in the tribal society. The Roman Conquest: In 55 B.C. Britain was invaded by Julius Casar , the Roman conqueror. But as soon as the Romans landed on shore of the island, the Britons fought like lions. Britain was not completely subjugated to the Roman Empire until 78 A.D. With the Roman Conquest the Rome mode of life came across to Britain also. Roman theatres and baths quickly rose in the towns. All these refinements of civilization, however, were for the enjoyment of the Roman conquerors, the native Britons were trodden down as slaves. The Roman occupation lasted for about 400 years, during which the Romans, for military purposes, built a network of highways, later called the Roman roads, which remained useful for a long time to come. Along these roads grew up scores of towns, and London, one of them, became an important trading centers. It was also during the Roman rule that Christian was introduced into Britain. But at the beginning of the fifth century, the Roman Empire was in the process of declining. And in 410 A.D. all the Roman troops went back to the continent and never returned. Thus ended the Roman occupation in Britain. The English Conquest: At the same time Britain was invaded by swarms of pirates. They were three tribes from Northern Europe: the Angles, Saxons and Jutes. These three tribes landed on the British coast, drove the Britons, settled down themselves, and established some small kingdoms. And by the 7th century these small kingdoms were combined into a united kingdom called England