Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
c.
200
London is the thriving, river-trading, walled, Latin-speaking capital of Roman-
dominated England.
410
The city of Rome is looted by invaders, and the Europe-wide Roman infrastruc-
ture crumbles. England is soon overrun by “barbarian” Anglo-Saxon invaders
from Germany. This begins 500 years of Viking invasions, poverty, ignorance, su-
perstition, and hand-me-down leotards—the Dark Ages.
c.
600
The legend of “King Arthur” emerges—perhaps based on a real Roman Christian
general battling barbarians after the Fall of Rome.
886
King Alfred the Great liberates London from Danish Vikings; he helps reunite
England, re-establish Christianity, and encourage learning.
c.
1000
Beowulf,
an epic tale written in Old English verse, is the first great work of Anglo-
Saxon literature.
1052
King Edward the Confessor builds his palace and abbey at Westminster, a mile
and a half from London.
1066
After Edward's death, England is conquered by Norman invaders (from northern
France) under William the Conqueror. William builds the Tower of London and
initiates two centuries of rule by French-speaking kings. London reasserts itself
as a trade center.
1080
William builds his first castle on English soil: Windsor, which will become the
residence of many monarchs to come.
Related Sights
• Boadicea statue near Westminster Bridge
• Roman Wall
• Lindisfarne Gospels,
Beowulf
manuscript (British Library)
• Westminster Abbey
• Tower of London
• Windsor Castle
