The British Isles: Topography and Prehistoric Life (Introduction 2)

This post caters to the study of the Complementary Course “Evolution of Literary Movements”, assigned for students of BA English programme at CMS College.

Introduction 1: The British Isles

Introduction 2: The British Isles: Topography and Prehistoric Life

BC 3000 to AD 455: Pre English

AD 455 – 1066: Old English

AD 1066 – 1485: Middle English

AD 1485 – 1603: Modern English: The Tudor Period

AD 1603 – 1700: Modern English: The Stuart Period

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Topography

The British Isles, an archipelago, now lies detached from the mainland of the European continent. But there was a time when this group of islands was part of north western Europe. The chalk downs of Dover continue unbroken into Calais in France. The Thames flowed without interruption into the rivers of France. Now, the British Isles lie separated from the rest of Europe by the English Channel.

The British Isles connected to mainland (image adapted, from https://www.quora.com/Is-England-in-Europe )

The topography of the land is varied. The chalky hills of the south were thickly populated in comparison with the rest of the land. Chalk was not favourable for the growth of thick vegetation, but was ideal soil for meadows essential for sheep and cattle. Compared to the south, the north was less hospitable, and the west was marshy. In this land which had seen many conquests, history repeated itself when every conquering group pushed the defeated settlers to the north or west, taking over their land and establishments in the south.

Prehistoric Life

Stone Ages

The Palaeolithic Era or the Old Stone Age is the time during which Britain is said to have its first inhabitation.

BC 800,000: Probable date of human arrival in the British Isles

People used crude weapons for hunting. Starting with rough stones as tools, they later developed to use bone, shell, animal teeth and mammoth ivory for tools and jewellery.

During this phase, the British Isles was connected with the mainland. Extreme cold climate, known as the Ice Ages, made England uninhabitable for long spells of time.

Mesolithic Era or Middle Stone Age: BC 10,500- After the end of the Ice Ages; there is continual human inhabitation. Rising sea levels, caused by the melting ice, cut Britain off from continental Europe. Their life style is considered to be a ‘hunter-gatherer’ type.

Neolithic Era or  New Stone Age: BC 4000- People of this age move more to agriculture. Farming arrived in Britain as the knowledge and resources needed to farm were introduced by people migrating from continental Europe. Farming lead to a more settled way of life and forests were cleared to provide space for crops and animal herds.

Metal Ages

Bronze Age: BC 2400- Cross-channel connections with mainland Europe bring new burial rites, people, objects and technology including the skill of copper and gold metal working.

Iron Age: BC 800- Iron working techniques reach Britain from mainland Europe. While bronze was still used for objects such as jewellery, iron was used for tools.

The Metal Ages in the British Isles is marked by the advent of a group of people known as the Iberians. Our study of the Pre English period starts with the Iberians.