English history until 1603-. The oldest inhabitants
The first Homo Sapiens Sapiens were hunters and lived on the territory of Britain between 40,000 BC and 10,000 BC. This age is called the Old Stone Age.
About 3,000 BC there came other people. They settled along the western shores[1] of England. They brought cattle[2], sheep, goats[3], pigs and also the seeds of corns.
They introduced farming and new crafts in Britain – stone tools, pottery[4], working with flint[5], axes. They lived in the age called New Stone Age. They were peaceful and lived in tribes.
In 2,000 BC other tribes began to arrive from Spain. They settled in southern England. They knew metals and therefore they mined gold and copper[6]. They also produced bronze and they made weapons of it. For example: hoes[7], spades[8], knives and daggers. This age is called Bronze Age. They lived in tribes too, but they buried their dead in round barrows[9]. They are known as the Iberians. They can be proclaimed the creators of civilisation on the territory of Britain. They built the prehistoric temples in Avebury and Stonehenge. These temples were used by high society called the druids. They had a similar function to today’s priests.
Stonehenge – a huge circle of standing stones. It was built near Salisbury probably in 2000 BC. The purpose of it isn’t known, but it could have been an astronomical church or a place for people to say their prayers to God.
[1] ) pobřeží, břeh
[2] ) dobytek
[3] ) koza
[4] ) hrnčířství
[5] ) pazourek
[6] ) měď
[7] ) motyka
[8] ) rýč
[9] ) mohyla
