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Recommended Novels, Histories, Poetry, and Films to enhance your tour.
We have some time to prepare before this trip, so we suggest spending time with books and movies that will make this trip even more enjoyable. Right now we're revisiting some of our favorite movies and TV shows. Fiction covering the long span of history:
Histories
Poetry – A Sampler
Waking Ned Devine will have you falling off your rocker with laughter-- if you haven't seen this Irish laugher, don't miss it! Films and Television *History and War
Ireland “must see” films - (required watching before you come!)
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Miss Potter
The Quiet Man - we visit the location where this was filmed
Waking Ned Devine will have you falling off your rocker with laughter-- if you haven't seen this Irish laugher, don't miss it!
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Brief Notes from British History
The Stone Period
4,000 BC: Neolithic (Stone) Age. People started farming. 2,500 BC: Stonehenge built.
800 BC: Iron Age. Celtic warrior groups –Britons-- from Europe arrived.
The Stone Period
4,000 BC: Neolithic (Stone) Age. People started farming. 2,500 BC: Stonehenge built.
800 BC: Iron Age. Celtic warrior groups –Britons-- from Europe arrived.
The Roman Period
43 AD: Roman invasion by Emperor Claudius. Built roads and towns across England. Towns ending in ‘cester’, ‘caster’ or ‘chester’ is from Roman times (Manchester, Winchester and Doncaster).
60: Boudicca, queen of a tribe in east England, fought the Romans.
122: Hadrian’s Wall built.
410: Romans troops left. Celtic kingdoms reappear alongside Roman culture.
43 AD: Roman invasion by Emperor Claudius. Built roads and towns across England. Towns ending in ‘cester’, ‘caster’ or ‘chester’ is from Roman times (Manchester, Winchester and Doncaster).
60: Boudicca, queen of a tribe in east England, fought the Romans.
122: Hadrian’s Wall built.
410: Romans troops left. Celtic kingdoms reappear alongside Roman culture.
Invasion Period
449: The Anglo-Saxons came from Germany, Netherlands and Denmark. Celts pushed to Wales, Cornwall, Somerset, and Scotland.
597: Christianity became popular in Anglo-Saxon kingdoms. Celts had their own version.
793: Vikings arrive. Within 100 years, Vikings controlled central and north-eastern England.
925: King Athelstan the first king of England.
1005: Scotland united.
1066: Norman Conquest. William the Conqueror from Normandy, beat King Harold II at the Battle of Hastings.
449: The Anglo-Saxons came from Germany, Netherlands and Denmark. Celts pushed to Wales, Cornwall, Somerset, and Scotland.
597: Christianity became popular in Anglo-Saxon kingdoms. Celts had their own version.
793: Vikings arrive. Within 100 years, Vikings controlled central and north-eastern England.
925: King Athelstan the first king of England.
1005: Scotland united.
1066: Norman Conquest. William the Conqueror from Normandy, beat King Harold II at the Battle of Hastings.
Early Royalty Period
1086: Domesday Book. King William I created the Domesday Book, a very detailed record of everyone who owned land or animals so he could tax them. The book still exists.
1215: King John forced to sign the Magna Carta in Runnymeade. Bad King John forced by his lords to sign a document (the Magna Carta) saying he must follow the rules of England including 1) how much the lords could be taxed, 2) gave ‘free men’ the right to a fair trial. Foundation for human rights, copied across the world.
1284: England took control of Wales.
1296: Edward I “Long shanks,” invaded Scotland. William Wallace tried to fight the English. Scottish king Robert the Bruce defeated the English at the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314. Scotland became independent in 1328.
1086: Domesday Book. King William I created the Domesday Book, a very detailed record of everyone who owned land or animals so he could tax them. The book still exists.
1215: King John forced to sign the Magna Carta in Runnymeade. Bad King John forced by his lords to sign a document (the Magna Carta) saying he must follow the rules of England including 1) how much the lords could be taxed, 2) gave ‘free men’ the right to a fair trial. Foundation for human rights, copied across the world.
1284: England took control of Wales.
1296: Edward I “Long shanks,” invaded Scotland. William Wallace tried to fight the English. Scottish king Robert the Bruce defeated the English at the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314. Scotland became independent in 1328.
1st Deadly Period
1315: Great Famine. Over 7 years, at least 10% of people across Britain died from starvation caused by 2 years of bad weather.
1337: Hundred Years’ War begins. It started when King Edward III of England tried to invade France. 116 years later, France won.
1348: Black Death. Bubonic plague kills 40% of people in one year. Many villages disappeared. But because of a labor shortage, the remaining peasants could suddenly choose who to work for and what to do. There was big social change.
1450s: Wars of the Roses. When King Henry VI became too ill, a 30-year war took place between two sides of the English royal Plantagenet family: the House of York (which had a white rose logo) and the House of Lancaster (red rose logo).
1315: Great Famine. Over 7 years, at least 10% of people across Britain died from starvation caused by 2 years of bad weather.
1337: Hundred Years’ War begins. It started when King Edward III of England tried to invade France. 116 years later, France won.
1348: Black Death. Bubonic plague kills 40% of people in one year. Many villages disappeared. But because of a labor shortage, the remaining peasants could suddenly choose who to work for and what to do. There was big social change.
1450s: Wars of the Roses. When King Henry VI became too ill, a 30-year war took place between two sides of the English royal Plantagenet family: the House of York (which had a white rose logo) and the House of Lancaster (red rose logo).
Rise of Protestants Period
1485: Tudor dynasty. Henry Tudor of the House of Lancaster won the Battle of Bosworth Field and became King Henry VII. Married his rival’s niece, Elizabeth of York. Created the House of Tudor (with a red and white rose logo). England and Wales entered a time of relative peace and growing wealth.
1534: The Reformation. King Henry VIII made himself the head of a new church, the Church of England (Protestant). Famous for having six wives and executed 50,000+ people.
1559: Queen Elizabeth I crowned. Protestant queen ruled for 44 years. A time of great wealth, and homelessness because of land use changes.
1603: Stuart dynasty. King James VI of Scotland, a relation of Queen Elizabeth I, crowned as James I of England after her death because she had no children.
1611: King James Version (KJV) of the Bible first published.
1485: Tudor dynasty. Henry Tudor of the House of Lancaster won the Battle of Bosworth Field and became King Henry VII. Married his rival’s niece, Elizabeth of York. Created the House of Tudor (with a red and white rose logo). England and Wales entered a time of relative peace and growing wealth.
1534: The Reformation. King Henry VIII made himself the head of a new church, the Church of England (Protestant). Famous for having six wives and executed 50,000+ people.
1559: Queen Elizabeth I crowned. Protestant queen ruled for 44 years. A time of great wealth, and homelessness because of land use changes.
1603: Stuart dynasty. King James VI of Scotland, a relation of Queen Elizabeth I, crowned as James I of England after her death because she had no children.
1611: King James Version (KJV) of the Bible first published.
Civil War Consternation Period
1642: Civil War. King Charles I was not a good leader and wanted money for a war with Scotland. Parliament did not want to help him. People who supported the king (Cavaliers) fought people who supported Parliament (Roundheads). About 10% of the population died in the fighting.
1649: ‘The Commonwealth’. King Charles I head cut off. Military leader Oliver Cromwell took control as dictator.
1642: Civil War. King Charles I was not a good leader and wanted money for a war with Scotland. Parliament did not want to help him. People who supported the king (Cavaliers) fought people who supported Parliament (Roundheads). About 10% of the population died in the fighting.
1649: ‘The Commonwealth’. King Charles I head cut off. Military leader Oliver Cromwell took control as dictator.
Monarchy Revival and 2nd Deadly Period
1660: Monarchy Restored. Cromwell died in 1658 and his son Richard took over. He was not a good leader. Charles I’s son was invited back to the country to be King Charles II.
1665: Great Plague of London. About 20% of London’s population died of bubonic plague.
1666: Great Fire of London. A fire that started in a bakery destroyed 80% of the city.
1689: Glorious Revolution. King James II fled abroad after William of Orange (the husband of his Protestant daughter Mary) came with an army. Mary and William became joint monarchs, known as William III and Mary.
1692: Glencoe Massacre. Catholics in Scotland were told to swear support to king William III (a Protestant) by January 1, 1692. Chief of MacDonald clan did it too late and in return, 34 men, 2 women and 2 children were killed by soldiers on the orders of the king.
1707: Great Britain created. Treaty of Union between Scotland and England with a British parliament in Westminster. Start of a time of great wealth and colonial expansion.
1715: Jacobite Rebellion. Catholics who wanted James II of England back on the throne (called Jacobites) fought Protestants who supported the new king George I
1780s: Highland Clearances. People in Highland Scotland were forced from their villages and farms so the land could be used for sheep. Thousands of people emigrated, many to North America.
1798: Irish Rebellion. Irish people fought against British rule. Nearly 30,000 people died.
1660: Monarchy Restored. Cromwell died in 1658 and his son Richard took over. He was not a good leader. Charles I’s son was invited back to the country to be King Charles II.
1665: Great Plague of London. About 20% of London’s population died of bubonic plague.
1666: Great Fire of London. A fire that started in a bakery destroyed 80% of the city.
1689: Glorious Revolution. King James II fled abroad after William of Orange (the husband of his Protestant daughter Mary) came with an army. Mary and William became joint monarchs, known as William III and Mary.
1692: Glencoe Massacre. Catholics in Scotland were told to swear support to king William III (a Protestant) by January 1, 1692. Chief of MacDonald clan did it too late and in return, 34 men, 2 women and 2 children were killed by soldiers on the orders of the king.
1707: Great Britain created. Treaty of Union between Scotland and England with a British parliament in Westminster. Start of a time of great wealth and colonial expansion.
1715: Jacobite Rebellion. Catholics who wanted James II of England back on the throne (called Jacobites) fought Protestants who supported the new king George I
1780s: Highland Clearances. People in Highland Scotland were forced from their villages and farms so the land could be used for sheep. Thousands of people emigrated, many to North America.
1798: Irish Rebellion. Irish people fought against British rule. Nearly 30,000 people died.
United Kingdom, Commonwealth, and Victorian Period
1801: UK created. Because of the Irish rebellion, Britain dissolved the Irish parliament and moved its responsibilities to the British parliament. This created the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.
1825: First passenger railway built. Soon there were railways nearly everywhere.
1834: Abolishment of slavery. Slavery becomes illegal across most of the British Empire after a new law is passed. A new system of ‘indentured laborers’ introduced to replace slavery; for many people it was not much better.
1837: Victorian era. During the reign of Queen Victoria, the British Empire grew until it had a population of over 400 million people in India, Australia and much of Africa.
1845-50: Irish Potato Famine. 1+ million died. 1+ million emigrated. Caused by potato had single strain. Blight had an easy target.
1801: UK created. Because of the Irish rebellion, Britain dissolved the Irish parliament and moved its responsibilities to the British parliament. This created the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.
1825: First passenger railway built. Soon there were railways nearly everywhere.
1834: Abolishment of slavery. Slavery becomes illegal across most of the British Empire after a new law is passed. A new system of ‘indentured laborers’ introduced to replace slavery; for many people it was not much better.
1837: Victorian era. During the reign of Queen Victoria, the British Empire grew until it had a population of over 400 million people in India, Australia and much of Africa.
1845-50: Irish Potato Famine. 1+ million died. 1+ million emigrated. Caused by potato had single strain. Blight had an easy target.
Modern Deadly Era and Churchill Effect
1901: Edwardian era. Britain changed a lot after World War 1, so the Edwardian era marks the last days of the British Empire and aristocracy and the social system of large country houses and servants.
1914–18: World War 1. The war brought social change because women had to do the jobs of the men while they were fighting.
1939–45: World War 2. Famous moments included evacuating British soldiers from Dunkirk in France (1940), the Battle of Britain (German air attacks stopped by British pilots, 1940), the Blitz (bombing raids on British cities, 1940-41), and D-Day/Normandy Landings (when the US, Canada and UK invaded German-occupied France, 1944).
1901: Edwardian era. Britain changed a lot after World War 1, so the Edwardian era marks the last days of the British Empire and aristocracy and the social system of large country houses and servants.
1914–18: World War 1. The war brought social change because women had to do the jobs of the men while they were fighting.
1939–45: World War 2. Famous moments included evacuating British soldiers from Dunkirk in France (1940), the Battle of Britain (German air attacks stopped by British pilots, 1940), the Blitz (bombing raids on British cities, 1940-41), and D-Day/Normandy Landings (when the US, Canada and UK invaded German-occupied France, 1944).
Reconstruction and Revival and Move to Socialism Era
1948: Windrush generation. People from the West Indies were invited to help Britain rebuild after the war or work in the NHS. Over the next decades, workers were invited from
1969: Troubles in Northern Ireland. British troops arrived in 1969 to try and reduce growing tensions between Unionists (mostly Protestant, who want Northern Ireland to stay with Britain) and Nationalists/Republicans (mostly Catholic, who want Northern Ireland as part of the Republic of Ireland).
1966: England wins the football World Cup. They won 4-2 against Germany.
1948: Windrush generation. People from the West Indies were invited to help Britain rebuild after the war or work in the NHS. Over the next decades, workers were invited from
1969: Troubles in Northern Ireland. British troops arrived in 1969 to try and reduce growing tensions between Unionists (mostly Protestant, who want Northern Ireland to stay with Britain) and Nationalists/Republicans (mostly Catholic, who want Northern Ireland as part of the Republic of Ireland).
1966: England wins the football World Cup. They won 4-2 against Germany.
Modernization Era
1992: Channel opens. .
2020: Britain left the European Union.
2022: Queen’s Platinum Jubilee and Death of Queen Elizabeth II. National celebrations took place in June to recognize Queen Elizabeth II’s 70 years on the throne. Sadly, she died a few months later, in September. Her son became King Charles III.
1992: Channel opens. .
2020: Britain left the European Union.
2022: Queen’s Platinum Jubilee and Death of Queen Elizabeth II. National celebrations took place in June to recognize Queen Elizabeth II’s 70 years on the throne. Sadly, she died a few months later, in September. Her son became King Charles III.