ENGLISH LITERATURE (CBSE/UGC NET)

Detailed explanation-1: -The people who lived in Britain before the Romans arrived are known as the Celts. Though they didn’t call themselves ‘Celts’-this was a name given to them many centuries later. In fact, the Romans called ‘Celts’ ‘Britons ’.

Detailed explanation-2: -Neanderthals, Homo neanderthalensis They returned to Britain many times between then and 50, 000 years ago, and perhaps even later. During this time the climate regularly switched between warm and cold.

Detailed explanation-3: -It is believed that the Celts arrived at the shores of Britain at approximately 1, 000BC and lived there during the Iron Age, the Roman Age and the post Roman era. Their legacy continues today where examples of the language, culture and traditions continue to exist.

Detailed explanation-4: -At the start of the period, Britain was inhabited by Celtic peoples. The Romans called them Brittones, so they named the areas they conquered Britannia. Caledonians, Irish and Picts lived in what is now Scotland.

Detailed explanation-5: -Before Roman times ‘Britain’ was just a geographical entity, and had no political meaning, and no single cultural identity. Arguably this remained generally true until the 17th century, when James I of England and VI of Scotland sought to establish a pan-British monarchy.