Ancient Britain
Britain Before the Roman Conquset
Scholars do not know when the first people arrived in what is now Britain.But they do know that there were people living on the British Isles about 10,000 years ago.Scientists belive that th sea was lower at that time ,and what is now the island of Great Britain was part of the European mainland.
These people of the British Isles built large monuments with stones.Scholsra belive they built the monuments for religious purposes or as astronomical calendar.The most famous among the monuments,called Stonehenge,was built more than 3,000 years ago,and now still stands near Salisury.This huge monument tells us that these people were quite intelligent and skilful,ahn they knew how to organize themselves to do great work together.
Then about 700BC,the Celts came across the channle to the British Isles.The Celts were a great people who lived in much of western and central Europe at the time .They defeated the natives of the island and made them members of their tribes.The Celts worshiped nature gods through priests called Druids.They used iron and knew how to make it.
The Celts also made woolen cloth,which they dyed bright colors.Their language ,Celtic ,was the earliest known language in what is now Britain.A form of Celtic called Brythonic was spoken throughout the island of Great Britain.
部分单词注释
Scholar 学者 monument 纪念碑 tribe 部落 worship 崇拜