Bronze Age Britain | History of Britain 2500 BC to 800 BC

Summary

The video explores the Bronze Age in Britain, a period lasting from approximately 2500 BC to 800 BC. It delves into the debate over the exact start date of the Bronze Age, with the earliest evidence of bronze production in the islands around 2500 BC. The script outlines the progression from the early Bronze Age to the middle and late Bronze Ages, highlighting the spread of bronze making, the influence of immigration, and the development of trade networks. It discusses the environmental changes that led to shifts in settlement patterns, the emergence of the Wessex culture, and the technological advancements in metalworking. The video also touches on the impact of climate change, the establishment of large-scale copper production, and the creation of significant Bronze Age structures like the effington white horse. The summary concludes with the transition to the Iron Age, emphasizing the continuous strengthening of trade networks.

Takeaways

• 📅 The Bronze Age in Britain lasted from around 2500 BC to 800 BC, with variations among historians on the exact start date.
• 🌟 The beginning of the Bronze Age is marked by the production of bronze in the islands, which could have been as early as 2500 BC.
• 🏭 Tin from Cornwall and Devon was a significant export, traded in its unrefined form before the Britons began to produce their own bronze.
• 🛠️ The early Bronze Age (2500 BC to 1500 BC) saw the introduction of bronze-making, with axes and other tools being some of the first items crafted.
• 🏙️ The middle Bronze Age (1500 BC to 1000 BC) was characterized by the emergence of pal staves, a new form of axe, and Cornwall and Wales becoming major sources for tin and copper.
• 🏡 An unusual settlement from the middle Bronze Age was discovered in the Fens of Cambridgeshire, known as Britain's Pompeii due to its well-preserved state.
• 🌱 Climate change during the Bronze Age led to people moving from hill settlements to fertile valleys, contributing to economic growth and forest clearing.
• 💰 The Wessex culture, which developed around 2000 BC, expanded and improved the Stonehenge complex, with wealth generated from extensive trade links.
• 🏞️ The Great Orme in Wales saw large-scale copper production with several mines that operated until around 600 BC.
• 🛤️ The Bronze Age also saw the creation of significant infrastructure, such as the causeway at Flag Fen and the possible clapper bridge at Tour's Steps in Somerset.
• 🏺 The urnfield culture, which arrived around 1200 BC, is associated with the custom of burying urns with ashes in fields and is thought to have spoken an early Celtic language.
• ⛓️ The Late Bronze Age (1000 BC onwards) saw the introduction of small amounts of lead in bronze-making, making the casting process easier, and the development of the hallstatt culture.

Q & A

What is the time period of the Bronze Age in Britain?

The Bronze Age in Britain lasted from around 2500 BC to 800 BC, although there is no consensus among historians regarding the exact starting date.

What was the main export of the British Bronze Age?

The main export of the British Bronze Age was tin, which was gathered in the streams of Cornwall and Devon in the form of cassiterite.

When did the Britons start creating bronze themselves?

The Britons started to create bronze themselves around 2500 BC, and it took a few hundred years for it to become widespread throughout the Isles.

What is the debate regarding the start of the Bronze Age in Britain?

The debate is whether the Bronze Age started at 2500 BC when bronze was first created in the islands, or a few hundred years later when it became more widespread.

What is the significance of the Early Bronze Age in Britain?

The Early Bronze Age, from 2500 BC to around 1500 BC, marks the period when immigration from the European mainland brought new people and cultures, and the knowledge of bronze making spread.

What type of tombs replaced communal chambered cairns and long barrows during the Bronze Age?

More individual tombs or sometimes cists, which would later be covered with cairns, replaced communal chambered cairns and long barrows.

What was the impact of climate change during the Bronze Age?

Climate change during the Bronze Age led to wetter conditions, forcing people to move from their settlements in the hills to the more fertile valleys.

What is the Wessex culture and when did it develop?

The Wessex culture developed around 2000 BC and lasted for about 600 years. It was a Bronze Age culture that developed extensive trade links and contributed to the expansion and improvement of the Stonehenge complex.

What was the significance of the Great Orme in Wales during the Bronze Age?

The Great Orme in Wales was significant for the development of large-scale copper production with the opening of several mines on the peninsula, which used stone tools to mine malachite and refine it into copper.

What is the Middle Bronze Age known for?

The Middle Bronze Age, from around 1500 BC to 1000 BC, is known for the emergence of pal staves, the growth of Cornwall and Wales as major European sources for tin and copper, and the discovery of well-preserved settlements like Must Farm in Cambridgeshire.

What is the Urnfield culture and how did it relate to Britain?

The Urnfield culture, which reached Britain around 1200 BC, was widespread throughout Europe and known for the custom of creating urns for the ashes of the deceased. It is thought to have spoken an early Celtic language, which later evolved into the Celtic languages.

What is the significance of the Late Bronze Age?

The Late Bronze Age, starting around 1000 BC, saw the Urnfield culture being replaced by the Hallstatt culture and the development of different Celtic languages. It also marks the creation of the Effington White Horse and the strengthening of trade networks.