London - inglise keeles kokkuvõte (0)

LONDON
The history of the town is very closely linked with the history of the country itself. The name probably comes from the celtic words Llyn, which means a lake, and Dun, which means a fort or a strong place . Although the site was not important during the Celtic period (400 BC – 43 AD)
During the Roman occupation Londinium, as it was called then, was not influential politically, but was, however an important crossing point for the romans over the river Thames. Londinium was at a very good place, so it soon became a trading centre . In AD 61 the city was devastated by Boudicca, who led a revolt againt the Roman conquest of Britain . The city was burned down and its inhabitants massacred. London was rapidly rebuilt, becoming the capital of the province Britannia. AD 122 Roman walls were built around it as a
Around AD 400 the Anglo-Saxons invaded Britain. They destroyed the roman towns and formed many kingdoms that were hostile to one another . London fell into ruins . King Egbert united all the small kingdoms and formed one kingdom named Englad. Later king Alfred the Great chose London to be the capital of the country.
During the reign of Edward the Confessor Westminster Abbey and the royal palace were built.
In 1066 The Normans invaded an William the Conqueror took the British throne as William I. He built a mighty fortess, now known as the white tower.
The 14th century was a messy period. In 1337 the Hundred years war against France began. The black death in 1348 took many many lives . Almost half of the city’s population. In 1381 the grievances [griivensis] of the lower class exploded into the „Peasant’s [pesents] revolt“. The Hundred Years War was almost immediately followed by the war of roses . It was between two branches of the Royal house – York and Lancaster . It was ended by Henry Tudor in 1485. (lancaster)
Henry Tudor started with a great act of piety: The building of a beautiful fan roofed chapel in Westminster Abbey. It was completed by his son. His son Henry the VIII made the crown the spiritual head of nation . A huge amount of property which had previously been owned by Roman Catholic Church was sold or given away and the houses stood empty.
The Elizabethan period is often considered to be the golden age. Elizabeth was succeeded by her closest relative James VI of Scotland. The unhappy Stuart Dynasty witnessed the Civil war and the execution of Charles I. In 1660 the throne was taken by Charles II. Unfortunately in 1665 the great Plague was responsible for the deaths of 100,000 Londoners and in 1666 The Great Fire destroyed amost 400 acres. The fire raged for three days and burned down many churches, St. Paul’s Cathedral and so on. The tower of London had a lucky escape. The architect Sir christopher Wern lost no time in drawing up plans and giving the entire city a monumental baroque aspect. Many of his plans were never realized, becaus people started rebuilding themselves, but the 50 churches and St, Paul’s Cathedral were quite remarkable.
During the Georgian era, London was considered the premier city of the western world. The Bank of Englad was established in 1694. But it was during the Victorian era that London became the metropolis that it is today .
The second World war had almost the same effect to the town as The great Fire. But London still remains the centre for fashion , culture and artistic achievement.