The Matter of the North of England

[barryqwalsh]

The Matter of the North

Melvyn Bragg explores the pivotal role of England's north in the shaping of modern Britain.



Episode 1
The Matter of the North Episode 1 of 10
Long - In this 10 part series Melvyn Bragg brings all his passion and knowledge to a subject that has enthralled and fascinated him throughout his life - the pivotal role of England's North in the shaping ofmodern Britain. As he traces the ebb and flow of Northern power he examines how this relatively small geographical area has had a profound effect of every part of the globe - its ideas and inventions, its sport and its music.

Melvyn Bragg begins the series atop Hadrian's Wall looking down onto the North of England. Programme One begins as the Roman Empire loses it grip on the area. Melvyn returns to the seaside town of Maryport in Cumbria - which he visited as a boy - and which contains the largest collection of military altar stones and inscriptions outside Rome. Melvyn travels to Lindisfarne or Holy Island off the coast of Northumbria which became a crucial centre for the spread of Christianity coming from the west - and was to play no small part in shaping the fortunes of Northumbria and its Anglian royal family. Melvyn goes to Whitby in North Yorkshire - home of the great Abbey and its remarkable Abbess St Hilda and discusses the power well-born women could wield in the early church. He discusses the Northumbrian King Ecgfrith, one of the most powerful men of his day, who laid the basis for what was to be one of the great Renaissance moments in western civilization. He was defeated and killed in a battle against the Picts in Scotland. Melvyn asks what might have happened if Ecgfrith had won - the answer is that Scotland as we know it today may have never existed and the capital of Britain could well have been in the North, possibly in York.

AUDIO

Episode 1, The Matter of the North - BBC Radio 4

 

[alpine]

As far as I know;

Before Romans arrive, Celts living in Britain are as Britons and Picts.

When Romans arrive and conquer, Britons submit and Romanize, Picts dont and start living on the north mountains.

After Romans leave, Picts start raiding Romanized Britons.

Britons have a "bright" idea to fight against barbarian Picts, by mercenary barbarian Angls and Saxons.

But when Angls and Saxons receive the invitation to a mercenary army, it was an "aha!" moment for them.

They come in, and conquer whole England, Britons barely hold in Wales.

Angls and Saxons conquer and migrate a whole population, bringing the Briton rule to an end.

But of course, then Normans come in and conquer the whole island, bringing AngloSaxon rule to an end...



I am not sure where this story fits in exactly.
Before the Angls and Saxons arrive?

 

[Phoenall]

As far as I know;

Before Romans arrive, Celts living in Britain are as Britons and Picts.

When Romans arrive and conquer, Britons submit and Romanize, Picts dont and start living on the north mountains.

After Romans leave, Picts start raiding Romanized Britons.

Britons have a "bright" idea to fight against barbarian Picts, by mercenary barbarian Angls and Saxons.

But when Angls and Saxons receive the invitation to a mercenary army, it was an "aha!" moment for them.

They come in, and conquer whole England, Britons barely hold in Wales.

Angls and Saxons conquer and migrate a whole population, bringing the Briton rule to an end.

But of course, then Normans come in and conquer the whole island, bringing AngloSaxon rule to an end...



I am not sure where this story fits in exactly.
Before the Angls and Saxons arrive?

The Celts were invaders from Scandinavia and the french regions of Europe The indigenous were druids who lived in the forests that covered Britain at the time.

Britons are actually French from the Breton area

 

[alpine]

As far as I know;

Before Romans arrive, Celts living in Britain are as Britons and Picts.

When Romans arrive and conquer, Britons submit and Romanize, Picts dont and start living on the north mountains.

After Romans leave, Picts start raiding Romanized Britons.

Britons have a "bright" idea to fight against barbarian Picts, by mercenary barbarian Angls and Saxons.

But when Angls and Saxons receive the invitation to a mercenary army, it was an "aha!" moment for them.

They come in, and conquer whole England, Britons barely hold in Wales.

Angls and Saxons conquer and migrate a whole population, bringing the Briton rule to an end.

But of course, then Normans come in and conquer the whole island, bringing AngloSaxon rule to an end...



I am not sure where this story fits in exactly.
Before the Angls and Saxons arrive?

The Celts were invaders from Scandinavia and the french regions of Europe The indigenous were druids who lived in the forests that covered Britain at the time.

Britons are actually French from the Breton area

Some people say there was neither celtic, nor anglosaxon invasion, but it was druids, the general population, simply assimilated under different cultural influnces.