Edward VII
Edward VII succeeds Queen Victoria.
Triple Entente
Alliances with France and Russia (the ‘Triple Entente’) mark an end to Britain’s traditional ‘splendid isolation’ policy. Britain has to compete with other nations in world markets and the colonies.
The Labour Party
The Labour Party is officially founded.
Windsor
King George V changes the name of the House of Hanover to Windsor.
Liberal Cabinet of Lloyd George
A national labour insurance scheme is launched by the Liberal Cabinet of Lloyd George.
A Parliamentary Act practically abolishes the power of the Lords to reject legislation. A Bill becomes law despite their opposition if it is passed by the Commons three times.
Emmeline Pankhurst starts her battle for women’s rights.
The Home Rule Bill for Ireland
The Home Rule Bill for Ireland is defeated three times in the Lords and becomes law through Royal Assent. It is not implemented due to the outbreak of World War I.
Asquith’s Cabinet
Asquith’s Cabinet manages Britain’s war effort against the ‘Central Powers’. World War I causes heavy losses, food rationing and price control which result in an antimilitarist climate.
Balfour Declaration
In his capacity as Foreign Secretary, Balfour pledges Britain’s support for creating a Jewish national home in Palestine (‘Balfour Declaration’).
Heavy war reparations
At the end of World War I, heavy war reparations are imposed on Germany, sowing the seeds of future conflict in Europe.
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Descrizione
Anglo-Saxon tribes were led by a king, who was helped by professional warriors (thanes) linked to him by a strong sense of loyalty. Whereas the Celtic clan system was based on kinship (blood relations), the basis of aristocracy and kingship is a personal tie between the warrior and his lord.
The warriors that conquered the country were soon joined by groups of common people (ceorls) including peasants, women, and children.
Unlike ceorls, thanes were warriors who had been given more land (up to 5 hides) as a reward for their services. In times of war, each family (owning a hide) provided a fully-armed man. As ceorls only fought in cases of need, while thanes specialized in fighting, a sharp class division arose between warriors and peasants. The thane offered defence in exchange for services, and local ceorls would either work for him or pay him a sort of rent ‘in kind’ (a part of their produce).
The social structure of Britain was about to develop into a feudal system: the thane was about to become a feudal lord, while ceorls, bordars (those owning less than a hide) and cottars (who owned only a cot = small house, or hut) were becoming serfs. Besides ceorls and thanes, there was a third social class: the clergy, or class of priests.
Being the only ones able to read and write, clergymen promoted civilisation and culture. Priests and monks were the earliest legal advisers, teaching kings how to draw up documents and charters and change the law of the country, which had always been based on custom only
