mesolitic, neolitic, iron age Flashcards
(26 cards)
- What is the official name of the UK?
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
- What is the chief lawmaking body of the UK?
The Parliament of the United Kingdom
- What is the flag of the United Kingdom commonly called?
The Union Flag, or Union Jack
- When was the first Union Flag proclaimed as the National flag of Great Britain?
On 28th July 1707, during Queen Anne’s reign, the Union Flag was proclaimed the National flag of Great Britain: the National Flags of Scotland and England were united to form the flag.
- What mountain range runs down the center of northern England?
The Pennines
- What is the highest point in the British Isles?
Ben Nevis
- What lake is the largest in the UK?
Lough Neagh
- Which river is the longest in the UK?
The River Severn
- Name the Scottish and Irish prefix in surnames.
“Mc” and “Mac” - son
- Britain is claimed to be a ‘land of tradition’. Name some customs of public and political life.
The Monarchy – A symbolic and ceremonial institution with traditional roles in state events.
The State Opening of Parliament – Marked by the Queen’s/King’s Speech, full of historic ritual.
Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs) – A weekly political tradition in the House of Commons.
Black Rod Ceremony – A tradition during the State Opening where the Commons’ door is slammed and then reopened to symbolize independence.
Changing of the Guard – A military tradition at Buckingham Palace that draws public interest.
Remembrance Day Ceremonies – Honoring those who died in wars, especially with poppies and a national moment of silence.
- What 6 minority languages are officially recognized in Great Britain?
Welsh, Gaelic, Scots, Irish, Ulter Scots, Cornish
- What is the difference between dialect and accent?
an accent is about how words sound, while a dialect includes words, grammar, and sounds specific to a region
- What are three types of RP accent.
There are three types of RP accent: General, Conservative, which the Queen speaks and Advanced. General RP is often considered neutral regarding the age, occupation, or lifestyle of the speaker; and Advanced RP refers to the speech of a younger generation of RP speakers, for example the present British Prime Minister, David Cameron.
- What is Erin a poetic name for?
Ireland
- What factors contribute to the decline of British national identity?
Devolution – The transfer of powers to Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland has strengthened regional identities.
Immigration and Multiculturalism – Increased diversity has led to multiple cultural identities within Britain.
Globalization – Global culture, media, and economy reduce the influence of traditional national symbols.
Generational Change – Younger people may feel less attached to traditional British values or institutions.
Political Division – Events like Brexit have created internal divisions about what it means to be “British.”
- What is Cockney?
Cockney is a traditional working-class accent and dialect from East London. It is known for:
Dropping the “h” at the beginning of words (e.g. ‘house’ becomes ‘ouse’)
Glottal stops, replacing the “t” sound (e.g. bottle becomes bo’le)
Rhyming slang, using phrases like “apples and pears” for stairs
Historically, a “true Cockney” was someone born within earshot of the bells of St Mary-le-Bow Church in London.
- What marked the transition from the Mesolithic to the Neolithic period?
The transition was marked by the introduction of farming. People began:
Growing crops and domesticating animals
Settling in permanent villages instead of moving seasonally
Using polished stone tools
Building monuments and developing pottery
This shift from hunting-gathering to agriculture was a major change in lifestyle and society.
- How long did it take for farming to spread across all parts of the British Isles?
It took about 1,000 years
- What are some features of the Middle Neolithic period in Britain?
Construction of large communal monuments, such as long barrows and stone circles (e.g. early forms of Stonehenge)
Development of permanent settlements with round houses
Increased use of pottery for storage and cooking
Expansion of farming, especially cereal growing and animal herding
Emerging social and ritual practices, shown through burial sites and ceremonial structures
This period, sometimes referred to as the Middle Neolithic, also witnesses the appearance of the first large communal tombs, known as ‘long barrows’, or ‘mounds’, and the earliest ceremonial monuments, known as ‘causewayed’ enclosures. Here people from communities in a particular region would gather together, probably at regular intervals, to socialise, to meet new partners, to acquire fresh livestock and to exchange ceremonial gifts. Some of the great ceremonial monuments of the Middle Neolithic, such as the so-called ‘passage’ graves, were aligned according to the position of the sun during the winter or summer solstice. Passage graves were also constructed to provide good acoustics, and it seems most probable that they were the scenes of ritual or religious theatrical performances.
- Give example of widely understood non Standard English vocabulary.
ta, mate, gutted
* * Gonna – instead of “going to” (e.g. I’m gonna leave now.)
* Wanna – instead of “want to” (e.g. Do you wanna come?)
* Ain’t – instead of “am not,” “is not,” “are not,” or “have not” (e.g. He ain’t ready.)
* Y’all – contraction of “you all,” common in American English (e.g. Y’all coming?)
* Gimme – instead of “give me” (e.g. Gimme a minute.)
- When was Silbury Hill likely completed, and what is notable about its construction?
2400 BCE. It is notable for being the largest man-made mound in Europe, constructed entirely by hand using chalk and earth, and its purpose remains uncertain. Another theory is that the hill was built as a burial mound for King Sil and his golden horse. Despite much investigation, the purpose and significance of Silbury Hill remains elusive.
- What do archaeological discoveries like Stonehenge reveal about life in prehistoric Britain?
Stonehenge was a place of burial from its beginning to its zenith in the mid third millennium B.C. The cremation burial dating to Stonehenge’s sarsen stones phase is likely just one of many from this later period of the monument’s use and demonstrates that it was still very much a domain of the dead. Stonehenge was the work of ancient astronomers, and that its giant pillars were not just used to mark the summer and winter solstice, but to predict eclipses of the moon and sun
Practiced complex religious or ceremonial rituals, possibly linked to the sun or seasons
Lived in cooperative communities capable of long-term planning
Valued astronomy and the natural world, as seen in the alignment of monuments
Likely had social hierarchies and spiritual leaders guiding such projects
- What were some societal changes during the Iron Age?
society became more hierarchical, with powerful tribal leaders and warrior elites. People lived in larger settlements, often in hillforts, and there was increased conflict and competition between groups.
As the Iron Age progressed through the first millennium BC, strong regional groupings emerged, reflected in styles of pottery, metal objects and settlement types. In some areas, ‘tribal’ states and kingdoms developed by the end of the first century BC. Technological innovation increased during the Iron Age, especially towards the end of the period. Some of the major advances included the introduction of the potter’s wheel (mainly in south eastern England), the lathe (used for woodworking and manufacturing shale objects) and the rotary quern for grinding grain.
- What were some key technological advancements during the Iron Age?
widespread use of iron tools and weapons, improved agricultural tools like iron ploughs, and the use of rotary querns for grinding grain. As the Iron Age progressed through the first millennium BC, strong regional groupings emerged, reflected in styles of pottery, metal objects and settlement types. In some areas, ‘tribal’ states and kingdoms developed by the end of the first century BC. Technological innovation increased during the Iron Age, especially towards the end of the period. Some of the major advances included the introduction of the potter’s wheel (mainly in south eastern England), the lathe (used for woodworking and manufacturing shale objects) and the rotary quern for grinding grain.
