Cycle of Change

According to Karl Marx, ‘History repeats itself, first as tragedy, second as farce.’ There are repetitive incidents and alternate storylines in history that have been identified and created in an ensemble in terms of culture, innovation, value, education, and other socially constructed things, even if they have been seen as a tragedy of farce! Observable variable events and transforms that were experienced in the past are subject to literature and historical targets. Throughout history, invasions, wars, sharing of estates, and other situations have affected the societies where those conditions occurred. And one of the invasions whose effect is crucially appreciable is the Celtic, Roman, Anglo-Saxon, Viking, and Norman invasions. Those conquests change the situations of areas in Britain in terms of social, cultural, economic, and other vital conditions.

Celtics, who were told to be the modern ancestor of the British's effects, are remarkable. Their invasion’s reason is related to trading with other tribes, out of the borders, for instance, with the West. Trading with Europe, the Celts saw the land's prosperity. Thus, Celts came and settled in Britain. Within the political and social context of this point is one of the matters that is about affection and the contribution that added to the cultural and historical background of the area. According to historical research, Celts were food producers and the ones who brought agriculture in a way. They were technically advanced, and their knowledge about usage of the iron might be the most important thing that helped to enlarge their capacity for living. Those invaders, who called them Britons, were organized into clans, living as tribes. On the other hand, they built hillforts. They had more powerful weapons than in the Bronze Age because of their ability to use iron as well. Ruled over by Druids—Druids, who could not write or read but memorize history and traditions, and other necessary things—who administered some social facts based on religion, virtue, or education, they got new achievements. Briefly, the Celts helped the enlargement of Britain not only in the physical context of the area but also in the social context of it. Their abilities, icons, and the things they brought to the British Isles affect Britain in terms of culture, politics & military, and religion; those lead up to the creation of cultural backgrounds. 

The Romans’ invasions in 55. BC is related to the Celts of Gaul’s work about Romans. The goal was capturing Gaul, in a way. The things Romans add to the cultural achievements are skills of reading and writing. To gain and establish power or also spread ideas, the skill of writing was important, so it was acquired thanks to the Romans. There was civilized life in the area thanks to them. The creation and establishment of Romano-British culture, which is fashionable, make a big contribution to society’s level of enlargement in terms of culture. They brought their culture and language with them when they came.

Apart from those, the Saxon Invasion was important. Saxons create and establish not only several kingdoms but also institutions. They shape and change the agriculture that remains from the past. Whereas Celts kept smaller areas, Saxons introduced bigger and heavier ones.

Moreover, the Saxons fashioned the legal system. The first steps of the class system—terms king, lord, soldier, worker—had taken place. Aside from political and social order, religion was important in that area. Christianity was firmly established. The existence of culture and religion are affected by the Saxon invasion. When it comes to religion, the church was grown with the help of the Saxon Kings—the church's power in terms of increasing the king's power is another question of debate. The secession of traditions leads to new classes, economies, and policies; religion changes cultural backgrounds. So the Saxons’ contributions in that area were not only about religion but also about the legal system, briefly.

The other invasion is from Vikings, who come from Norway and Denmark. As a crucial contribution to both culture and economy, Vikings are associated with the beginning of the tax system. The Saxon king Ethelred aimed to stay away from paying Vikings (Danegeld). With this incident, there was a new economic form that existed in the order of money. On the other hand, there was a shallowed point that they had since they swept away in the culture that remained before them. Their invasion was nonpersistent in a way. The local population stayed the same as they did not damage it. Vikings were interested in richness in terms of well-being; they accepted the previous culture and religion easily.

When William gave the Saxon lands to his Norman nobles, the Norman conquest was in that area. Before this sharing, his fighting lasted for another five years. Crucially, the Norman army was powerful, and there was no mercy. So, the ones who remained from the Saxons—even if just a drop—accept William immediately. (As is obvious, there is a conceding and obliging from new ones to older ones; this situation is also a clue about power’s affection in terms of cultural developments and enlargements of new societies.)

As another important incident, the feudal system’s origin might be observed in William’s times since he organized his English kingdom according to this feudal system. The word feudalism’s origin comes from the French word feu, which is similar to William, Duke of Normandy’s goal: holding lands in terms of economic usage. The principles of feudalism create new orders, and it affects the cultural and social formation of society. In the British Isles, his contributions in terms of administrative and social situation are important.

Consequently, every new settlements’ people are faded away by the invasions and conquests of the ones who came later. There is a cycle and in this cycle of the system; invasions lead up to new communities that are affected by cultural, political, and social developments.  Gandhi says, ‘Be the change you want to see in the world.’ In history, every single people try to be the change to create their unique worlds; and that is the subject of cultural transformations in history which affect people every time though in 400 BC or 2020...

References

David, M. (1989). An Illustrated History of Britain. (21st Impression, 2006).