BY PRAGYANSHARMA POLAVARAPU
INTRODUCTION
(1)The British empire
reached its biggest extent in early 19th century and existed
till end of world war two. England (United Kingdom /great
Britain) was most powerful and dominated world affairs for three and half
centuries. The pressures and strains of modern world, the two terrible World
Wars and the power of glorious freedom movements in former colonies
–all factors led to dissolving the old empire soon after World War 2
. The world has now progressed to an era of gigantic educational, technological
progress and an era of glorious freedom ,equality and fraternity ,an era of
parliamentary democracy ,world unity and friendship and economic cooperation.
The United Nations Organization represents the spirit of freedom, equality of
all people and friendship between all people. With the aid of high scientific
technologies in various fields assisted by the speed of thinking of the
computer machine , the entire world is progressing to a golden era of progress
and enlightenment for coming centuries.
(2) In these essays
we are interested only Iabout how the old archaic English language developed
through centuries into modern English . For people of countries
where English is only a medium to read newspapers , novels,journals ,science
books etc -- it would be really interesting to know
about the country which produced English .It was still a Germanic
language in 880s and 890s AD with German words and German phrases and an
occasional English-like word . A beautiful new English was perhaps evolving but
it was 95% clothed in German.
The warrior king Alfred The Great ,king of the
Wessex in southern England (and later king of all
England) was himself a poetic minded king---loving the words and
phrases in newly evolving anglo-saxon language and himself a scholarly person--
a translated some latinworks into OLD ENGLISH which was still clothed
in 99% un-understandable German vocabulary. He had a plan to protect
the evolving language.
Even
in Chaucer’s English(1343-1400) it is archaic (though beautiful)
early English. Its English color was not quite visible. Only in times of
Shakespeare (1564-1616) , John Milton (1608-1674), John Dryden(1631-1700) and
such early writers the aroma and taste of English was out. It is
classical most beautiful stately majestic English. Only at turn of 18th century we
start walking in the rose gardens of Wordsworth(1770-1850),Shelley
(1792-1822),Keats (1795-1821)and Byron(1788-1824) and apple orchards of Dr
Samuel “dictionary” Johnson(1709-1784), Joseph Addison(1672-1719),Richard
steele(1672-1729),Oliver Goldsmith (1728-1774) and other stalwarts.
Thus it took 700-800 years for Germanic English to develop even to reach
Shakespearean style and model of classical English.
(3)The geographical
British Isles have three big nations from cultural point of view –the
Anglo-Saxon English people, the Scottish people and the Irish people. The
history and development of each took an entirely different direction. Together
they created the two modern countries
(a)United Kingdom(
Great Britain) consisting of England,Scotland and Northern Ireland and
(b) Republic of
Ireland .
Knowing a
little history of each helps in greater
understanding about the origins of English language . These few
lines are written only for reading pleasure of “distant people of distant
continents” who may feel interested in knowing a brief history of development
of English language.
( A )
HISTORY OF
ANGLO-SAXON ENGLAND
(1)In the Anglo-Saxon
southern England --occupied by the three ancient Germanic peoples Angles,
Saxons and Jutes in the 5th and 6th centuries
AD--a slow cultural and political integration
started between the three communities with perhaps mutual
agreement only. Perhaps a deliberate move to a
common Anglo-Saxon language and culture started.
Previously Angles,Saxons and Jutes ( perhaps quite friendly towards
each other all along) had different dialects and different customs but soon
they veered towards creating a single common language and a single
system of culture and customs . It clearly indicates that they were
happy about their new country and ready to work and struggle hard to
build a new world.
But still they were
all very Germanic people . The new common language they were
deliberately creating was also just like a german dialect and only slightly
different. It resembled in the least the English language
as we know . We now realize that it was not even like the “Old English” of King
Arthur The Great or even the “archaic English” of Chaucer and
Spencer.
Perhaps only
after 700-800 years a new slightly recognizable English
language developed . There were said to be similar big changes in
ancient western Europe also in Gaul (France), Germany and the Netherlands . People all over Europe were
readjusting to changing weather conditions.
(2) As already
mentioned above, by 5th/6th century AD , there were
seven Anglo-Saxon kingdoms in England . They
are Northumbria, Mercia, East Anglia, Essex, Kent, Sussex, and Wessex. The kings and the people followed only their old
Germanic religion . They had not yet come to religion of Lord Jesus Christ. During
the 7th century the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms were converted to Christianity by
missionaries from Ireland and the European continent. This coming of
holy Christianity resulted in a very great change in cultural and
religious habits of the simple rural minded populations. Simple but beautiful
churches and monasteries developed everywhere and they gave great spiritual joy
to people. In the 8th century, Scandinavian pirates raided the English
coasts and slowly in course of decades they also started settling in
eastern parts of England.
(3) The
kingdom of Wessex which maintained big armies
was the strongest of Anglo-Saxon kingdoms and fought with
the Vikings and stopped their expansion. The kings
of Wessex were recognized as the kings of all England. King Alfred the great was the
most illustrious of the Wessex kings. Much later in 1017, when the
strong Danish armies could defeat the English forces ,England
became part of the North Sea Empire of Danes. A united ruling
family for England and Denmark emerged. After death of the
Danish line of kings ,the
successor was the English prince Edward the Confessor who was related to
the Danish royal line .When he died in 1066, one of the
claimants to the throne was William, the Duke of Normandy. This was
the reason for Norman invasion of England and this war of
invasion changed course of future history of entire
British Isles.
(4)William's 1066
invasion of England ended the Anglo-Saxon era. Norman noblemen
and French oriented Norman aristocracy replaced the
Anglo-Saxon ruling classes.The Normans replaced the Anglo-Saxons lords all
over England . However, the continental culture could not replace the
widely prevalent centuries- old Anglo-Saxon culture and customs. In course of
time there was cultural integration and intermingling between
Anglo-Saxons , Romanised Celts, Danes and Normans . All accepted the
Anglo-Saxon culture and created the modern English nation.
(5) The rich and
elite of Anglo-Saxon England (as distinct from Scotland and
Ireland) were also attracted
by the continental European culture
and started to take active interest in continental politics.
Then onwards England though “not in Europe” became
a country “of Europe”. It became one of the leaders of European
politics . However the majority of Anglo-Saxon people
living in small towns and villages continued to be rural oriented
and agriculture oriented .
English (Anglo-Saxon)
princes and nobles and their families were getting enamoured by the French culture
and continental fashions and getting integrated to the cultural
world of Europe .England’s isolation was over. England had become
one of the great centers of Protestant Christianity. The
latter political history of old England is well known –the
autocratic Henry the Eighth—Queen Mary-Queen Elizabeth the First —Queen
Victoria and so on the mighty. So also on the literay
front—Chaucer--Spencer--Shakespeare--John Milton--John Dryden and so
on the great scholarly .
( BB )
HISTORY OF
IRELAND
(1) Greek and
Roman writers referred to a "Gaelic Ireland". By the late 4th century
AD Christianity gradually replaced the earlier Celtic religion. By 6th century
there was a beautiful predominantly monastic Celtic Christian church. It profoundly
altered Irish society and created the basic Irish
culture .During 8th century AD seafaring Scandinavian
raiders (the Vikings) attacked the Irish coast and started to settle in
coastal areas. There was cultural interchange among the
Vikings and ancient Irish people. Several towns were founded by the Viking
people along the long coast line of Ireland.
(2) The Norman
line of English monarchs established a new powerful
Norman dynasty .This big historical event in English politics
deeply affected Ireland also. There was large scale Norman
-English military involvement in Ireland. However
the Celtic Gaelic fighters of Ireland could not be conquered . They
reestablished and maintained Gaelic power
and cultural independence . The English Crown did not
interfere for a long
time but started interference in
Irish affairs after the bloody “ Wars of the Roses” (1488) ended in
England. Ireland's martial traditions and difficult
terrain did not help the English military. There
were no cities for stay of the urban oriented Norman
military leaders of England
.The attempts of English rulers to
impose Protestant Christianity failed after an
Irish rebellion .There were wars between Irish warlords
and English forces for decades.
(3) Henry VIII proclaimed himself King of Ireland in 1541 .England's
attempts to conquer Ireland and to convert the country to
Protestantism failed. Thousands of English and Scottish Protestant were brought and settled in
Ireland . lands of irish Catholics were given to them.
wars between a Protestant landholding minority and
the irish catholic majority who lost their lands
became frequent . The minority Protestant groups continued to wield all
political power.About the year 1801, the Irish Parliament was abolished . Ireland
became part of a new United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland .catholics were not granted full rights until Catholic emancipation in 1829.
(4)There was a
terrible famine in 1845 and it is said that a million people died.
about a million irish people migrated to America. In
Ireland attempts for independence were intensified.in 1880s there
was also a parliamentary movement for home rule.the irish people persisted with
their struggle for independence inspite of all obstacles. Home rule was granted
through the Home Rule Act 1914. But it
was suspended at start of World War I. there was a serious armed
rebellion at Easter time in 1916 calling for
complete independence for Ireland but it was suppressed by the british
military. There was an irish war of independence for two and
half years and in 1922 the major part of ireland declared
itself an independent republic called irish free state. the Anglo-Irish Treaty took effect recognizing
the irish republic . six northeastern districts of
Ireland remained within the United Kingdom as a province of Britain
named as Northern Ireland.
( CC )
HISTORY OF SCOTLAND
(1) the Romans withdrew from British
isles around 410AD. A Gaelic kingdom existed
in Scotland in the 6th century AD.Gaels and
picts both celtic people lived in Ireland and Scotland in
ancient times. In 7th century AD Irish missionaries
converted picts of Scotland to Celtic Christianity. the Kingdom of Scotland,formed by union of picts and
gaels fought in 8th century AD with the
norwegin pirates who invaded scotland .
christianity spread via Irish missionaries and unified
all the Scottish people. a unified Kingdom of Scotland existed
during 9th–11th centuries.The government as everywhere
was feudal in nature and based on allegiance to clans.
Clan-based kingdoms existed in the 12th and 13th centuries in
medieval Scotland .Towns expanded, monasteries flourished, and trade with continental Europe increased.
(2)In 1290 during
royal succession quarrels Edward I king
of England demanded that Scotland should accept overlordship of
England. consequently Scotland’s Wars of Independence
started.there were also frequent quarrels between king and nobles. The great european
Renaissance reached Scotland in 15th century.
Great importance was given to education. Universities were founded
at
St. Andrews (1413), Glasgow (1451), Aberdeen (1495).Before
16th century the country followed roman catholic christianity. Under influence
of continental religious movements there was
Scottish Reformation . Presbyterianism was established.
(3)in 1603 the
kingdoms of England and scotland were united under a single king though
separate parliaments continued. james VI of Scotland, succeeded queen
Elizabeth I as James I of England.
Oliver Cromwell a militarist, a devout religious leader
and dictator got the autocratic british king Charles l executed
,abolished king’s rule and established a republic called british
common wealth to rule britaon (1654–1660).The united kingdom was
soon restored in 1707 and
became Kingdom of Great Britain. The
Scottish Parliament was dissolved.
(4)During
the period of Industrial Revolution, Scotland became one of the big commercial, and
industrial centres of whole Europe .it also became famous as a great
educational center. Later in modern times in 20th century
Scotland achieved great economic prosperity .scottish people entered
the mainstream of english politics and English literary movements .in modern
times millions of Scottish people migrated to English speaking countries like
usa and Australia.about13%of people livingin scotlad follow roman
catholic Christianity and about 22% follow the Scottish church(Scottish
presbytarian Protestant church).
CONCLUSION
Internet tells
us that (1)The old Celtic/Gaelic language existing in
many parts of British Isles are most lovingly protected and spoken frequently
at homes lovingly(2) Everywhere in British isles(both UK and Republic of
Ireland) English is used in homes ,in educational institutions
, government use and as language of media (3) People
everywhere in the modern industrialized world realize that modern
English is one of the three or four recognized languages
for global communication.(4) In spite of the old political quarrels
and prejudices of centuries back, modern English
is used all over the British Isles,in both UK and Republic of Ireland,for
daily use.
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