Most people tend to think of the beginning of historical England as around the time of the Roman invasions, but it starts way before then. The dawn of English history can be put right back to 8000 BC and beyond, Back to the time of the great Ice Ages when England was still connected to the rest of Europe and what we now call Scandinavia.

Very simply the dawn of historical England can be summarized like this, remember I am no academic so please do not write to complain about any minor discrepancies, these are only guidelines to help you understand better the time line of England's development.

8000 BC the Palaeolithic or Old Stone Age.

The climate was swinging between temperate and polar conditions and Britain was still joined to mainland Europe and migratory hunter gatherers visited during warmer times.

8000 BC to 4000 BC The Mesolithic or Middle Stone Age.

The ice melts back from the southern regions and the English Channel is formed, trees and other fauna appears and more hunter gatherers begin to visit.

4000 BC to 2000 BC The Neolithic or New Stone Age.

Life is still mainly nomadic but forests begin to be cleared and the beginnings of farming start bringing some of the earliest known settlements. This is also when communal burial mounds were built and the now famous stone circles erected.

2000 BC to 700 BC The Bronze Age.

More permanent settlements appear and metalwork is introduced. The population increases with more complex communities being formed and individual burials become more prevalent.

700 BC to AD 43 The Iron Age.

The introduction of iron improves the quality and range of weapons and tools, hill forts are erected is protected both occupants and farmland from neighboring or nomadic tribes.

That is my rough guide to the development of historical England, short and sweet I know but I have quickly brought you up to AD 43 when the Romans invaded and the fun begins. Well that is not strictly true because Caesar first visited (sort of invaded) way back in 55 BC, but after a quick look did not go too much on what he found and returned to Rome.

It is from AD 43 that my own interest gets awakened and as far as I am concerned historical England begins its story of intrigue, myths, legends and passion begins. People like Julius Caesar, Hadrian and Boudicca appear and towns and cities such as London, Colchester, York and Carlisle are put on the map. This is the period when my historical imagination runs amok and I am there living and feeling the times. Whacky maybe but fun.