Text 7. The English kingdoms

The British people could not keep their land free for a long time. The Germanic tribes from Western Europe – the Angles, Saxons and Jutes¹ – attacked the coasts of Britain and after long wars with the Britons settled on the British Isles. The Britons fought bravely against the enemies and defended their land. But the enemies were stronger. They took houses, fields and cattle from the Britons. The Angles got most of the land and became the strongest tribe. The Britons went to the mountains in the west of the Isles and settled there. This part of Britain is called Wales now. As time went on the two peoples – the Angles and the Saxons – grew into one and were called Anglo-Saxons. They called their speech English, and their country England – that is, the Land of the English.

The Anglo-Saxons formed many kingdoms – Kent, Essex, Wessex, which now are counties of Great Britain. These kingdoms we­re at war with one another. The stronger kings took the land from the smaller kingdoms.

Notes:

1. the Angles, Saxons and Jutes – англы, саксы и юты.

Answer the following questions:

1. Who settled on the British Isles?

2. Why did the Germanic tribes take houses, fields and cattle from the Britons?

3. Where did the Britons go?

4. How were the Angles and the Saxons called?

5. How did they call the language they spoke? And their country?

6. What kingdoms did the Anglo-Saxons form?

7. Did these kingdoms live in peace?