Concetti Chiave
- Wales is a small, picturesque country west of England, known for its green landscapes and historical resistance to various invasions.
- Throughout history, Wales resisted numerous invaders, including Romans, Saxons, and Normans, before being conquered by the English.
- In 1301, Wales was conquered, and the title "Prince of Wales" was established, leading to its union with England in 1536.
- Despite the conquest, Wales has retained a strong cultural identity, largely through preserving the Welsh language.
- After a period of decline, the Welsh language experienced a revival starting in the 1960s, becoming an official language alongside English.
The land of Wales
To the west of England, lies a small, almost secret country called Wales. It is a land of green and grey: green fields, valleys and hills; grey mountains and sky, and grey stone castle.
The story of the Welsh people is one of determined resistance to invaders – the Romans, the Saxons, the Vikings, the Normans and finally the English. After the fall of the Roman Empire in 410 AD, barbarian Angles and Saxons invaded Britain. Legendary kings and princes, like Kink Arthur, won important victories against the Saxons but gradually these original ‘Britons’ were pushed west into the hills and mountains of Wales.
Conquest and union with England
Welsh princes fought hard against the English but Wales was finally conquered. In 1301 Edward I gave his son the title of Prince of Wales and in 1536 Wales was united with England.
Despite the conquest, this small nation of three million people has maintained its unique culture and strong national identity, particularly through its language. Welsh, a Celtic language very different from English, is one of the oldest languages in Europe. However, in the nineteenth century and first half of the twentieth century, the Welsh language declined. The British government made English the official language and English was the only language allowed in schools. The number of Welsh speakers went down from 80% to under 20% of the population. Since the 1960s, though, there has been a revival. Welsh, along with English, is an official language and is spoken by half a million people. It is a taught in schools, it is spoken in the Welsh Assembly, Wales own regional parliament and there is a Welsh TV channel.
Domande da interrogazione
- What historical events led to the decline of the Welsh language?
- How has the Welsh language experienced a revival since the 1960s?
- What is the significance of the title "Prince of Wales" in Welsh history?
The decline of the Welsh language occurred in the nineteenth century and the first half of the twentieth century when the British government made English the official language, and it was the only language allowed in schools, reducing Welsh speakers from 80% to under 20% of the population.
Since the 1960s, the Welsh language has experienced a revival as it became an official language alongside English, is taught in schools, spoken in the Welsh Assembly, and has its own TV channel, with half a million people now speaking it.
The title "Prince of Wales" is significant in Welsh history as it was given by Edward I to his son in 1301, symbolizing the conquest and union of Wales with England, despite the Welsh princes' resistance.
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