Why is there no british history pre-roman, taught in british schools?

Question

Im sick of Egypt!

Answer 1

The reason for this is due to the fact that the Church destroyed most records and structures of the pagan past so you would not ask this question in the future. One place to look is with an examination of the Book of Kells and the clues of the past hidden in the art work. The book was written at a time when cultures collided.

They placed this information there in such a way that was overlooked by the Church. The myths about the prehistoric British people being stone age people is a myth, they were a highly advanced culture that lived in harmony with their surroundings for thousands of years and were in many ways, superior to moderns.

Answer 2

While I agree with the 'problems' that other answers have given - ie. the fact that pre-Roman Britain is basically a pre-historic society (as in no written records), that doesn't mean that there isn't a huge amount that could be taught about pre-Roman Britain.

However, in terms of the themes of continuity and change, the development of Britain, etc. etc. that the National Curriculum focuses on, there's not actually an awful lot that we can learn from pre-Roman Britain. Within Key Stage 3, in addition, one has three years to learn more than 1500 years of history, including more emphasis on non-British history than there used to be. So, to be honest, there isn't *time* to do any pre-Roman stuff.

(Here's an example - for the Year 8s in my school this year, we are spending around 2 thirds of the year studying non-British history.)

Answer 3

One of the main reasons that pre-Roman British history is not taught in British schools is because it is such a diverse subject and one which many teachers, and those in power, feel would be too difficult to teach.

This is truely unfortunate because the foundations of modern Britain are to be found in the Palaeolithic, Neolithic, Bronze Age, Iron Age etc. That is, the (white) population of Britain today has a great deal of genetic links back to the Neolithic and even earlier.

However, for whatever reason, the British today, especially the English, feel ashamed of their past and consider their ancient heritage to be 'politically incorrect' - so they set about teaching the history of just about every other culture on earth except their own.

I did some archaeology in England and it was extraordinary! British ancient history is just as valid, and worthwhile, as the ancient history of everybody else.

If the schools don't teach it then please go and seek the information for yourself. You will be rewarded I assure you.

Answer 4

There is pre roman history taught in British schools

Answer 5

There is! In Wales there are Welsh schools, where Welsh, not English is the language used.
The Welsh are well aware of their pre-roman origins, especially since their language is very early, (P-Celtic as opposed to Q-Celtic, which includes French and Latin). If you substitute p for q you will see the similarities. For example, the welsh number 5 is pump, substitute and you get quumqu, very close to quinque, 4 is pedwar, substitute and you get quedwar, very close to quatuar. The welsh for window is fenestra and for fishing piscato, (pisces?).
Not all of Britain has been so brow-beaten by trendy academics that it is ashamed of its origins. The English need to get up from their knees and start making a big noise about how good they are!
Personally I am proud to have Welsh blood even though I was taught in English and rather regret that.
It was those terrible Normans who broke the English and established blood lineage, but we have rather forgotten how dreadful they were and how wide their empire once stretched. You still find silly french phrases, where english will do.

Answer 6

Its probably because we know very little about early Britain, due to the fact that the Romans pretty much destroyed everything when they arrived. We do know the old pagan rituals but we can't teach them in school because we are a predominantly Christian nation (flashbacks of "The Wicker Man" spring to mind).

I'd say that "ignorance" is the main answer to your question. There wasn't a great deal documented pre-Romans and most of that has been wiped out.

Answer 7

there was a very advanced society before rome maybe you should look around the country and you will find places like stonehenge and many other thing like the castles that were cut out of hills,tombs etc,check it out in a good history book.,the problem was they were fragmented into small kingdoms ans fighting each other which made it easy for the romans to conquer,

Answer 8

We learned about the pre-Roman Celts at my school. But then, it's 50 years since I was at school in the UK!!

Answer 9

Ask the history teacher, I think we should all learn about our history before the Romans invaded.......

Answer 10

Come on, everyone knows that before the Romans got here, we all lived in caves and made square wheels. I saw a documentary about it once, Carry on Cleo, I think it was called.