Welsh History- The History of Wales over the Periods

History of Wales since prehistoric times

There can be found remains from the Neolithic period as well as from the Bronze Age and Iron Age in Wales. Material remains of the period 3500 to 1000 B.C. particularly the funerary monuments- chambered tombs throw some light about Wales in the prehistoric times. These provide indications of simple regional manifestations of features characteristic of Britain region as a whole of the times. From the late Bronze Age onwards there seems to have started an influx of the Celtic-speaking people though perhaps not in very big numbers.

Metalwork associated with feasting and military skills has been found at Llyn Fawr and Llyn Cerrig Bach. There has also been found a broad distribution of fortified sites. These indicate a stratified but politically fragmented, warlike society. Such social characteristics prevailed in Wales up to the Roman period.

The period between the first and fourth centuries had been the period of Roman Wales. Similar Roman culture as that of other parts of Britain prevailed. However, the Mediterranean culture can be exemplified best in Southern Wales. Important Roman towns flourished here.

Wales in the medieval period

The Wales of the early medieval period was divided into a number of kingdoms. Some rulers were, however, able to combine several kingdoms and extend their rule to over much of the Wales region. Gruffydd ap Llywelyn secured control over all of Wales and some parts of England too for some time in the mid eleventh century. These times were marked by Wales’ struggles against English kingdoms like Mercia and then against the united English kingdom and finally against the Normans.

Wales was annexed to the kingdom of England after the death of Llywelyn the Last in 1282. In the early fifteenth century Owain Glyndwr led a rebellion. He managed to keep control of Wales for few years’ time till the English crown imposed its authority again. Legislation aiming at completely incorporating Wales into England was passed in the sixteenth century.

The eighteenth century and thereafter

The Industrial revolution and the Methodist revival of the eighteenth century had far reaching effects on Wales. The Wales of the nineteenth century (particularly south-east Wales) was characterized by rapid industrialization and a dramatic population increase. The Welsh speaking regions also became increasingly anglicized in speech in the later part of the nineteenth century. It was also in this century that Wales predominantly became Nonconformist in religion.

The period after the Second World War (twentieth century) was characterized by a long decline in the coal and iron industries. On the political front the Labour party replaced the Liberal party as the dominant power. The second half of the twentieth century saw Plaid Cymru winning the first seat at Westminster (1966) and devolution became a part of the political agenda. Though the first referendum on devolution in 1979 resulted in a ‘no’ vote a second referendum in 1997 resulted in a ‘yes’ vote thus leading to the Welsh Assembly being established at Cardiff- the capital of Wales.