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England as one kingdom with a Germanie culture

- In spite of the division between Wessex and the 'Danelaw' the cultural differences between Anglo- Saxons and Danes were comparatively smali. They led roughly the same way of life and spoke two varieties of the same Germanie tongue (which combined to form the basis of modern English). Moreover, the Danes soon converted to Christianity. These similarities madę political unification easier, and by the end of the 10^th century England was one kingdom with a Germanie culture. The English language is based on Germanie language.

Important dates:

432- St. Patrick converted Ireland to Christianity (Saint Patrick -national Saint of Ireland, a British slave) - the 17^lh of march, St. Patrick's day.

597 - St. Augustine arrives in England to preach Christianity to the Anglo- Saxons.

878 - The peace of Erdington partitions England between the Saxons, led by King Arthur, and the Danes.

1014 - Brian Boru's Irish army defeats the Vikings at Clontarf (near modern Dublin). As a result Viking settlement in Ireland remains limited and Ireland remains its Celtic identity, never becoming part of the Scandinavian empire.