England

             England: A land with a rich cultural history and a strong sense of adventure. A place with a history so unusual it has yet to be fully understood. From the Druids and the Celtics to the modern day Englishman, England has quite a history. England's history as we know it first started with the Druids who were the 'priestly class'. The Druids have long been suspected to be the makers of Stone Henge but we will likely never know as the Celtics and Druids did not write down their history due to their value of the human memory by which they passed down their history. They had an organized religion which they carried out for the Celtics. The Celtic man(a farmer in almost all instances) would go to the Druids requesting a sacrafice be made to the Gods( whome were all nature based) on his behalf. This sacrafice was usually to insure fertility for the mans spouse or to ensure a good harvest. Sacrafices were usually performed by burning a criminal to death on a wicker pyre. Later decendents of Vikings would conquer the land forming an organized community and introducing the art of blacksmithing to the Celtic people. Soon after the Vikings left England the Norman French (also decendents of vikings) came and introduced Christianity to the Celtics while simultaniously driving the Celtics into what is now known as Ireland and Wales. The Norman French settled into England and blended with later arriving peoples. The Norman French developed English social classes as well as culture. Needless to say if you are of English descent you are also of French and Viking descent. England developed in following years becoming a stronger country and becoming a major World Power, in the process conquering many countries and spreading its culture over the world at the same time. It is this desire to explore and conquer which, I believe, reflects back to England's Viking roots. It is this determination which has made England such a great country to this day and has helped form America into a country we know and love so very much. It is also this rich history and determination to succeed wich makes me proud to be of English descent and very pleased that I have the privilege of traveling to England within a weeks time.