INFLUENCES UNDER WHICH THE HISTORY OF WALES WAS FORMED
1. The nature of its rocks—Igneous, Cambrian, Silurian, Old Red Sandstone, Limestone, Coal—all belonging to the Primary Period. Its rocks
(a) explain its scenery;
(b) explain its wealth, the richest part of Britain in minerals.
2. The configuration of its surface.
(a) It is isolated, its mountains being surrounded by the sea, or rising sharply from the plains. It is part of the range of mountains which runs along the whole of the west coast of Britain; but the range is broken at the mouth of the Severn and at the mouth of the Dee.
(b) It is divided, its valleys and roads radiating in all directions. So we have in its history
A. Wars of Independence.
B. Civil War.