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Period: 900 BCE to 200 BCE
Celtic Britons
The island of Great Britain is called Britannia. There the British tribes live, especially the Celts. They have pagan Celtic beliefs such as Druidism. Likewise, the Druids were priests, but also leaders, religious, doctors, judges, philosophers, historians, and political advisors. -
Period: 43 to 410
Invasion of the Roman Empire and Roman Britain
The Roman Empire invades the island, England becomes a province. Years later, the Roman Empire governs the province of Britannia. The empire builds constructions and introduces Christianity and the Latin language. -
Period: 410 to 880
Invasion of the Anglo-Saxons
Anglo-Saxons invade Roman Britain, also called Britannia. Christianity is born in England; Anglo-Saxon people convert other people to Christianity in England. There is economic stability; moreover, culture and society are established. -
Period: 789 to 1100
Viking Age
The Vikings were raiders from the North, Vikings arrive from Scandinavia. In 794, the Viking Age begins when they raid the island of Lindisfarne in England. Nevertheless, different kings try to counter the Viking incursions in many battles until they fail, and finally, this age ends. -
1170
Murder of Thomas Becket
Murder of Archbishop Thomas Becket of Canterbury by followers of King Henry II. -
1215
Great Charter of Freedoms (Magna Carta)
Some nobles and the Catholic Church rebel against King John, but eventually, the King and the Archbishop of Canterbury sign a rulebook called Magna Carta Libertatum, or Great Charter. This rulebook helps to establish the principles of the current parliament. -
Period: 1272 to 1307
Reign of Edward I
King Edward I (also called Edward Longshanks) invades Scotland and subsequently conquers Wales. -
Period: 1500 to
British Empire
The United Kingdom, through colonies, settlements, and dominions, extends its territory throughout the world. The British Empire begins around 1500 with different maritime explorations. In 1997, the British Empire ends when the British hand Hong Kong back to China in the handover ceremony of Hong Kong. Moreover, months later, Wales and Scotland have their parliament. -
1534
English Reformation
King Henry VIII decides to divorce Catherine of Aragon because she cannot give him a male heir. The Pope refuses to grant the divorce, this causes the rupture with the Catholic Church and the beginning of the English Reformation. Finally, the Protestant Reformation begins in Europe, and the monarchy becomes Supreme Head of the Church of England. -
Period: 1553 to 1558
Reign of Mary I
Queen Mary I earns the title of 'Bloody Mary' because the queen promotes the murder of many Protestants. Besides, she attempts to convert the population of England to Catholicism. -
Period: 1558 to
Reign of Elizabeth I
Protestantism returns, Queen Elizabeth I helps to promote Protestantism in Scotland, and, on the other hand, the Pope declares the queen a heretic. -
Period: to
Virginia Company and Jamestown
Creation of companies (Virginia Company of London and Plymouth) for the colonization of other lands. Then, in 1606, in North America, Jamestown the first English colony was established. -
Period: to
Commonwealth of England
During the reign of King Charles I, civil wars break out. The Parliamentarians hold a trial of the king and sentence him to death. Subsequently, they form a republican government and tries to abolish the monarchy. Also, the Parliamentarians unite England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. Oliver Cromwell and later Richard Cromwell receive the title of Lord Protector for leading the Parliament of England. -
Colonization of the island of Jamaica by England
The island of Jamaica, previously owned by Spain, is now a colony of England. -
Period: to
Reign of Charles II
Restoration of the monarchy caused by the death of Oliver Cromwell in this time period. Therefore, King Charles II ascends to the throne. -
First settlement in Africa
First settlement in Africa located at James Island (now Kunta Kinteh Island). -
Period: to
Some colonies and settlements
The British control the Dutch colony of New Amsterdam and rename it New York.
In this period, they are already established:
Other American colonies: Virginia, New England, The Bahamas, and Maryland.
Settlements: Canada, Bermudas, and Barbados. -
Period: to
Reign of William III and Mary II
The Queen and King rule of England, Scotland, and Ireland. -
Period: to
Queen Anne's War
Wars for the control of the thirteen American colonies between the Kingdom of Great Britain and France. These wars end with the British victory. -
Act of Union 1707
England and Scotland are officially one: Kingdom of Great Britain. -
Period: to
Reign of George III
In 1763, the Kingdom of Great Britain, France, Spain, Portugal, and Prussia sign the Treaty of Paris. In this treaty, Great Britain obtained a large part of North America, some Caribbean countries, and Central America, as well as all the French colonies in India. -
Period: to
Industrial Revolution
New technological and scientific inventions produce changes in society that promote the evolution of industries and the economy. -
Period: to
American Revolutionary War
In 1776, the thirteen colonies proclaim their independence from British rule. Conflicts also begin between the Thirteen British Colonies in America and the Kingdom of Great Britain. In 1783, the war ends with the Treaty of Paris and the victory of the Americans, and their allies. -
Act of Union 1800
Ireland unites with England, Wales, and Scotland: officially as the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. -
Period: to
Pax Britannica
British domination with the extension of territory throughout the world: protectorates, dominions, and colonies in America, South Africa, Egypt, Middle East, and Asia. -
Period: to
New colonies in Oceania and Asia
In 1840, New Zealand becomes a British colony, and years later, in 1858, India becomes a British colony (also called British Raj). -
Period: to
World War I / Great War
World War between the great world powers: Allied Powers (British Empire, France, Kingdom of Italy, United States, Empire of Japan, China, Russian Empire, among others) and Central Powers (German Empire, Austro-Hungarian Empire, Ottoman Empire, among others). The war results in more than one million British lives lost. -
Treaty of Versailles
Peace treaty to end the First World War. Great Britain absorbs more colonies with this treaty. -
Period: to
Partition of Ireland and Irish Free State
Process in which Great Britain divides Ireland into the territory of Southern Ireland and Northern Ireland, but Southern Ireland remains part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. Later, in the Anglo-Irish Treaty, Southern Ireland becomes an Irish Free State, but they remain part of the United Kingdom. Since 1949, the Irish Free State has become Ireland, and there is no British monarchy in the Republic of Ireland. -
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland becomes the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. -
Period: to
World War II
The global military war between the Allies (United Kingdom, United States, France, Soviet Union, among others) and the Axis (Nazi Germany, Empire of Japan, Kingdom of Italy, among others.) -
Period: to
Reign of Elizabeth II
Queen Elizabeth II is the current monarch of the Commonwealth realms and members of the Commonwealth of Nations. For example, Australia, Canada, Jamaica, Bahamas, Papua New Guinea, Barbados, New Zealand, among other countries. -
Period: to
Independence of the colonies in Africa
British colonies in Africa declare independence by the United Kingdom. -
Period: to
United Kingdom membership of the European Union
In 1973, the United Kingdom joins the European Union until Brexit in 2020 (United Kingdom's withdrawal from the European Union).
