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43
Roman invasion
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Period: 43 to 410
Romans
The Romans stayed in Britain for almost four centuries. In AD 122, the emperor Hadrian, visiting Britain, ordered the building of his famous wall. -
410
The end of Roman rule
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Period: 410 to 1066
Early medieval
The six and a half centuries between the end of Roman rule and the Norman Conquest are among the most important in English history. A kingdom of England emerged, and with it a new ‘English’ identity and language. -
1066
Norman conquest
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Period: 1066 to 1485
Medieval
Duke William of Normandy’s resounding triumph over King Harold at the Battle of Hastings in 1066 marked the dawn of a new era.The overthrow of the Saxon kingdom of England changed the conquered country: the way it was organized and governed, its language and customs – and more visibly today, its architecture. -
1485
Battle of Bosworth
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Period: 1485 to
Tudors
Henry VII’s victory against Richard III at the Battle of Bosworth ended the turbulent Wars of the Roses and began the Tudor dynasty. Henry VIII inaugurated a new state religion, and the growing confidence of the state coincided with the growth of a typically English culture. -
James Stuart, king of England
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Period: to
Stuarts
The Stuart era began when James I, who was also James VI of Scotland, succeded Elizabeth I.She had died childless in 1603. Discoveries and innovations transformed science, architecture and everyday life. -
Queen Anne's death
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Period: to
Georgians
When Queen Anne died in 1714 with no surviving children, the German Hanoverians were brought in to succeed her. This period saw Britain establish itself as an international power at the centre of an expanding empire, and accelerating change from the 1770s onwards made it the world's first industrialised nation. -
Queen victoria on the throne
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Period: to
Victorians
Queen Victoria came to the throne when she was just 18 years old. During this reign, the country gained unprecedented power and wealth. -
End of the Victorian era
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Period: to
20th century
In the 20th century, two world wars triggered huge social changes across the country. Britain no longer ruled a third of the planet.