English History

By erica.heimtun
  • 6000 BCE

    The British Isles

    The British Isles are formed as water levels rise separating them from mainland Europe.
  • 2000 BCE

    Stonehenge complete

  • 600 BCE

    The Celtic People

    The Celtic peoples begin to arrive and establish their culture.
  • 55 BCE

    Roman Leader Julius Caesar

    Roman leader Julius Caesar invades Britain, but withdraws.
  • 50

    City of Londinium

    The Romans found the city of Londinium (which later becomes London).
  • 122

    Hadrian's Wall

    Roman Emperor Hadrian orders the construction of Hadrian's Wall
  • 410

    The last of the Romans leave Britain.

  • Period: 440 to 850

    The Anglo-Saxons

    The Anglo-Saxons were a cultural group who inhabited Great Britain from the 5th century. They comprise people from Germanic tribes who migrated to the island from continental Europe, their descendants, and indigenous British groups who adopted many aspects of Anglo-Saxon culture and language; the cultural foundations laid by the Anglo-Saxons are the foundation of the modern English legal system and of many aspects of English society
  • 597

    Christianity is introduced by Saint Augustine.

  • Period: 600 to 1485

    The Middle Ages Britain

  • 802

    Kingdom of Wessex

    The kingdom of Wessex becomes the dominant kingdom.
  • Period: 850 to 1066

    The Vikings (850-1066)

  • 866

    The Vikings invade Britain

    The Vikings invade Britain with a large army. They defeat Northumbria in 867.
  • 871

    Alfred the Great becomes king of the Wessex.

  • 878

    Vikings at the Battle of Edington.

    Alfred is nearly defeated by the Vikings. He narrowly escapes. Alfred gathers an army and defeats the Vikings at the Battle of Edington.
  • 926

    he Saxons defeat the Vikings and retake the Danelaw.

  • 1016

    Danish conquer England

    he Danish conquer England and King Canute of Denmark becomes King of England.
  • 1066

    he Norman Conquest occurs. William of Normandy becomes king.

  • Period: 1066 to 1485

    The Normans

    The Normans are an ethnic group that arose in Normandy, a northern region of France, from contact between Viking settlers and indigenous Franks and Gallo-Romans.
  • 1078

    William begins the construction of the Tower of London.

  • 1086

    A survey of all England called the Domesday Book is completed.

  • 1154

    Henry II becomes king. This is the start of the Plantegenet line of rulers.

  • 1170

    Thomas Becket, the Archbishop of Canterbury, is put to death by Henry II.

  • 1250

    King John is forced to sign the Magna Carta.

  • 1297

    Defeat of the English

    William Wallace leads the Scotts in their defeat of the English. He is defeated a year later at the Battle of Falkirk.
  • 1337

    The Hundred Years' War with France begins. It will last until 1453.

  • 1349

    The Black Death hits England killing a large portion of the English population.

  • 1415

    The English defeat the French at the Battle of Agincourt.

  • 1453

    The Hundred Years' War comes to an end.

  • 1455

    War of roses

    The War of the Roses begins between the families of the Plantagenets and the Lancastrians for the right to rule England.
  • 1485

    The War of the Roses ends

    The War of the Roses ends with the crowning of Henry Tudor as King Henry VII. The House of Tudor begins its reign.
  • Period: 1485 to

    The Tudors (1485-1603)

  • 1508

    Henry VIII is crowned king.

  • 1534

    Henry VIII forms the Church of England.

  • 1536

    England and Wales are joined by the Act of Union.

  • 1558

    Elizabeth I becomes Queen. The Elizabethan Era begins.

  • 1580

    Explorer Sir Francis Drake completes his journey around the globe.

  • William Shakespeare begins writing and performing plays.

  • he East India Company is established.

  • James I becomes king

    James I becomes king and rules over England and Scotland. He is the first of the Stuart family to rule.
  • Period: to

    The Stuarts

    The Stuarts were the first kings of the United Kingdom. King James VI of Scotland became also King James I of England, thus combining the two thrones for the first time.

  • Guy Fawkes fails in his attempt to blow up Parliament.

  • The Pilgrims set sail for America aboard the Mayflower.

  • The Great Fire of London destroys much of the city.

  • England and Scotland are united as one country called Great Britain.

  • Period: to

    Georgian England

  • The Seven Year's War begins.

  • The Industrial Revolution begins in England.

  • The American colonies declare their independence from Britain.

  • The Vikings first arrive.

  • The British and Irish parliaments are joined by the Act of Union to create the United Kingdom.

  • The British fleet defeats Napoleon at the Battle of Trafalgar.

  • Period: to

    The Victorian Age (1837- 1901)

    Victorian era, in British history, the period between approximately 1820 and 1914, corresponding roughly but not exactly to the period of Queen Victoria’s reign (1837–1901) and characterized by a class-based society, a growing number of people able to vote, a growing state and economy, and Britain’s status as the most powerful empire in the world.

  • he Crimean War is fought against Russia.

  • World War I begins. The United Kingdom fights with Allies against the Central Powers led by Germany.

  • World War I ends.

  • Ireland is granted independence.

  • Women gain equal rights to vote.

  • World War II begins. The United Kingdom joins the Allies against the Axis Powers.

  • The United Kingdom is bombed by the Germans for months during the Battle of Britain.

  • World War II ends.

  • Elizabeth II is crowned queen.

  • Margaret Thatcher becomes the first female prime minister of the United Kingdom.

  • Prince Charles marries Lady Diana.

  • he United Kingdom joins the United States in the Gulf War.

  • Princess Diana dies in a car crash. Britain gives control of Hong Kong to China.

  • modern Britain

  • The Iraq War occurs.

  • Prince William marries Catherine Middleton.