The UK has one of the most exciting histories in the world. We can count the history from 15 000 B.C., when 1ST evidences about activity of people are known. So it's clear, that it's impossible to mention all facts and events in British history. So I'm going to speak only about the most important, well-known events.
In about 750 B.C. the Celts appeared on the islands. They are considered the first tribe, which appeared there. They were divided into several tribes. The ablest of them were the Britons, from whom the British Isles take their name.
During the 1ST century B.C. and the 1ST century A.D. Romans attacked British Isles. Firstly it was Julius Caesar with his troops, who crossed the Channel and inveded Britain. But he didn't come to settle, he came only to conquer, to govern by right of superior civil 23323f522x ization. About 100 years later, Britain was finally conqeuered, except northern part of it, where some enemy tribes stayed. In 122 the Hadrian's Wall was built as a protection against those tribes. In the 5TH century situation of the Roman Empire deteriorated. Romans withdraw from Britain. From that time Angles and Saxons started to settle in Britain. They came from north Europe and they established 7 kingdoms, which were finally united by Alfred the Great, who also defeated Vikings, a tribe from Scandinavia, which attacked Scotland and was succesfully advancing through England, until the defeat by Alfred.
1066 is very famous date in Britain history. In this year French Duke William of Normandy and his troops invaded to England. William met with Angl-saxon king Harold and his army at the Battle of Hastings. Harold's army was exhausted by fights with Vikings. Those fights took place in Scotland only 3 days before the Battle of Hastings. Due to this Anglo-saxons were defeated, Harold was killed in that battle. A new era of history began.
In 1215 weak and wicked King John was forced by nobles to sign the Great Charter. From that year the King was weaker and the people stronger. The Great Charter is still valid nowadays and it can be considered one of the oldest constitution in the world. An interesting story is conected with the person of John. It's about Robin Hood and his people, who fought John for many years.
At the end of the 13TH century Wales was conqeuered (since that time, the 1ST prince is called the Prince of Wales). Also the Parliament was firstly summoned (obeslán).
From 1337 to 1453 Englishmen fought France in The Hundred Year's War. The reason of the war was demand of English king to get French throne. In one of many battles also Czech King fought. It was in 1348 at the battle of Crécy and our blind king John of Luxemburg met a hero's death while fighting for the French. The war ended in England's defeat.
Another war took place only in Britain. It was The War of the Roses - a struggle between two powerful branches of royal family. Their emblems were roses. One branch was called the House of York. The House of Lancaster was the second one. After 30 years of fights the House of Lanc. won.
Henry VIII. is well-known English king, he married six wives, most of them were executed. When the Pope didn't allow him to divorce with one of his wives, Henry established new church called The Church of England and bebcame its head. Henry was also 1ST king with title King of Ireland.
The beginning of the 16TH century is called the Elizabethan Age. During that time, Britain was under rule of Elizabeth I.. The kingdom flourished especially culture. E.g. W.Shakespeare was producting his greatest plays and poems in that period. First colony in America - Virginia - was founded.
After Elizabeth the Stuarts Kings ruled. Their reign was bad and led to the Civil War between Royalists and Parlamentarians. The King was even executed and Britain became republic for short period under rule of dictator Oliver Cromwell. But after his death, monarchy wasestablished again.
In 1665 London was attacked by outbreak of plague, called the Great Plague. One year later London was almost destroyed by the Great Fire.
In 1707 - The United Kingdom of Great Britain (Eng+Sco) was established by Act of Union.
In 1776 - the USA was established in the Declaration of Independence and British unsuccesfully fought with Americans.
In 1801 the UK of GB and Ireland was established. 4 years later the famous English seaman, admiral Nelson, met Napoleon's fleet at the Battle of Trafalgar. Frenchmen were defeated, but Nelson died.
In the 19TH century the most important ruler was the Queen Victoria. She ruled over 60 years and during her reign the UK extended all around the world. A small island nation build up probably the greatest empire in history of the world. That was period of peace for Britain. New Zealand, Hong Kong became English colonies, elementary education became free, Canada became tne 1ST self-governing dominion.
In the 20TH century the British Empire starts to decline.
Firstly the UK was threatened by German submarines and ships in the W.W.I. But the main fights took place in west Europe, in France, where millions of young men lost their lives in terrible battles of W.W.I. This war was 1ST, wher supermodern weapons as planes, submarines and efficient riffles, machine guns and tanks were used. In 4 years of war (1914-18) a new form of war was used - a the ditch war. In this form of war , thousands of soldier were attacking ditches of enemies. In those bloody strikes, troops were massacred by enemy machine guns. The war in the west was started by German, who attacked France trough Belgium, but they were stopped by Frenchmen and BEF. In 1918 were Germans pushed back and defeated.
In 21 years between world wars, the UK continued to decline ...
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