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HistoryofBritain-timelineandfacts

WoodlandsJuniorSchoolisinthesouth-eastcornerofEngland

Timelineofthe

KingsandQueens

HistoryofLondon

HistoryoftheUnionFlag

Thousandsofyearsago,GreatBritainwasjoinedtoEuropeandwascoveredwithice.About15,000yearsago,theweatherbecamewarmer.Theicemeltedandthesealevelrose.GreatBritainbecameanislandabout8000yearsago.

CelticpeoplecalledBritonssettlesinBritain.Theywerewarriorsandfarmerswhowereskilledmetalworkers.Theybuiltvillagesandhillforts,andusedironweaponsandtools.CeltscalledGaelslivedinIreland.

PrehistoricBritain

BC

RomanBritain

43AD

AngloSaxonBritain

450

VikingBritain

793

MedievalBritain

1066

TudorBritain

1485

StuartBritain

1603

GeorgianBritain

1714

VictorianBritain

1837

ModernBritain

1902+

KingandQueensofEngland

Romans

Saxons

Vikings

Normans

Tudors

Victorians

WWll

43

450

793

1066

1485

1837

1939

PrehistoricBritain

ThefirstmenandwomencametoBritainovertwoandahalfmillionyearsago.Theywerehuntersandgatherersoffoodwhousedsimplestonetoolsandweapons.

BC

Britain

Abroad

500,000

PeoplemigratetoBritainfromEurope.

6500

ThelandbridgejoiningBritaintoEuropeisfloodedasthesealevelrises.BritainbecomesanIsland.

3000

NewStoneAgebegins:farmingpeoplearrivefromEurope.

3000

Firststonecircleserected.

2100

BronzeAgebegins

2150

Peoplelearntomakebronzeweaponsandtools

2000

Stonehenge

completed

1650

Traderoutesbegintoform

1200

SmallVillagesarefirstformed

750

IronAgebegins:ironreplacesbronzeasmostusefulmetal.

Populationabout150,000.

500

TheCelticpeoplearrivefromCentralEurope.

TheCelts

werefarmersandlivedinsmallvillagegroupsinthecentreoftheirarablefields.Theywerealsowarlikepeople.TheCeltsfoughtagainstthepeopleofBritainandotherCeltictribes.

Romans

Saxons

Vikings

Normans

Tudors

Victorians

WWll

43

450

793

1066

1485

1837

1939

RomanBritain

TheRomanswerethefirsttoinvadeusandcametoBritainnearly2000yearsago.Theychangedourcountry.TheRomanEmpiremadeitsmarkonBritain,andeventoday,theruinsofRomanbuildings,forts,roads,andbathscanbefoundalloverBritain.

BritainwaspartoftheRomanEmpireforalmost400years!

BythetimetheRomanarmiesleftaround410AD,theyhadestablishedmedicalpractice,alanguageofadministrationandlawandhadcreatedgreatpublicbuildingsandroads.

ManyEnglishwordsarederivedfromthelatinlanguageoftheRomans.

ClickheretofindoutmoreabouttheRomansinBritain.

Britain

Abroad

55BC

JuliusCaesarheadsfirstRomanInvasionbutlaterwithdraws

44BC

44BC

JuliusCaesarismurderedinRome

AD

30

30

JesusCrucified

43

RomansinvadeandBritainbecomespartoftheRomanEmpire

50

LondonFounded

61

BoadicealeadstheIceniinrevoltagainsttheRomans

70

RomansconquerWalesandtheNorth

76

TheEmperorHadrianisborn

80

80

TheColosseumofRomecompleted

122-128

EmperorHadrianbuildsawallontheScottishBorder

140

RomansconquerScotland

209

StAlbanbecomesthe1stChristianmartyr

306

ConstantinetheGreatdeclaredEmperoratYork

350

ThePictsandScotsattacktheborder

401-410

TheRomanswithdrawfromBritain:AngloSaxonsmigrantsbegintoSettle

ClickhereforInformationontheRomans

Romans

Saxons

Vikings

Normans

Tudors

Victorians

WWll

43

450

793

1066

1485

1837

1939

Anglo-SaxonBritain

TheRomanarmyleftBritainaboutAD410.WhentheyhadgonetherewasnostrongarmytodefendBritain,andtribescalledtheAngle,Saxon,andJute(theAnglo-Saxons)invaded.TheylefttheirhomelandsinnorthernGermany,DenmarkandnorthernHollandandrowedacrosstheNorthSeainwoodenboats.

TheAnglo-SaxonsruledmostofBritainbutneverconqueredCornwallinthesouth-west,Walesinthewest,orScotlandinthenorth.Theydividedthecountryintokingdoms.

MissionariesfromRomanspreadChristianityacrosssouthernBritain.

ReadmoreabouttheSaxonsonourHomeworkHelppages

450-750

InvasionoftheJutesfromJutland,AnglesfromSouthofDenmarkandSaxonsfromGermany.

BritainisdividedupintotheSevenKingdomsofNorthumbria,Mercia,Wessex,Essex,SussexandKent.

450

SaxonsHengistandHorsasettleinKent.

460

StPatrickreturnstoconvertIreland

510

TheBattleofMountBadon:BritishvictoryovertheSaxons

597

StAugustinebringsChristianitytoBritainfromRomeandbecomesArchbishopofCanterbury

617

NorthumbriabecomestheSupremeKingdom

779

MerciabecomestheSupremeKingdomandKingOffabuildsaDykealongtheWelshBorder

ClickhereforInformationontheSaxons

Romans

Saxons

Vikings

Normans

Tudors

Victorians

WWll

43

450

793

1066

1485

1837

1939

VikingBritain

TheVikingAgeinBritainbeganabout1,200yearsagointhe8thCenturyADandlastedfor300years.

Readmore

793

FirstinvasionbytheVikings

821

WessexbecomestheSupremeKingdom

866-77

InvasionoftheGreatDanish(Viking)Army.

867

TheVikingstakeNorthumbria

871

KingAlfreddefeatstheVikingsbutallowsthemtosettleinEasternEngland

886

TheNorthsubjectedtotheDanelaw,therulesoftheVikings

889

TheAngloSaxonChroniclestarts

926

EasternEngland(Danelaw)isconqueredbytheSaxons

1016

KingCanuteofDenmarkcapturestheEnglishCrown

1042

EdwardtheConfessorbecomesKing

1055

WestminsterAbbeyiscompleted

ClickhereforInformationontheVikings

Romans

Saxons

Vikings

Normans

Tudors

Victorians

WWll

43

450

793

1066

1485

1837

1939

TheMiddleAges-MedievalBritain(Normans)

TheMiddleAgesinBritaincoverahugeperiod.TheytakeusfromtheshockoftheNormanConquest,whichbeganin

1066

,tothedevastingBlackDeathof1348,theHundredYears'WarwithFranceandtheWaroftheRoses,whichfinallyendedin1485.

TheNormansbuiltimpressive

castles

,imposedafeudalsystemandcarriedoutacensusofthecountry.

1066

TheBattleofStamfordBridge:

SaxonvictoryoverinvadingVikings

1066

TheBattleofHastings

:TheinvadingNormansdefeattheSaxons

WilliamofNormandydefeatsHaroldwithaluckyshotandbecomesKingofEngland-NormanConquest

1070

WorkstartsonCanterburyCathedral

1078

Workstartson

TheTowerofLondon

1080-1100

Greatmonasteryandcathedralbuildingbegins

1086

TheDomesdayBookiscompiled,acompleteinventoryofBritain

1154

WorkstartsonYorkMinster

1167

OxfordUniversityFounded

1170

ArchbishopofCanterbury,ThomasaBecketismurderedbytheknightsofHenryII

1170

Populationof

London

exceeds30,000forthefirsttime

1174

WorkstartsonWellsCathedral

1215

CivilWar

1215

TheMagnaCartaissignedbyKingJohn

1220

WorkstartsonSalisbury

1282-1283

KingEdwardconquersWales.LlewellynabGruffydd,thecountry'slastprinceiskilled

1296

KingEdwardinvadesScotlandandtakestheStoneofDestinyfromSconetoWestminster

1297

TheBattleofStirlingBridge

TheScotsunderWilliamWallacedefeattheEnglish

1298

TheBattleofFalkirk.KingEdwarddefeatsWallace.

1306

RobertBrucecrownedKingoftheScots

1314

ScotsledbyRoberttheBrucedefeattheEnglishatthebattleofBannockburn

1321-22

CivilWar

1337

KingEdwardclaimstheThroneofFrance

1337-1453

HundredYears'WarwithFrance

1348-49

TheBlackDeath(bubonicplague)arrivedinEnglandandkillednearlyhalfofthepopulation

1387

GeoffreyChaucerstartswritingtheCanterburyTales

1415

EnglishdefeattheFrenchatthebattleofAgincourt

1453

TheHundredYearsWaragainstFranceends

1455

CivilWar:TheWaroftheRosesstarts

ClickhereforInformationontheNormans

Romans

Saxons

Vikings

Normans

Tudors

Victorians

WWll

43

450

793

1066

1485

1837

1939

TudorBritain

TheTudorswereaWelsh-EnglishfamilythatruledEnglandfrom1485to1603-oneofthemostexcitingperiodsofBritishhistory.HenryVIII'smatrimonialdifficultiesledtothesplitwithCatholicism.HenrymadehimselfheadoftheChurchofEngland.

ReadmoreaboutTudorBritain

1485

TheWaroftheRosesendsattheBattleofBosworth.HenryVllcrownedking.

1497

JohnCabotsailsfromBristolaboardthe'Matthew'anddiscoversNorthAmerica

1509-1547

HenryVlllsucceedstothethrone

1513

EnglishdefeattheScotsattheBattleofFlodden

1534

HenryVIIIformsthe'ChurchofEngland

'.Henryisconfirmedas'SupremeHeadoftheChurchofEngland'followingaparliamentaryActofSupremacy

1536

ActofUnionjoinsEnglandandWales

1536-39

Destructionorclosureof560monasteriesandreligioushouses

1542

Mary,QueenofScotslaysclaimtotheEnglishthrone

1558

ElizabethIbeginsher45yearreign

1570

SirFrancisDrakesetssailforhisfirstvoyagetotheWestIndies

1587

QueenElizabethIexecutesMary,QueenofScots

1588

TheEnglishdefeattheSpanishArmada

1591

Firstperformanceofaplayby

WilliamShakespeare

1600

FirstBritishinvolvementintheIndiancontinent-EastIndiaCompanyformed.

PopulationofBritainjustover4million

ClickhereforInformationontheTudors

StuartBritain

TheStuartshadruledScotlandsince1371,butJamesVIofScotlandwasthefirstStuartkingofEngland.

1603

JamesVIofScotlandbecomesJamesIofEnglandunitingthetwokingdoms

1605

GuyFawkes

isthwartedwhenhetriestoblowupParliament.

1606

TheUnionFlag

adoptedastheNationalFlag

1620

ThePilgrimFatherssetsailforNewEnglandfromPlymouth,aboardthe'Mayflower'

1624-30

WarwithSpain

1626-9

WarwithFrance

1629

ParliamentdissolvedbyKingCharles

1642-1651

CivilWar

1649

KingCharlesexecuted

1649-1650

Cromwell'sconquestofIreland

1650-1652

Cromwell'sconquestofScotland

1652

Tea

arrivesinBritain

1653

CromwellproclaimedLordProtector

1660

RestorationoftheMonarchyunderKingCharlesII

1664-1665

The

GreatPlague

breaksoutandupto100,000peopledieinLondon

1666

GreatFireofLondon

1689

EnglishBillofrights1689

FromnowonEngland'smonarchswouldruleinpartnershipwithParliament.AllCatholicsbarredfromtheEnglishthrone.

1692

WilliamIIImassacrestheJacobitesatGlencoe

1707

ActofUnionbetweenScotlandand

England

.TheScottishparliamentwasdissolvedandEnglandandScotlandbecameonecountry.

GeorgianBritain

In1714theBritishthronepassedtoaGermanfamily,theHanoverians.

1714

GeorgeofHanover,GermanysucceedsQueenAnnetotheThrone

1721

SirRobertWalpolebecomesthefirstPrimeMinister

1746

BonniePrinceCharlieisdefeatedattheBattleofCulloden

1757

FirstcanalinBritainiscompleted

1776

AmericadeclaresindependencefromBritain

1780's

IndustrialRevolutionBegins

1783

SteampoweredcottonmillinventedbySirRichardArkwright

1788

FirstconvictshipsaresenttoAustralia

1796

EdwardJennerinventedavaccinationagainstsmallpox

1800

ActofUnionwithIreland

1801

Thefirstcensus.PopulationofBritain8million

IrelandmadepartoftheUnitedKingdom

1804

RichardTrevithickbuiltthefirststeamlocomotive

1805

LordNelsondefeatsNapoleonattheBattleofTrafalgar

1807

AbolitionofSlaveTrade

1815

DukeofWellingtondefeatsNapoleonattheBattleofWaterloo

1825

World'sfirstrailwayopensbetweenStocktonandDarlington

1829

RobertPeelsetuptheMetropolitanPoliceforce

1834

ThePoorLawsetupworkhouses,wherepeoplewithouthomesorjobscouldliveinreturnfordoingunpaidwork.

Romans

Saxons

Vikings

Normans

Tudors

Victorians

WWll

43

450

793

1066

1485

1837

1939

VictorianBritain

xTheVictorianslivedoveronehundredandfiftyyearsagoduringthereignofQueenVictoria(1837to1901)andwasatimeofenormouschangeinthiscountry.In1837mostpeoplelivedinvillagesandworkedontheland;by1901,mostlivedintownsandworkedinoffices,shopsandfactories.

Readmore

1837

QueenVictoria

becomesQueenattheageof18

1840

Thefirstpostagestamps(PennyPost)cameintouse

1842

MinesActendedchildlabour

1845-1849

IrelandsufferedtheGreatPotatoFaminewhenentirecropsofpotatoes,thestapleIrishfood,wereruined.Thefaminewasaconsequenceoftheappearanceofblight,thepotatofungus.About800,000peoplediedasaresultofthefamine.AlargenumberofpeoplemigratedtoBritain,theUnitedStates,CanadaandAustralia.

1850s

Thefirstpostboxeswerebuilt

1851

TheGreatExhibition

CensusshowedjustoverhalfofBritain'spopulation(of20million)livedintowns

1854

CrimeanWar

1854

Acholeraepidemicledtodemandsforacleanwatersupplyandpropersewagesystemsinthebigcities

1856

BritaindefeatsRussiaintheCrimeanWar

1860

Thefirstpublicflushingtoiletopens

1861

DeathofPrinceAlbert

1863

LondonUndergroundopens

ThefoundationoftheFootballAssociation

1868

JosephListerdiscoversdisinfectant

1868

Thelastpublichanging

1869

ThefirstSainsbury'sshopopeninDuryLane,London

1870

EducationActmeansschoolforeveryone

1871

QueenVictoriaopenstheAlbertHall

1876

AlexanderBellinventedthetelephone

Primaryeducationwasmadecompulsory

1877

ThefirstpublicelectriclightinginLondon

1883

Firstelectricrailway

1887

Theinventionofthegramophone

1891

Freeeducationforeverychild

1901

PopulationofBritain40million

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