Britain’s history broadly encompasses England’s history, Scotland’s history, the history of Wales, and Ireland’s history. The history of Britain covers a rich panorama of thousands of years that can be broadly categorized into four distinct periods.
The four distinct periods in which British history can be divided are:
- Early Civilization – 4000BC to 1066
- The medieval period from the Norman Conquest to the time of Cromwell
- Late 17th century up to the end of World War I
- Modern History of Britain
The early civilization covers the period from Stone Age to the early settlers who came to the shores of Britain. The Romans were among the first people to invade Britain. By 60 AD they controlled most of Britain and extended their rule to the south of River Humber.
After the Romans left, the Anglo Saxons invaded Britain. They were of Germanic origin. The Anglo-Saxon period was one of the most illustrious epochs of British history when Britain started to take the shape of a well-defined nation-state. The Normans consolidated their conquest in 1066 after they forced the Anglo Saxons to leave the shores. They were followed by the Plantagenet, the Lancaster, and the York dynasties.
The end of the War of Roses started a new phase in British history. This period of history witnessed the reign of Henry VIII and Elizabeth I. During the years 1660 to 1918 Britain went through various revolutions, which lay the foundation of the British Empire. From 1815 to 1914 Britain reached its zenith of glory, which was characterized by power, peace, and prosperity. Britain played a key part in World War II. Post-war Britain underwent a sea wave of social change. In spite of the turmoil and obstacles, modern Britain has been recognized as one of the most powerful nations in Europe.
Wars have been a continuing feature of British history. Time and again, they have reshaped the political map of the land. The early wars continued at regular successions from 500A.D. to 1000 A.D., which resulted in Malcolm II winning the throne of Scotland. Owing to the wars, Scotland emerged as a separate nation from England.
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