1_The_United_Kingdom_of_Great_Britain_and_Northern_Ireland

In the 5th century, there was an invasion of the Anglo-Saxons. They were Germanic tribes and they brought the language.

The first population in England was actually a mixture of all the tribes - Anglo-Saxons, Romans, Celts, Scots and many more.

In the 8th century the country faced the Viking invasion. The Vikings stood there until the 11th century.

Then, the Normans with William the Conqueror came to Britain and defeated the Anglo-Saxons in the Battle of Hastings in 1066. After this William the Conqueror became a king of England.

Another famous battles in English history were for example the Hundred Year’s War against France or the War of Roses for the English throne. The Lancasters won and started to reign as the Tudors in the 16th century. Some of the famous Tudors kings were Henry VIII. or Elizabeth I.

Henry VIII. founded the Church of England, because the Roman-Catholic religion didn’t allow a divorce. He had six wives but none of them were able to give him a son. His successor became his daughter Elisabeth I. When she reigned, she supported the sea voyages and culture and theatre, too. Tudors were later replaced by the Stuarts.

In 1707, the United Kingdom was formed to permanent union by England, Wales and Scotland. The Ireland joined in 1800.

Later during the reign of the Queen Victoria, England was the biggest colonial power in the world. This age is called the Victorian era. Great Britain exported the cotton and metal goods to Africa. From Africa they transported the slaves to West Indies to work there at the sugarcane plantations. And finally they brought the sugar back to Great Britain. In this time they gained a lot of oversea territories, which have been known since 1931 as the Commonwealth countries.

In 1922, the Ireland became independent, except the Northern Ireland, so the United Kindom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was created as we know it these days. During the two World Wars, the UK still held an important part in Europe and it helds it until today. It is also one of the founder members of the European Union.

These days, the UK is one of the world’s greatest trading powers and financial centres and it also plays a great role in industry. It’s also a country that is very popular for tourists, who come to see the capital city or other interesting places and also the beautiful countryside

Northern Ireland = Ulster (6 countries)

1. 12th century – the Normans colonized the Ireland

2. 16th century – Henry VII. founded the Church of England

• the Irish supported the Roman-Catholic Church → fight

1. 16th century – Elisabeth I. started the plantation of Ireland from Scotland

• the ‚planters‘ industrialized the area x south was agricultural

1. 17th century – the Civil War → the Irish supported Oliver Cromwell

2. 1840s – the Great famine because of the potato fungus

→ emigration to the USA

→ bigger differences between the poor south and rich north

1. 1922 – ‚The Irish Free State‘

• NI voted and joined to GB