History of England
The account of England’s past, tracing its peoples, kingdoms, institutions, and society from early settlement to the present.
Roman Britain: The period when Rome governed much of Britain, from the conquest beginning in AD 43 to the early fifth century. Roman rule left roads, towns, and political legacies in the territory that became England.
English monarchy: The hereditary institution of kingship and, later, queenship that has governed England and the United Kingdom. Its authority shifted through conquest, civil conflict, and constitutional settlement.
Prehistoric Britain: The history of Britain before written records, from early human presence through the Iron Age. Archaeology reveals the societies that inhabited England before Roman rule.
Alfred the Great: King of Wessex from 871 to 899, known for resisting Viking invasions and promoting learning. His defence and reforms helped preserve a kingdom that later supported English unification.
British Empire: A worldwide system of territories ruled or dominated by Britain over several centuries. English institutions and expansion contributed to the empire’s formation and reach.
Anglo-Saxon England: The early medieval period in which Germanic kingdoms developed across much of what is now England. Its kingdoms and settlements formed the political landscape before the Norman Conquest.
Parliament of England: The legislature of the Kingdom of England, comprising the Crown, the House of Lords, and the House of Commons. Its growing control over taxation and law shaped the state’s political development.
Celtic Britain: The communities and cultures of Iron Age Britain, including those described by ancient writers as Celtic. These societies preceded the Roman conquest and persisted unevenly through it.
William the Conqueror: Duke of Normandy who conquered England in 1066 and ruled as its king until 1087. His victory initiated the Norman transformation of England’s ruling class and institutions.
Industrial Revolution: The transformation from predominantly agrarian economies to mechanized industry, beginning in Britain in the eighteenth century. Industrialization began in England and profoundly changed work, cities, and social relations.