British Isles History: England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland

British Isles: Nations and Historical Development

Nations of the UK and the Political Union

People often call the UK "Britain" or even "England," but that is not strictly correct: England is only one of four nations (England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland), and the full political union was completed in 1801.

Ethnic and Linguistic Differences

Historically, these nations differed ethnically: Ireland, Wales, and the Scottish Highlands were mainly Celtic, while England and the Scottish Lowlands were mostly of Germanic origin.

These differences showed up in languages (Irish Gaelic, Scottish Gaelic, Welsh versus Germanic dialects that became English), as well as in law, society, and economy.

Modern Identities and Cultural Dominance

Today the differences are smaller, but Welsh, Scottish, and Irish identities remain strong even with a shared state and passport. English institutions and culture became dominant because England historically managed to bring the other lands under its control.

Celtic Iron Age and Ancient Monuments

In ancient times the British Isles had a Celtic Iron Age culture, and Britain is also famous for very old monuments such as Stonehenge and Silbury Hill.

Roman Britain and Its Legacy

During the Roman period (43–410), Roman rule covered mainly England and Wales, and Roman influence was strongest in towns, not in the countryside. The Romans left relatively few deep cultural traces, apart from roads, ruins, and place-names like Chester from castra ("camp").

Angles, Saxons, and Migration

In the 5th century, Angles and Saxons arrived, settled the southeast, and by the end of the 6th century dominated most of England, pushing Celts west into Wales and other regions.

The Spread of Christianity

Christianity spread in the 6th–7th centuries, from the southeast with St Augustine (597) and from the north through Irish missions.

Viking Age and Resistance

In the 8th–9th centuries, Vikings came from Scandinavia; their advance was checked by Alfred of Wessex, and many Vikings later accepted Christianity.

Unification of England and Scotland

By the end of the 10th century, England was largely united as one kingdom, while most of Scotland was (at least formally) united in a Gaelic kingdom.

Norman Conquest and Feudal Society

After the Norman Conquest of 1066, a strict feudal system developed, and society split linguistically and socially between Norman elites and English peasants—one source of later class divisions.

Wales, Parliament, and the English Crown

In the late 13th century Wales was brought under the English crown (hence the title Prince of Wales for the monarch’s eldest son). Welsh stayed strong because central Wales saw little Saxon or Norman settlement, and "parliament" (from French parler, "to speak") began evolving as an assembly around the king.