History

Britain separated from the continent

Rising sea levels after the Ice Age cut Britain off from mainland Europe.

First farmers arrive / Stonehenge Common

Came to Britain from South-East Europe. Stonehenge in Wiltshire was probably a special gathering place for seasonal ceremonies. Skara Brae on Orkney is the best-preserved prehistoric village in northern Europe.

The test might ask: What was Stonehenge probably used for?

Bronze Age begins / Iron Age Common

Bronze Age people lived in roundhouses and buried dead in round barrows. In the Iron Age, people lived in hill forts — Maiden Castle in Dorset is the most impressive. They spoke Celtic languages, were farmers, craft workers and warriors, and minted the first coins in Britain inscribed with kings' names.

The test might ask: Where is a well-known Iron Age hill fort?

Failed Roman invasion

Julius Caesar attempts first Roman-led invasion but fails.

Successful Roman invasion

Emperor Claudius successfully invaded Britain.

Boudicca's rebellion

Queen of the Iceni tribe, led a rebellion against the Romans. Her statue stands on Westminster Bridge.

Hadrian's Wall built Common

Emperor Hadrian built a wall in northern England to keep out the Picts. The forts of Housesteads and Vindolanda can still be seen. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The test might ask: Why was Hadrian's Wall built?

Romans leave Britain

Roman army leaves to defend Rome and never returns.

Anglo-Saxon kingdoms Common

Angles, Saxons, and Jutes from northern Europe settled in Britain. Gave England its name (Angle-land). Sutton Hoo burial site dates from this era. Missionaries spread Christianity: St Augustine from Rome became the first Archbishop of Canterbury; St Columba founded a monastery on Iona; St Patrick became patron saint of Ireland.

The test might ask: Who was the first Archbishop of Canterbury?

Vikings arrive / Danelaw Common

Came from Norway and Denmark, eventually defeated by King Alfred the Great. Viking settlers stayed in the east and north of England in an area known as the Danelaw — place names like Grimsby and Scunthorpe come from Viking languages. The first Danish king of England was Cnut (Canute).

The test might ask: What was the Danelaw?

Kenneth MacAlpin unites Scotland

Viking threats encouraged the northern peoples to unite under Kenneth MacAlpin. The term 'Scotland' began to be used for the country.

Norman Conquest Common

William (Duke of Normandy) the Conqueror wins Battle of Hastings and invades Britain. The battle is commemorated in the Bayeux Tapestry, a piece of embroidery nearly 70 metres long which can still be seen in France.

The test might ask: In which year did the Norman Conquest take place?

Magna Carta Common

The King is subject to the Law. Signed by King John.

The test might ask: What was agreed in 1215 that limited the king's power?

→ Result: the king is now subject to the law

Statute of Rhuddlan

King Edward I annexes Wales.

Battle of Bannockburn

Robert the Bruce (Scots) wins against the English.

Black Death

Kills 1/3 of the population. After which a new class 'the gentry' appeared — owners of large areas of land.

Battle of Agincourt

Henry V wins during the Hundred Years War against France.

Start of the Wars of the Roses

Houses of Lancaster (red rose) and York (white rose).

End of Wars of the Roses / Reformation begins

Battle of Bosworth. Lancaster wins over York. Henry VII becomes Tudor king. End of Middle Ages, start of the Reformation. England broke from Rome under Henry VIII (1530s); Scotland's Parliament abolished papal authority in 1560 and established a Protestant Church of Scotland.

Edward VI — Book of Common Prayer

Henry VIII's son, strongly Protestant. During his reign the Book of Common Prayer was written for use in the Church of England. He died aged 15 after ruling for just six years.

Mary I — 'Bloody Mary'

Devout Catholic who persecuted Protestants, earning the nickname 'Bloody Mary.' She died after a short reign and was succeeded by her half-sister Elizabeth.

Spanish Armada defeated Common

Elizabeth I defeats Spanish invasion to convert Britain to Catholicism. Sir Francis Drake, one of the commanders, had earlier circumnavigated the world in the Golden Hind.

The test might ask: Who defeated the Spanish Armada?

James I — End of Tudor period

James VI of Scotland becomes James I of England. During the reigns of Elizabeth I and James I, the English government encouraged Protestant settlers from Scotland and England to settle in Ulster (the 'plantations'), taking land from Catholic landholders.

King James Bible

A new translation of the Bible into English, known as the 'King James Version' or the 'Authorised Version'. It continues to be used in many Protestant churches today.

Guy Fawkes / Gunpowder Plot

Catholics try to bomb Parliament to kill the Protestant king on 5th November.

English Civil War begins

After Charles I asked Parliament for money. Cavaliers (king) vs Roundheads (parliament). Key battles: Marston Moor (1644) and Naseby (1645).

Britain becomes a republic

After Charles I is executed. England declared itself a republic, called the Commonwealth.

First Jews in England / Cromwell dies 1658

Cromwell lets Jews return to England for the first time since the Middle Ages. Oliver Cromwell, the Lord Protector, died in 1658; his son Richard could not control the government, leading to calls for a king.

Charles II returns — The Restoration

He hid in an oak tree after being defeated at the Battle of Worcester (1651). Ends 11 years of republic.

The Plague

Great Plague of London.

Great Fire of London

Destroyed much of the city including many churches and St Paul's Cathedral. London was rebuilt with a new St Paul's designed by the famous architect Sir Christopher Wren. Samuel Pepys wrote about the plague and fire in his diary, which is still read today.

Habeas Corpus Act

You must present the person in court — protection against unlawful detention.

Glorious Revolution & Bill of Rights Common

In 1688, Protestant leaders invited William of Orange to invade England. James II fled to France. The Bill of Rights (1689) gave Parliament more control over the King — constitutional monarchy begins.

The test might ask: What did the Bill of Rights establish?

→ Result: constitutional monarchy begins

Huguenots arrive from France Common

French Protestant refugees called Huguenots fled persecution and came to Britain. They were educated and skilled, working as scientists, in banking, and in weaving and other crafts.

The test might ask: Who were the Huguenots?

Battle of the Boyne

James flees to France with Jacobite supporters. William wins. The MacDonalds of Glencoe were killed for being late in swearing loyalty to William — the Glencoe massacre made some Scots distrust the new government.

Free press begins

Newspapers can operate without government licence.

Act of Union

Kingdom of Great Britain is created, joining Scotland with England and Wales.

Act of Union — Ireland Common

Ireland joined to create the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. The Union Flag combined three crosses: St George (England, red cross on white), St Andrew (Scotland, white diagonal on blue), St Patrick (Ireland, red diagonal on white). Wales is not on the flag because it was already united with England when the first Union Flag was created in 1606.

The test might ask: Why is Wales not represented on the Union Flag?

Slave trade abolished

It became illegal to trade slaves in British ships or from British ports. William Wilberforce and other abolitionists campaigned for decades to change the law.

King George I

A German becomes king. His poor English increased his reliance on ministers, leading to Sir Robert Walpole becoming the first Prime Minister.

Bonnie Prince Charlie / Highland Clearances

Charles Edward Stuart (grandson of James II) tries to get the throne with Scots' help but loses at the Battle of Culloden. Afterwards, Scottish landlords destroyed small farms ('crofts') for sheep farming. Mass evictions became common in the early 19th century; many Scots left for North America.

Industrial Revolution

Britain became the first industrial nation. Richard Arkwright improved the carding machine and pioneered the factory system. James Watt improved the steam engine.

American colonies declare independence

13 colonies declare independence from UK.

Battle of Trafalgar

British navy defeats Spanish and French. Admiral Nelson dies in the battle.

Battle of Waterloo

Duke of Wellington defeats Napoleon.

The Great Reform Act Common

Extended voting rights to middle-class men and abolished rotten boroughs.

The Chartists

Campaigners called the Chartists presented petitions to Parliament demanding six reforms for working-class voting rights. By 1918, most of their demands had been achieved.

Emancipation Act

End of slavery in the British Empire.

The test might ask: In which year was slavery abolished in the British Empire?

→ Result: slavery abolished throughout the British Empire

Queen Victoria begins reign Common

At the age of 18, she ruled for almost 64 years — the Victorian age.

Corn Laws repealed

The government repealed the Corn Laws, which had prevented the import of cheap grain. This helped British industry by allowing cheaper raw materials.

Great Exhibition

In Hyde Park, Crystal Palace.

Crimean War

Britain, France and Turkey fight Russia. Florence Nightingale nursed soldiers in Turkey and transformed hospital conditions. First conflict reported with photographs.

Second Reform Act

Extended voting rights to working-class men in towns.

Boer War Common

Britain fought in South Africa against Dutch settlers called the Boers. The war lasted over three years and made people question whether the Empire could continue.

The test might ask: Who were the Boers?

World War I Common

Triggered by assassination of Austrian Archduke Franz Ferdinand. More than 2 million British casualties. More than a million Indians fought for Britain; around 40,000 were killed. The Battle of the Somme (July 1916) saw about 60,000 British casualties on the first day alone. In 1916, there was also an uprising (the Easter Rising) against the British in Dublin — the leaders were executed under military law.

End of WW1 / Women vote at 30 Common

War ends on 11th November. Women can vote at the age of 30.

The test might ask: At what age could women first vote in 1918?

→ Result: women over 30 can vote for the first time

Also: End of WWI on 11 November

Ireland splits / BBC Radio

6 Protestant counties remain, the rest becomes Irish Free State. BBC radio also begins.

Also: BBC radio begins

Equal voting age Common

Women can vote at the same age as men: 21.

The test might ask: In which year did women gain equal voting rights with men?

First TV demonstration / BBC regular service 1936

Scotsman John Logie Baird developed television in the 1920s. In 1932, he made the first television broadcast between London and Glasgow. The BBC started the world's first regular television service in 1936.

Great Depression

Global economic crisis.

Radar invented

By Sir Robert Watson-Watt.

World War II Common

Germany invades Poland. Battle of Britain (1940): the RAF — using Spitfires and Hurricanes — defeated the German Luftwaffe. The German bombing of UK cities was called the Blitz; Coventry was almost totally destroyed. Over 300,000 men rescued from Dunkirk with help from civilian volunteers ('Dunkirk spirit'). D-Day (6 June 1944). Ends with German defeat and atom bomb on Japan.

R.A. Butler's Education Act

The Education Act 1944 (the 'Butler Act') introduced free secondary education in England and Wales. The division between primary and secondary schools it created still exists today.

Labour Government / Welfare State

Clement Attlee becomes PM. The Beveridge Report (1942) had identified five 'Giant Evils': Want, Disease, Ignorance, Squalor, and Idleness. Attlee's government nationalised industries and built the welfare state based on Beveridge's recommendations.

NHS created Common

By minister Aneurin (Nye) Bevan.

The test might ask: Who introduced the National Health Service?

→ Result: free healthcare for all, funded by taxation

Also: Windrush arrivals from the Caribbean

Independence for nine countries

Independence was granted to nine countries, including India, Pakistan and Ceylon (now Sri Lanka).

Ireland becomes a republic

Ireland officially became a republic in 1949.

Post-war immigration

People from the West Indies were invited to come and work in the UK. Industries also recruited workers from India, Pakistan and later Bangladesh. Immigration continued for about 25 years. The Empire Windrush (1948) is the symbolic beginning.

European Economic Community (EEC) formed

West Germany, France, Belgium, Italy, Luxembourg and the Netherlands formed the EEC. The UK did not join until 1973.

Decolonisation / 'Wind of Change'

Many former colonies gained independence. PM Harold Macmillan's famous 'wind of change' speech about decolonisation reflected the shifting balance of power.

The Troubles begin

In Northern Ireland. Over 3,000 people died. Also: voting age lowered to 18 for men and women.

Concorde — supersonic passenger aircraft Common

Developed jointly by Britain and France. First flew in 1969, began carrying passengers in 1976, and was retired from service in 2003.

The test might ask: Which countries jointly developed Concorde?

UK joins EEC

European Economic Community.

Margaret Thatcher — first woman PM

Conservative PM. Privatised nationalised industries. Longest-serving PM of the 20th century. Led Britain during the Falklands War (1982) when Argentina invaded the Falkland Islands — a British naval taskforce recovered the islands.

World Wide Web invented

By Sir Tim Berners-Lee.

Tony Blair / Devolution

Labour government creates Scottish Parliament and Welsh Assembly.

Good Friday Agreement Common

Brought peace to Northern Ireland after The Troubles (over 3,000 deaths). Established the Northern Ireland Assembly.

The test might ask: What agreement brought peace to Northern Ireland?

→ Result: peace in Northern Ireland, NI Assembly established

Brexit Referendum

UK votes to leave the European Union.

UK leaves the EU

Brexit is completed.