Page 68 - Key to Social Studies 5

The History of the United Kingdom

• The United Kingdom built one of the world’s biggest empires and controlled many countries around the

world. It also played a major role in the World Wars. The United Kingdom was one of the European Union

members, but in 2016, the people of Great Britain voted to leave the Union. This was formally

announced in 2017 and became internationally known as Brexit.

• The United Kingdom is a political collection of four countries: England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern

Ireland.

• In 55 B.C.E., the Romans conquered Britain, making it part of the Roman Empire for many years. This

brought Britain into contact with other countries of Europe rather than being isolated. After the decline

of the Roman Empire, many invaders attacked and conquered Britain, including the Vikings, the Saxons,

and nally the Normans in 1066.

• King Edward I, the King of England, conquered Wales in 1283. The two countries of England and Wales

uni ed, or came together, in 1536.

The Roman Empire map

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