The history of what we now call the United Kingdom is marked by wars between nations, tribes, kings and queens of Europe, invasion and counter invasion, rebellions and social upheaval.
Romans conquered parts of the British mainland between the first and fifth centuries AD, leaving behind some very straight roads, a sewage system and some hot baths. After the Romans, the Jutes, Saxons and Angles established kingdoms south of Hadrian's Wall. The Normans then arrived, killing King Harold with an arrow through the eye at the Battle of Hastings.
Tudor ruler Henry VIII is not only famous for having six wives, but also for breaking away from the Catholic Church, setting up the Church of England, and dissolving monasteries. After Henry, battles between monarchs, and between Scotland and England, often became a tussle between Catholicism and Protestantism. Charles I was beheaded by republican Puritans led by Oliver Cromwell and Catholic James II was overthrown by Dutch William of Orange. Both Cromwell and William of Orange took campaigns into Ireland to claim it for England. Great Britain and Ireland were formally united in 1801 under the name of the United Kingdom.
The reign of Queen Victoria is a period of greatest British economic success and overseas empire. Relations between Britain and Ireland flared into civil war in 1916, and eventually the Irish Free State was created in 1921-22, while the six counties of Northern Ireland stayed within the UK.
The 20th Century was marked by the UK's involvement in two world wars; the end of empire; the extension of the right to vote to women; the creation of the National Health Service and a social security system. Immigration patterns changed, and one of the biggest symbols of this was the arrival of the Windrush from the Caribbean in 1948.
Post-1997 assemblies were set up in Edinburgh, Belfast and Cardiff, devolving policy making on many major issues to local parliaments.
Predominantly Christian (Church of England, Roman Catholic, Presbyterian, Methodist), sizeable Muslim, Sikh, Jewish and Hindu minorities. Around 15% of the population have no religion.
Social conventions:Handshaking is customary when introduced to someone for the first time. One kiss on the cheek is gaining popularity for close friends. Normal social courtesies should be observed when visiting someone's home and a small present such as flowers or chocolates is appreciated. It is polite to wait until everyone has been served before eating.
Some nightclubs and restaurants do not allow jeans and trainers, otherwise casual wear is widely acceptable. For business, a suit and tie should be worn, although in some workplaces an open neck is acceptable.
Topless sunbathing is allowed on certain beaches and tolerated in some parks. Smoking is banned in all enclosed public places, including stations, pubs and restaurants, throughout the UK.
The monarchy, though now only symbolic politically, is a powerful and often subconscious unifying force. Members of the Royal Family are the subject of unceasing fascination, with their every move avidly followed and reported by the popular press, both in the UK and abroad.
The main language is English, but Welsh is spoken in parts of Wales, and Gaelic in parts of Scotland. The many ethnic minorities within the UK also speak their own languages (eg Cantonese, Greek, Hindi, Mandarin, Turkish, Urdu, etc).
