A visual journey through British history for the Life in the UK test
Located on the north-east coast of Northern Ireland, the Giant's Causeway is a land formation of columns made from volcanic lava.
Britain became permanently separated from the continent by the Channel (10,000 years ago).
The first farmers arrived in Britain (about 6,000 years ago). The ancestors of these first farmers probably came from south-east Europe.
People lived in roundhouses, made metal tools, and buried their dead in tombs called round barrows.
First coins were minted. Maiden Castle, an important Iron Age hill fort, was built.
Roman Julius Caesar tried (and failed) to invade Britain.
Roman Emperor Claudius successfully invaded (most of) Britain.
Boudicca, queen of the Iceni tribe, led a major uprising against the Romans.
Emperor Hadrian built Hadrian's Wall to mark the northern boundary of the Roman Empire in Britain.
The first Christian communities began to appear in Britain.
The Roman army left Britain to defend other parts of the Roman Empire and never returned.
Anglo-Saxon kingdoms were established in Britain (mainly in England).
The Vikings came from Denmark and Norway. They first visited Britain to raid coastal towns and take away goods and slaves. Then, they began to stay and form their own communities in the east of England and Scotland.
The Norman Conquest led by William the Conqueror, the Duke of Normandy, defeated Harold Godwinson, the Saxon King of England, at the Battle of Hastings (last time England was successfully invaded). Harold was killed in the battle.
Magna Carta (which means the Great Charter) signed by King John (forced by noblemen).
King Edward I introduced the Statute of Rhuddlan, which annexed Wales to the Crown of England. Huge castles, including Conwy and Caernarfon, were built to maintain this power.
The Scottish, led by Robert the Bruce, defeated the English at the battle of Bannockburn. Scotland remained unconquered by the English.
Black Death (a form of plague) comes to Britain, killing a significant portion of the population.
One of the most famous battles of the Hundred Years War. King Henry V's vastly outnumbered English army defeated the French.
A civil war between the supporters of House of Lancaster (red rose) and the House of York (white rose), to decide who should be king of England.
The Wars of the Roses ended with the Battle of Bosworth Field.
King Henry VIII became king of England. He had 6 wives.
Henry VIII died. He was succeeded by his son King Edward VI.
The predominantly Protestant Scottish Parliament abolished the authority of the Pope in Scotland and Roman Catholic religious services became illegal. A Protestant Church of Scotland with an elected leadership was established.
Mary Queen of Scots (Catholic) flees to England → imprisoned for 20 years then executed.
English Sir Francis Drake defeated the Spanish Armada (a large fleet of invading ships), which had been sent by Spain to conquer England and restore Catholicism.
Queen Elizabeth I became one of the most popular monarchs in English history after this.
Elizabeth I dies childless, James VI of Scotland becomes James I of England, also became King of England, Wales and Ireland.
A group of Catholics led by Guy Fawkes failed in their plan to kill the Protestant king with a bomb in the Houses of Parliament. This is the origin of the Bonfire Night celebration on the 5th November.
First union flag created. The Welsh dragon does not appear on the Union Flag because, when the first Union Flag was created from the flags of Scotland and England, the Principality of Wales was already united with England.
A civil war between the king (Charles I) (the Cavaliers) and Parliament (Cromwell) (the Roundheads).
1649: King Charles I executed by beheading, Oliver Cromwell becomes "Lord Protector", leader of republic.
"The Restoration": Parliament invited King Charles II to come back from exile in the Netherlands and instated as king.
A great fire destroyed much of London, including many churches and St Paul's Cathedral. London was rebuilt with a new St Paul's, designed by Sir Christopher Wren. Samuel Pepys wrote about these events in his famous diary.
Important Protestants in England asked William of Orange to invade England and proclaim himself King William III. King James II fled and William became King. This is the Glorious Revolution.
The Bill of Rights confirmed the rights of Parliament and the limits of the king's power. Parliament took control of who could be monarch and declared that the king or queen must be a Protestant. This marks the beginning of constitutional monarchy.
The Act of Union, known as the Treaty of Union in Scotland, was agreed, creating the Kingdom of Great Britain.
Sir Robert Walpole became the first Prime Minister in British history.
13 American states declare their independence. Britain recognised the American colonies' independence in 1783.
Ireland became unified with England, Scotland and Wales after the Act of Union of 1800.
Britain wins Battle of Trafalgar against combined French and Spanish fleets (Nelson dies).
It became illegal to trade slaves in British ships or from British ports.
The French Wars ended with the defeat of the Emperor Napoleon by the Duke of Wellington at the Battle of Waterloo. Wellington was known as the Iron Duke and later became Prime Minister.
The Emancipation Act abolished slavery throughout the British Empire. The Royal Navy stopped slave ships from other countries, freed the slaves and punished the slave traders.
Queen Victoria became queen of the UK at the age of 18.
The Great Exhibition opened in Hyde Park in the Crystal Palace, showcasing British industrial achievements.
Florence Nightingale established the Nightingale Training School for nurses. She is regarded as the founder of modern nursing.
End of Queen Victoria's reign, almost 64 years.
The First World War (1914-1918, 4 years).
1916, July: The British attack of the Somme, resulted in about 60,000 British casualties on the first day alone.
The First World War ended at 11.00 am on 11th November with victory for Britain and its allies.
Women over the age of 30 can vote and stand for Parliament.
Women were given the right to vote at the age of 21, the same as men.
Adolf Hitler invaded Poland. Britain and France declared war on Germany.
1940: Winston Churchill became Prime Minister.
The British won the crucial aerial battle against the Germans, called "the Battle of Britain".
The Allies comprehensively defeated Germany.
Winston Churchill lost the General Election. The British people elected a Labour government. Clement Attlee became Prime Minister.
Aneurin Bevan, the Minister for Health, led the establishment of the National Health Service (NHS).
People from the West Indies were invited to come to Britain and work.
Start of Queen Elizabeth II's reign.
The UK joined the European Economic Community (EEC).
Margaret Thatcher became the first woman Prime Minister of the UK.
The Labour Party led by Tony Blair was elected.
Creation of the Welsh Assembly and the Scottish Parliament.
The UK formally left the European Union on 31 January.
Queen Elizabeth II dies after a 70-year reign; King Charles III ascends to the throne.