The Stonehenge monument in the English county of Wiltshire is the most prominent symbol of prehistoric Britain. Since then, the country's history has been peppered with wars, unions, monarchies, empire expansions, and other significant events that helped shape Britain into what it is today.

Britain was invaded by the Romans in 55 BC. This paved the way for the island to have contacts with mainland Europe. With the eventual decline of the Roman empire, Britain became vulnerable to more conquests, this time by the Angles, Saxons, and Jutes in 500 and 600 AD and the Norman invasion in 1066. The Normans were able to establish a strong rule and protect Britain from further invasions. During the Norman rule, important institutions were developed as well such as the common law system; a separate church the establishment of London as a political, economic, and cultural center; a university education; and a representative government.

The union of Wales, Scotland, and England took more than 700 years before finally coming into fruition in 1707. Wales and Scotland both fiercely resisted English rule. Wales was conquered first in the late 1200s by Edward I. His son who was born in Wales was bestowed the title Prince of Wales in order to gain the favor of the Welsh. England and Wales were formally united in 1536. Scotland and England was ruled under one monarch in 1603 but the two countries still maintained separate parliaments. After 100 years of political and religious conflicts, they were finally unified as Great Britain in 1707.

The inclusion of Northern Ireland in the United Kingdom is another story of struggle and strife. Since the Anglo-Norman invasion of Ireland in the 1100s, English kings have launched numerous attempts to conquer Ireland. In the early 1600s, Scottish and English settlers came to the Irish territory in droves and built large settlements there. The British succeeded in conquering its Irish neighbor and Great Britain and Ireland became unified under one parliament in 1801 and became known as the United Kingdom.

Even after the unification, peace was still elusive in Ireland as armed struggles for independence continued to spring up during the 20th century. In 1921, the Irish Free State was established by virtue of the Anglo-Saxon Treaty. The territory finally separated from the Commonwealth and became an independent country following the Second World War. The northern Irish counties which were mostly adherents of Protestantism remained as part of the United Kingdom. Thus, the official name was revised and became the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Since 1000 AD, Britain has been a major political and economic force in Europe. The country became known as a formidable sea power during the 16th and 17 centuries particular after its navy defeated the Spanish armada. With their ships, the British were able to explore and conquer territories outside Europe. Under the reign of Queen Victoria in the 1800s, the Britain Empire was at its most powerful, covering up to a quarter of the world's area and population. The Industrial Revolution propelled the country to advancements in technology and commerce which were unprecedented in its time.

The advent of the 20th century saw Britain on its decline as other countries like Germany and Britain became the new superpowers. The country took a major hit after World War I and during The Great Depression of the 1930s. It eventually loosened its grip on its colonies and by post-World War II, the British Empire was nothing more than recent history. The former colonies became independent members of the Commonwealth save for smaller territories who opted not to sever their political links with the United Kingdom.