The British Isles are formed as water levels rise separating them from mainland Europe

The construction of Stonehenge is completed

The Celtic peoples begin to arrive and establish their culture

Roman leader Julius Caesar invades Britain, but withdraws

The Roman Empire invades Britain and makes Britannia a Roman province

The Romans found the city of Londinium (which later becomes London)

Roman Emperor Hadrian orders the construction of Hadrian's Wall

The last of the Romans leave Britain

The Anglo-Saxons begin to settle in Britain. They rule much of the land until the Vikings arrive

Christianity is introduced by Saint Augustine

The kingdom of Northumbria is established as the dominant kingdom

The Vikings first arrive

The kingdom of Wessex becomes the dominant kingdom

The Vikings invade Britain with a large army. They defeat Northumbria in 867

Alfred the Great becomes king of the Wessex

Alfred is nearly defeated by the Vikings. He narrowly escapes. Alfred gathers an army and defeats the Vikings at the Battle of Edington

The Saxons defeat the Vikings and retake the Danelaw

The Danish conquer England and King Canute of Denmark becomes King of England

The Norman Conquest occurs. William of Normandy becomes king

William begins the construction of the Tower of London

A survey of all England called the Domesday Book is completed

Henry II becomes king. This is the start of the Plantegenet line of rulers

Thomas Becket, the Archbishop of Canterbury, is put to death by Henry II

King John is forced to sign the Magna Carta

William Wallace leads the Scotts in their defeat of the English. He is defeated a year later at the Battle of Falkirk

The Hundred Years' War with France begins. It will last until 1453

The Black Death hits England killing a large portion of the English population

The English defeat the French at the Battle of Agincourt

The Hundred Years' War comes to an end

The War of the Roses begins between the families of the Plantagenets and the Lancastrians for the right to rule England

The War of the Roses ends with the crowning of Henry Tudor as King Henry VII. The House of Tudor begins its reign

Henry VIII is crowned king

Henry VIII forms the Church of England

England and Wales are joined by the Act of Union

Elizabeth I becomes Queen. The Elizabethan Era begins

Explorer Sir Francis Drake completes his journey around the globe

The English fleet led by Sir Francis Drake defeat the Spanish Armada

William Shakespeare begins writing and performing plays

The East India Company is established

James I becomes king and rules over England and Scotland. He is the first of the Stuart family to rule

Guy Fawkes fails in his attempt to blow up Parliament

The Pilgrims set sail for America aboard the Mayflower

The Great Fire of London destroys much of the city

The English Bill of Rights is established giving more power to the parliament

England and Scotland are united as one country called Great Britain

The Seven Year's War begins

The Industrial Revolution begins in England

The American colonies declare their independence from Britain

The British and Irish parliaments are joined by the Act of Union to create the United Kingdom

The British fleet defeats Napoleon at the Battle of Trafalgar

Queen Victoria is crowned queen. The Victorian Era begins

The Crimean War is fought against Russia

World War I begins. The United Kingdom fights with Allies against the Central Powers led by Germany

World War I ends

Ireland is granted independence

Women gain equal rights to vote

World War II begins. The United Kingdom joins the Allies against the Axis Powers

The United Kingdom is bombed by the Germans for months during the Battle of Britain

World War II ends

Elizabeth II is crowned queen

Margaret Thatcher becomes the first female prime minister of the United Kingdom

Prince Charles marries Lady Diana

The Falklands War occurs

The United Kingdom joins the United States in the Gulf War

Princess Diana dies in a car crash. Britain gives control of Hong Kong to China

The Iraq War occurs

Prince William marries Catherine Middleton