43 AD — Roman conquest beginsRoman forces invaded Britain and established control over much of present-day England and Wales.
5th–7th centuries — Anglo-Saxon kingdomsFollowing the end of Roman rule, a number of Anglo-Saxon kingdoms developed in England.
1066 — Norman ConquestWilliam the Conqueror defeated Harold II at the Battle of Hastings and became King of England.
1215 — Magna CartaKing John agreed to the Magna Carta, a document that became highly influential in the development of constitutional government.
1284 — Wales incorporated into the English legal systemThe Statute of Rhuddlan brought Wales more firmly under English royal administration.
1536–1543 — Laws in WalesFurther legislation integrated Wales into the Kingdom of England.
1603 — Union of the CrownsJames VI of Scotland became James I of England, creating a personal union of the crowns.
1642–1651 — English Civil WarsConflict between Parliament and the monarchy resulted in the temporary abolition of the English monarchy.
1688–1689 — Glorious RevolutionJames II was replaced by William III and Mary II, strengthening the constitutional role of Parliament.
1707 — Acts of UnionEngland and Scotland became the Kingdom of Great Britain.
1801 — United Kingdom formedGreat Britain and Ireland became the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.
18th–19th centuries — Industrial RevolutionBritain became a world leader in industrialisation, engineering, manufacturing, science and global trade.
19th century — Expansion of the British EmpireThe British Empire became one of the largest empires in history.
1914–1918 — First World WarThe UK and its empire fought Germany and its allies in the First World War.
1939–1945 — Second World WarThe UK played a major role in the Allied war effort against Nazi Germany and its allies.
1945 onwards — Post-war changeThe welfare state expanded while Britain began the long process of decolonisation.
1973 — European Economic CommunityThe UK joined the European Economic Community, the forerunner of the European Union.
1998–1999 — DevolutionNew devolved institutions were established in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
2016 — EU referendumThe UK voted to leave the European Union.
2020 — BrexitThe UK formally left the European Union.
Today — United KingdomThe UK remains a constitutional monarchy, parliamentary democracy and major global economy.
