Build a timeline from early Britain to the development of modern democracy.
Early Britain and the Middle Ages
The Romans established their rule in much of Britain after the invasion of AD 43. The Norman Conquest followed the Battle of Hastings in 1066. King John granted Magna Carta in 1215, an important step in the long development of limits on royal power.
Tudors, civil war and Parliament
Henry VIII broke with the authority of the Pope. Under Elizabeth I, England defeated the Spanish Armada in 1588. The Civil War divided Royalists and Parliamentarians; Charles I was executed in 1649. The monarchy returned under Charles II in 1660. The Bill of Rights followed in 1689.
Union and change
England and Scotland united as Great Britain in 1707. Industrialisation changed how people worked and where they lived. Campaigns extended political participation: some women gained the parliamentary vote in 1918, and equal voting terms with men followed in 1928.
The twentieth century
The First World War lasted from 1914 to 1918; the Second World War from 1939 to 1945. Winston Churchill became Prime Minister in 1940. The NHS began in 1948. These events shaped modern public life.
Read further
This is a short revision overview, not a replacement for the official handbook.
The study guides and explanations are available without JavaScript. Enable JavaScript for interactive quizzes and memory games.