England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account

for more than 83% of the total UK population, whilst its mainland territory occupies

most of the southern two-thirds of the island of Great Britain. England shares land

borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west and elsewhere is bordered by

the North Sea, Irish Sea, Celtic Sea, Bristol Channel and English Channel. The capital is

London, the largest urban area in Great Britain, and the largest urban zone in the

European Union by most, but not all, measures.

England became a unified state in the year 927 and takes its name from the

Angles, one of the Germanic tribes who settled there during the 5th and 6th centuries. It

has had a significant cultural and legal impact on the wider world being the place of

origin of the English language, the Church of England and English law, which forms the

basis of the common law legal systems of countries around the world. In addition,

England was the birth place of the Industrial Revolution and the first country in the

world to industrialize. It is home to the Royal Society, which laid the foundations of

modern experimental science. England is the world's oldest parliamentary system and

consequently constitutional, governmental and legal innovations that had their origin in

England have been widely adopted by other nations.

Introducing England

A journey through England is a journey through history - from the ancient

megaliths of Stonehenge to the space-age domes of the Eden Project in Cornwall. It's

also a trip to the 21st-century: London is gearing up for the 2012 Olympics while cities

like Manchester, Leeds and Newcastle revel in their heritage and confidently face the

future, with industrial buildings revitalized as waterfront galleries or trendy apartments,

flanked by tempting bars, shops, restaurants and some of the finest music venues in the

world.

The history of England is similar to the larger history of Britain up until the

arrival of the Anglo-Saxons, when the partition of Britain into several countries largely

began. It begins in the prehistoric during which time StonThe history of England is

similar to the larger history of Britain up until the arrival of the Anglo-Saxons, when the

partition of Britain into several countries largely began. It begins in the prehistoric

during which time Stonehenge was erected. At the height of theRoman Empire,

Britannia was under the rule of the Romans. Their rule lasted until about 410, at which

time the Romano-British formed various independent kingdoms. The Anglo-Saxons

gradually gained control of England and became the chief rulers of the land. Raids by

the Vikings were frequent after about AD 800.In 1066, the Normans invaded and

conquered England. There was much civil war and battles with other nations throughout

themiddle Ages. During theRenaissance, England was ruled by the Tudors. England had

conquered Wales in the 12th century and was then united with Scotland in the early

18th century to form the Kingdom of Great Britain. Following theIndustrial Revolution,

Great Britain ruled a worldwide empire, of which, physically, little remains. However,

its cultural impact is widespread and deep in many countries of the present day.

London is the capital of both England and the United Kingdom, and the largest

urban area in the European Union. An important settlement for two millennia, London's

history goes back to its founding by the Romans. Since its foundation, London has been

part of many movements and phenomena throughout history, including the English

Renaissance, the Industrial Revolution, and the Gothic Revival. The city's core, the

ancient City of London, still retains its limited medieval boundaries; but since at least

the 19th century, the name "London" has also referred to the whole metropolis that has

developed around it. Today the bulk of this conurbation forms the London region of

England and the Greater London administrative area, with its own elected mayor and

assembly.