Why is great britain called the uk

In England and Scotland both, the parliament passed an act of union formalizing a melding of the two states. The result was the United Kingdom of Great Britain.

This would later include Ireland after then Acts of Union of Welsh people were long considered part of the Kingdom of England. They would not establish their own parliament until the late s. The term U. These include Gibraltar, the Isle of Man, and other smaller islands.

The Commonwealth of Nations is a voluntary association of 52 states or countries that were formerly part of the British Empire. This does not include the United States. These are identified as Commonwealth realms. From to the UK also included all of Ireland. Share with Twitter Share with Facebook. By Ordnance Survey. Related articles Celebrating years with new old maps! Just like Wales and Scotland, England is commonly referred to as a country but it is not a sovereign state. It is the largest country within the United Kingdom both by landmass and population, has taken a pivitol role in the creation of the UK, and its capital London also happens to be the capital of the UK.

It is perhaps understandable then that England is often although incorrectly used as a term to describe the whole of the UK. So there you have it! Great Britain — an island situated off the north west coast of Europe. British Isles — a collection of over 6, islands, of which Great Britain is the largest. England — a country within the UK. By the sixth century A. From the s to the s, England was ruled by Viking, Danish, and Norman invaders.

Several important lines of kings and queens followed. By the s, Britain was one of the most powerful nations in the world. Trade generated immense wealth, and the country built a huge overseas empire.

But the early 20th century was a time of setbacks for Britain. Drained by World War I and II, Britain could no longer afford its empire, and most of its colonies became independent. All rights reserved. Personality Quizzes. Funny Fill-In. Amazing Animals. Weird But True! Party Animals.