England is named after the Angles, who were a Germanic tribe who settled in England in the 5th and 6th centuries AD. Archaeologists have estimated through the findings of bones and flint tools in Norfolk, that England was inhabited by early man about 700,000 years ago. At this time, England and the rest of Great Britain was joined to mainland Europe by a large bridge of land.
It is now part of the United Kingdom with Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Religion of England
The largest religion in England is Christianity, which was introduced by the Romans. The Church of England, formed by Henry VIII after a dispute with the Catholic Church, is the official state church. Many of England's buildings have religious significance such as Stonehenge, Wesminster Abbey and St Paul's Cathedral.
Culture in England
England has a huge and very varied culture which encompasses both old and new. The British Museum, British Library and National Gallery, which are all located in England's capital city, London, contain some of the finest collections of artefacts, art and literature in the world.
England contains many medieval buildings such as Warwick and Windsor Castles. Windsor Castle is the world's largest inhabited castle, and the oldest that is still in continuous occupation today.
England was the birthplace of the industrial revolution and was home to a number of significant inventors during the 18th and 19th centuries such as Isambard Kingdom Brunel, who is most known for the creation of the Great Western Railway.
England has produced many important literary figures such as William Shakespeare, Charles Dickens, Rudyard Kipling and George Orwell. The country continues to produce writers that work in a variety of literary areas. These include Martin Amis and Zadie Smith.
In the area of Science, England has produced figures such as Isaac Newton, Charles Darwin and Stephen Hawking.
The English Language
Today, the English language is spoken by many millions of people in countries all around the world including the United States and Australia. English contains influences from other European languages such as French. It also incorporates much of its language from classical languages, mainly Latin and Greek.
The is no legislation on language in England, although general official business in done mainly in English.
There are a number of other languages spoken in England such as Cornish, Welsh and Scottish, as well as all the different languages of the many immigrants that now live in England
Government and Politics in England
The current moncarch of England and the Commonwealth is Queen Elizabeth II. There has not been a sole government just for England since the Act of Union in 1707 which united England and Scotland. The monarch of England has very little practical political power, and the parliament and government has almost total power of legislation and policies.
General Facts
- Population: 51,000,000
- Flag: Cross of Saint George
- Area: 130, 395 km sq
- GDP per Capita: $38,000
- Currency: Pound Sterling (£)
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