The United Kingdom comprises four countries: England, Scotland, Wales and

Northern Ireland. The British Isles were the object of different foreign invasions for many

times.

The oldest human inhabitants probably came to Britain about 250,000 years ago

over the landbridge that connected todays British Isles and the Continent of Europe at that

time.

The conquerors always had a dialogue with the conquered, producing sooner or later

a mixed society with elements from both.

Between the 17th and mid 20th-centuries, Britain was a world power. It became a

colonial empire that controlled large areas of Africa, Asia, North America and Oceania.

Many countries left and became independent from the empire in the 20th century,

although Britain keeps links with most countries of its former empire.

The UK is situated north-west of the European continent between the Atlantic Ocean

and the North Sea.

It has a total land area of 244,100 square kilometres, of which nearly 99% is land

and the remainder inland water.

The UK has many cities England is home to London (the biggest city in the UK

and also its capital city).

There are also many smaller cities, including Manchester, Bristol, Liverpool,

Birmingham, and York.

Scotland has Edinburgh and Glasgow. Cardiff and Swansea are in Wales and Belfast

is in Northern Ireland.