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« Back to Glossary Index

Etymology and Terminology
- Britannia referred to the Roman province that encompassed modern England and Wales
- Great Britain encompassed the whole island, including modern Scotland
- Great Britain came into use to refer specifically to the island
- The Kingdom of Great Britain was formed in 1707
- The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was established in 1927

Geography and Location
- The United Kingdom is located in Northwestern Europe
- It comprises England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland
- The UK includes the island of Great Britain and the northeastern part of Ireland
- Northern Ireland shares a land border with the Republic of Ireland
- The UK is surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean, the North Sea, and other bodies of water

History and Evolution
- The UK has evolved from annexations, unions, and separations of constituent countries
- The Treaty of Union in 1707 united England and Scotland as the Kingdom of Great Britain
- The union with Ireland in 1801 created the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
- Most of Ireland seceded from the UK in 1922, forming the present United Kingdom
- The British Empire was the largest empire in history but declined after the World Wars

Government and Politics
- The United Kingdom is a constitutional monarchy and parliamentary democracy
- The capital and largest city is London
- Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland have their own devolved governments
- The UK has three distinct legal jurisdictions: England and Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland
- The UK is a permanent member of the UN Security Council and a member of various international organizations

Economy and Global Influence
- The UK has the world's sixth-largest economy by nominal GDP
- It is ranked fourth globally in military expenditure
- British influence can be observed in the legal and political systems of former colonies
- The UK's culture remains globally influential, particularly in literature, language, music, and sport
- English is the world's most widely spoken language and the third-most spoken native language

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