The United Kingdom and Great Britain are generally thought to be the same place; they’re not. Great Britain is merely the island containing the countries of England, Wales, and Scotland. The United Kingdom is those three countries and Northern Ireland. Customs differ from country to country, which is why it’s important to remember that the United Kingdom is four different countries.
Wales is often overlooked due to the fact that it has a low population (3,064,000 in 2011). Wales is located on the western side of the southern and central part of Great Britain. Wales was a necessary part of the British Industrial Revolution, because they provided much of the coal used during that era. Wales has poor-quality soil, making it difficult to grow crops; Wales is much more successful at livestock farming. Wales is a very cultured country, as proven by the amount of artists, authors, musicians, and actors from the small country. Roald Dahl, one of the most famous children’s authors, is from Wales, along with the poet Dylan Thomas and philosopher Betrand Russell. There are many famous actors from Wales as well: Sir Anthony Hopkins (The Silence of the Lambs), John Rhys-Davies (Gimli in The Lord of the Rings Trilogy), and Catherine Zeta-Jones (Chicago). Wales is a beautiful and cultured country that many people forget about.
Scotland is one of the more popular British countries, because many people can trace their ancestry back to the country. There was also that little film called Braveheart that opened many people’s eyes to the beauty of Scotland. Scotland is on the northern part of Great Britian, and along with Northern Ireland, was not consistently occupied by the Romans. In 1750, the Scottish were among the most literate citizens in Europe. The culture is still very book-oriented, as is shown by some very famous Scottish-born authors: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Robert Louis Stevenson, and J.M. Barrie. Athletics are also prized by the Scottish, who have the Highland Games, which involve many things that people associate with Scotland – most notably the bagpipes and the kilt. If you ever want to see any Highland events, there are a couple hosted in Springfield, Illinois! Scotland is full of magic (no, seriously, the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry is said to be located in Scotland) and history, which has influenced many nations around the world.
England is the last country on the island of Great Britain. It is by far the most populated country in Great Britian and the most famous. Most of the population is centered in London, which has been the capitol of England since 1066. England is the home of many famous scientists, musicians, authors, actors, and philosophers. With its many famous scientists, it’s no surprise that the Industrial Revolution began in England. England is the home of many stories that children still hear about today such as Robin Hood and King Arthur. Authors from England are seemingly endless and include some of the most influential philosophers (John Locke and Thomas Paine), playwrights (William Shakespeare and Christopher Marlowe), and poets (Lord Byron, William Blake, and William Wordsworth). Some modern novelists include J.R.R. Tolkien and JK Rowling. England has influenced music around the world as well, with musicians like the Beatles, Pink Floyd, Elton John, and Queen. England is full of history and culture, despite being smaller (in area) than the state of Illinois.
Northern Ireland is the last country in the United Kingdom; it is not a part of the island of Great Britian and has only been a part of the United Kingdom since the early 1920s. The Irish have always been resistant to English rule, and in the 1960s, the resistance resorted to violence. The Troubles included Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, and England. The violence is between nationalists (identified Irish and/or Roman Catholic) and unionists (identified British and/or Protestant). The nationalists want to be a part of the Republic of Ireland while the unionists want to remain a part of the United Kingdom. Though it is said to have ended in 1998, there are still moments of violence in Northern Ireland. Despite the unrest in Northern Ireland, it is still a hub of culture. Tourism has recently been on the rise, and one of the most famous folk stories from Ireland takes place in Ulster, which is in Northern Ireland. C. S. Lewis was born in Belfast, and even when he moved to England, he kept his Irish identity. John Butler yeats is a famous painter from Northern Ireland. Liam Neeson (Batman Begins, The Dark Knight Rises) is also from Northern Ireland. Despite the Troubles of Northern Ireland, the culture cannot be denied.
-Caitlin M. White, Associate Editor for British and Irish History
Rhymes of History 