Source: boingboing.net
FIB UB, Malang – Most of us must frequently mistake the United Kingdom, Great Britain, and England because their definitions seem to be the same at first glance. According to Ben Johnson from historical-uk.com, the three terminologies are used differently and must be understood correctly. Of broad terms, the classification refers to a location in England’s lowlands. The whole review may be found here.
The United Kingdom (UK)
Source: historic-uk.com
United Kingdom (red), Republic of Ireland (grey)
The UK stands for The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland which is a sovereign country. Quite similar to the United States (US) but consists of four countries namely; England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. The analogy is that the UK is like the US, while the other four countries are like states. It has a long and intricate history of formation. Here are a few key points in a nutshell:
A union of Anglo-Saxon tribes created the Kingdom of England in the year 925.
The Kingdom of England and Wales was constituted in 1536. England and Wales became one country and were governed by the same laws as a result of King Henry VIII’s decrees.
1707, Kingdom of Great Britain. The Kingdom of England, including Wales, merged with the Kingdom of Scotland and formed The Kingdom of Great Britain.
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland was constituted in 1801 when Ireland and the United Kingdom of Great Britain merged to establish the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was constituted in 1922. The Republic of Ireland seceded, leaving only the northern half of the island in British possession. This is the United Kingdom, which still exists today.
Great Britain
Source: historic-uk.com
Great Britain (red), Ireland (grey)
Great Britain is a landmass, not a country. It is known as ‘Great’ because it is the largest island in the British Isles, and it is home to England, Scotland, and Wales. The name ‘Britain’ is derived from the Latin word Britannia. However, there are two opposing viewpoints on the term ‘Great.’ To begin with, the term is used to distinguish Britain from Brittany, a French territory. Second, some argue that ‘Great’ is King James I’s ego, used to show his supremacy over the entire island. As a result, he refers to himself as King of Great Britain.
England
Source: historic-uk.com
Like Scotland and Wales, England is referred to as a state but not a sovereign state. England is the largest country within Great Britain, both by area and population. It is understandable that English is often (albeit incorrectly) used as a term to describe the whole UK.
British Isles
Source: historic-uk.com
British Isles (red), mainland Europe (green)
The British Isles is the name of a group of islands located in the northwestern corner of mainland Europe. The British Isles consists of Great Britain, Ireland, The Isle of Man, The Isles of Scilly, The Channel Islands (including Guernsey, Jersey, Sark, and Alderney), and more than 6,000 other small islands.
If you’re still unsure about the distinctions, here’s a quick summary:
The UK – A sovereign nation that includes England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
Great Britain – The landmass of England, Scotland, and Wales.
England – A country within the UK
British Isles – A collection of more than 6,000 islands, of which Great Britain is the largest.
(21/07/2021-FIBInternship)
