Life in the UK Test PrepAn overview timeline
| Period or date | What to remember |
|---|---|
| Stone Age to Iron Age | Early settlers, farming, and Stonehenge and Skara Brae from this time. |
| AD 43 | The Romans invade Britain under Emperor Claudius. They build roads, towns and Hadrian's Wall. |
| After the Romans | The Anglo-Saxons settle, then the Vikings raid and settle. |
| 1066 | William of Normandy wins the Battle of Hastings and becomes king (the Norman Conquest). |
| 1215 | King John agrees to Magna Carta, limiting the power of the king. |
| 1485 to 1603 | The Tudors. Henry VIII breaks with the Roman Catholic Church and Elizabeth I defeats the Spanish Armada (1588). |
| 1603 to 1714 | The Stuarts. The Union of the Crowns (1603), the Civil War, the execution of Charles I (1649), the Restoration (1660), the Glorious Revolution (1688) and the Bill of Rights (1689). |
| 1707 | The Act of Union joins England and Scotland. |
| 1700s to 1800s | The Industrial Revolution. The slave trade is abolished in 1807 and slavery in the British Empire in 1833. |
| 1837 to 1901 | Queen Victoria's reign. |
| 1914 to 1918 | The First World War. |
| 1939 to 1945 | The Second World War. Winston Churchill leads Britain as Prime Minister. |
| 1948 | The National Health Service (NHS) begins. The ship Empire Windrush arrives from the Caribbean. |
People who often appear
- William the Conqueror: the Norman king after 1066.
- King John: agreed to Magna Carta in 1215.
- Henry VIII: six wives, and the break with Rome that led to the Church of England.
- Elizabeth I: Protestant queen, defeated the Spanish Armada in 1588.
- Oliver Cromwell: led the Parliamentary side in the Civil War and ruled as Lord Protector.
- Winston Churchill: Prime Minister during the Second World War.
Votes for women
In 1918 women over 30 who met certain conditions won the vote. In 1928 women gained the vote on equal terms with men.
How to study it
Split it into three blocks: up to 1066, 1066 to 1714, and 1714 to today. Work through one block at a time, and test yourself after each. Keep a short list of the dates you keep forgetting and review it daily.
Practice questions from this chapter
In which year did the Romans, under Emperor Claudius, invade Britain?
- AD 43
- 55 BC
- AD 410
- AD 789
Show answer
AD 43
Julius Caesar tried to invade in 55 BC but did not stay. The Romans returned under Emperor Claudius in AD 43 and ruled for about 400 years.
Which Scottish king defeated the English at the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314?
- Robert the Bruce
- Kenneth MacAlpin
- James IV
- Macbeth
Show answer
Robert the Bruce
Robert the Bruce defeated the English at Bannockburn in 1314. Scotland stayed unconquered by the English.
Which king was made to agree to the Magna Carta in 1215?
- King John
- Henry VIII
- Richard III
- Edward I
Show answer
King John
Nobles forced King John to agree to the Magna Carta in 1215. It showed that even the king had to obey the law.
In 1588, which fleet did the English defeat?
- The Spanish Armada
- The French navy
- The Dutch fleet
- The Viking fleet
Show answer
The Spanish Armada
The English defeated the Spanish Armada, a large fleet of ships sent to invade England and bring back the Catholic faith.
Who is usually thought of as the first Prime Minister?
- Sir Robert Walpole
- Winston Churchill
- William Pitt
- Oliver Cromwell
Show answer
Sir Robert Walpole
Sir Robert Walpole was the first politician to lead the government as Prime Minister. He held the post from 1721 to 1742.
When did fighting in the First World War end?
- 11 November 1918
- 6 June 1944
- 11 November 1914
- 8 May 1945
Show answer
11 November 1918
The First World War ended at 11 am on 11 November 1918. People remember those who died on this date each year.
Who became Prime Minister in 1940 and led Britain in the Second World War?
- Winston Churchill
- Clement Attlee
- Neville Chamberlain
- Margaret Thatcher
Show answer
Winston Churchill
Winston Churchill became Prime Minister in 1940. His speeches helped people stay strong when Britain stood alone against Germany.
Who was the first woman to be Prime Minister of the UK?
- Margaret Thatcher
- Barbara Castle
- Shirley Williams
- Betty Boothroyd
Show answer
Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Thatcher became the UK's first woman Prime Minister in 1979. She led the government until 1990.
Who invented the World Wide Web?
- Sir Tim Berners-Lee
- Alan Turing
- John Logie Baird
- James Goodfellow
Show answer
Sir Tim Berners-Lee
Sir Tim Berners-Lee, a British scientist, created the World Wide Web. Information was first shared on it in 1990.
The app has many more for every chapter. Try the 20 free questions too.
Quick questions
In which year did the Normans win the Battle of Hastings?
1066.
Which document did King John agree to in 1215?
Magna Carta.
Which queen defeated the Spanish Armada in 1588?
Elizabeth I.
When did slavery end in the British Empire?
1833. The slave trade itself was abolished in 1807.
More Life in the UK Test guides
