It's quite easy: if a Scotsman, Welshman or Northern
Irishman does well in a sporting event, the English claim
this as a victory for Britain.
Historically (Saxon times, pre 1066) England was made up of
6 separate
These were later united into England.
Meanwhile, Scotland was a barbaric land to the north full of
warring natives, and Wales was a barbaric land to the west,
full of warring natives (mainly warring with the English).
Ireland was adrift in the sea, and full of warring natives.
The English claimed dominion over Wales. The kingdoms of
Scotland and England were united when Elizabeth I died,
and James VI of Scotland became James I of England in the
late 1500s.
Ireland was always a problem, but was claimed by England.
Eventually, it was split with the south becoming an entirely
independent republic and the north remaining a province of
the United Kingdom.
So England is the largest (south eastern) part of the
vaguely triangular island just off the coast of France.
Scotland is the northernmost bit. Wales is the lump on
the left, and Northern Ireland is the tip of the big
island to the left.
London, England, is the seat of the UK government, ruling
England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Scotland has
some independent government, and Wales has a slightly weaker
independent governement.
The British isles includes both big islands and all the
little ones (Man, Orkney Islands, Hebrides etc.). The term
'Great Britain' refers to Britain's 'greatness' on the world
stage in the 19th century, rather than any particular
geographical area.
The Isle of Man is part of the British isles, but not part
of the United Kingdom. Same for the Channel Islands.
A much larger island to the west was allowed its freedom
from direct rule by London in 1776.
--
Mikefule - Roland Hope School of Unicycling
Sometimes I ride like a demon, sometimes like a lemon. It's an L of a
difference.
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