I am fascinated by the history of people living in the group of islands and states that make up the British Isles. Here on this blog I discuss events from prehistoric times to more modern. The name Britain as we know it today, as a political and sovereign entity, took its roots in 1707, but the term was used long before that. The Romans named it Britain in around 55BC. Denys Hay, in 1968's Europe - The Emergence of an Idea quoted a marriage settlement involving James III of Scotland referring to it in 1474 as 'this Nobill Isle callit Gret Britanee'. 

Additionally, in 1603 James I of England and VI of Scotland also called the country 'Great Britain'. Authors dealing with pre-1707 history refer to 'Roman Britain', 'Viking Britain' and 'Saxon Britain' because they wish to reference events and evidence spanning more than one country. Similarly, the website British History Online deals with sources from the early Medieval period, when the kingdoms were separate. This is important. The study of an ancient, Medieval and Early Modern 'Britain' (before it existed politically) should not be frowned upon or suppressed. By looking at what was going on in the islands as a whole we gain a more cohesive understanding of the relationships between the individual countries and states that formed them, at least geographically. This is no different to the study of the history of Europe or Asia, as long as the individual status and sovereignty of individual states are acknowledged. I certainly do not dispute the power of individual lands and states before 1707. However to 'love British history' is to love all the stories of people living on these islands, as far back as archaeological evidence supports. It is the history of what is now 'Britain', and the people living in it. It is in this excited, curious and collective spirit that I write here on the blog, and over on my Facebook and Instagram accounts. 

Thanks for coming along, it's great to see you!