# Great Britain & Ireland

Uitleg

This lesson will be about Great Britain. But what is Britain? And why is it Great? What are the countries that are in Great Britain? What is the United Kingdom? What's the difference between these two?

These are questions we are going to answer at the end of this chapter. So at the end of this chapter you will know the answer to these question.

Almost 2000 years ago the Romans settled in Britain and named the South of Britain, Britannia. They also had a different name for Scotland (Caledonia) for Wales (Cambria) and for Ireland (Hibernia). Of course a lot has changed after the Romans, but that's something for the next chapter.

Great Britain is an island, not far from us. On that island there are 3 countries. Scotland, England and Wales. And next to that island there is Ireland. One island with 2 countries: Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.

1. on the left Ireland and on the right Great Britain

If you look at picture 1., you can see two islands. One is Ireland and the other Great Britain. Britain was called Great because there was also a place called Britagne in France. So for people to tell the difference they called it Great Britain (the island). Ireland was one country till they started a religious conflict and decided to seperate from the Republic of Ireland. They started a new country called Northern Ireland and joined the Kingdom of Britain and thus formed the United Kingdom

So in short,

Great Britain = England, Scotland and Wales

United Kingdom = England + Scotland + Wales + Northern Ireland

Ireland = Republic of Ireland + Northern Ireland

2.Each country has his own flag, colour and symbol

As you see, Every country has his own sybol and flag. England's symbol is the rose and the flag is called the Saint George's Cross. Scotland's symbol is the thistle and the flag is called the Saint Andrew's Cross. Wales' symbol is the leek/daffodil and their flag is called the Dragon of Cadwallader. The Irish flag is called the Saint Patrick's Cross and their national symbol is the shamrock.

This lesson will be about Great Britain. But what is Britain? And why is it Great? What are the countries that are in Great Britain? What is the United Kingdom? What's the difference between these two?

These are questions we are going to answer at the end of this chapter. So at the end of this chapter you will know the answer to these question.

Almost 2000 years ago the Romans settled in Britain and named the South of Britain, Britannia. They also had a different name for Scotland (Caledonia) for Wales (Cambria) and for Ireland (Hibernia). Of course a lot has changed after the Romans, but that's something for the next chapter.

Great Britain is an island, not far from us. On that island there are 3 countries. Scotland, England and Wales. And next to that island there is Ireland. One island with 2 countries: Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.

1. on the left Ireland and on the right Great Britain

If you look at picture 1., you can see two islands. One is Ireland and the other Great Britain. Britain was called Great because there was also a place called Britagne in France. So for people to tell the difference they called it Great Britain (the island). Ireland was one country till they started a religious conflict and decided to seperate from the Republic of Ireland. They started a new country called Northern Ireland and joined the Kingdom of Britain and thus formed the United Kingdom

So in short,

Great Britain = England, Scotland and Wales

United Kingdom = England + Scotland + Wales + Northern Ireland

Ireland = Republic of Ireland + Northern Ireland

2.Each country has his own flag, colour and symbol

As you see, Every country has his own sybol and flag. England's symbol is the rose and the flag is called the Saint George's Cross. Scotland's symbol is the thistle and the flag is called the Saint Andrew's Cross. Wales' symbol is the leek/daffodil and their flag is called the Dragon of Cadwallader. The Irish flag is called the Saint Patrick's Cross and their national symbol is the shamrock.