We explain everything about England and its physical and cultural characteristics. In addition, how is its economy, religion and the history of this country.
England
England is one of the four countries that make up the United Kingdom. It has an area of 130,395 km2 And it is located in the southern part and center of the island of Great Britain, which it shares with Scotland and Wales. It is the most populous country in the United Kingdom, with almost 56 million inhabitants, and its capital is the city of London.
It borders the north with Scotland, to the west with Wales, to the east with the Netherlands and Denmark and to the south with France, through the La Mancha Canal.
It is a country that has been the foundation of large and important systems that have then copied to other countries. The legal system, the Anglican Church and the English language (which is the most used worldwide) are some of the contributions of this country that have expanded around the world.
For being part of the United Kingdom, The system of government of England is the constitutional monarchy. Its parliamentary model adopted the Westminster system (which takes the United Kingdom model as a form of democratic government) and is formed by the Executive Power and the Legislative Power, represented by two chambers: the House of Commons and the House of Lords. The House of Commons is formed by legislators chosen by the popular vote, while that of the Lores is formed by non -elected members of the nobility and the Church.
There is no Government of England since 1707 since this country is governed by the United Kingdom Parliament.
See also: United Kingdom
Characteristics of England
Some characteristics of this country are:
- It is part of the United Kingdom next to Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Since 2020 it ceased to be part of the European Union.
- Its form of government is the constitutional monarchy.
- It has an area of 130,395 square kilometers.
- Its population is 56,980,000 inhabitants.
- The capital is the city of London, which has a metropolitan area in which more than 14 million people live.
- It has a mild climate oceanic throughout its territory.
- Its relief is mainly flat although there are some mountainous chains north of the country.
- The most important rivers are Severn and Thames.
- Its official language is English.
- The majority of the population is a Protestant Christian.
- He stopped participating in the European Union in 2020.
- Its official currency is the sterling pound.
- Some of the most important exponents of universal literature such as William Shakespeare, Oscar Wilde and Agatha Christie were born in England.
- It is the country where football, rugby and cryket, and historical rock bands such as The Beatles and The Rolling Stones were born.
Extension, population and capital of England
England covers 57 % of the surface of the island of Great Britain. It has an area of 130,395 square kilometers, a population of 56,980,000 inhabitants and a population density of 436 inhabitants per square kilometer.
Its capital is London, which is also the capital of the United Kingdom. In the city, nine million people live, and in their metropolitan area about 14 million. It is a city that received immigrants from many parts of the world and, for that reason, in addition to the English language (which is the officer), more than 300 languages are spoken.
England is divided into nine administrative regions that are subdivided into 83 counties. The smallest administrative unit is the districts, which are 326 in total. The most populous regions are London, where the capital, the southeast region, where important cities such as Brighton and Southampton, and the northwest region are located, to which cities such as Manchester and Liverpool belong.
He System of government of England is the constitutional monarchy. The prime minister exercises the main political functions of the country, but The political and cultural role of the English crown is decisive. Carlos III of the United Kingdom, current British monarch, is one of the most influential people in the country.
Climate, relief and hydrography of England
The predominant climate of the United Kingdom is the oceanic temperate. It is a very humid temperate type that is characterized by cold winters with temperatures close to 0 ° C, fresh summers that can occasionally reach 30 ° C temperatures, and abundant rainfall throughout the year.
The relief of this country can be divided into three areas:
- The highlands (Highlands). To the north and west of the country, England presents mountainous areas. The highest peak is Mount Ben Nevis with 1,343 meters high.
- The intermediate lowlands (Midlands). They extend towards the center of England and east of Wales.
- Lowlands (Lowlands). The plains are sedimentary and occupy most of England.
England hydrography is characterized by the presence of short but caudalous rivers. The Severn River, with a length of 354 kilometers, is the most extensive in the United Kingdom. This river flows through England and Wales, and flows into the Atlantic Ocean. The Thames river, with an approximate length of 346 kilometers, is considered the most important river in the country and crosses the city of London before leading to the North Sea. Other important rivers are the Ouse and the Trent.
With regard to the flora, the mostly tempered climate, the abundant rainfall and the flat relief provide an adequate environment for The development of a great biodiversity. Among the most outstanding tree species are oak, ash, beech and pine.
As for fauna, England houses a wide variety of mammal species. Among them are the red fox, the European rabbit, the red deer and the weasel. There are not many species of reptiles or amphibians but birds are abundant, with about 230 classified species.
Culture of England
The predominant language is Englishwhich is spoken throughout the country. As for religion, the majority of the population of England identifies as a Christian, and the Anglican Church is the most important. There are also other religious beliefs such as Catholicism, Hinduism and Judaism.
Among the most important musical rhythms of the culture of England are rock and pop. Some of the most influential exponents include bands such as The Beatles, Rolling Stones, Queen, Coldplay, Pink Floyd and The Police.
In the field of literature, some of the most influential writers in history were born in England. Among the most important referents are Virginia Woolf, Oscar Wilde, Jane Austen, Agatha Christie, William Shakespeare, Charles Dickens, Arthur Conan Doyle, JK Rowling, George Orwell and Jrr Tolkien.
As for gastronomy, one of the most emblematic dishes in England is the “Fish and Chips“based on fried fish and french fries. In England, as in the rest of the United Kingdom, the consumption of tea is also tradition.
Homeland symbols of England
The national symbols of England are:
- The flag of England. It is made up of a Red Cross on a white background. The Red Cross is the “Cruz de San Jorge”, the employer of England. It is believed to be raised for the first time in 1191.
- The National Anthem of England. England does not have its own official anthem, but uses that of the United Kingdom. It is known as God Save The King (“God save the king”). The music of the anthem was composed of Georg Friedrich Handel and the lyrics by Henry Carey.
- The shield of England. It is made up of three golden lions with blue nails on a red background. It is also part of two of the four headquarters of the United Kingdom shield. It is estimated that it was first adopted in the twelfth century.
Sport in England
England is the country where football was bornthe most popular sport in the world. The world’s first football league, called “Football League”, was created in England in 1888. In addition, the English were the creators of two other very popular sports: the rugby (which, like football, expanded to everyone) and the Cricket, a very popular sport in the United Kingdom and in some countries that were British colony.
Currently England host the Wimbledon Grand Slamone of the most important tennis tournaments and the oldest in the world. As for motor racing, it houses the Silverstone circuit, one of the most traditional and ancient of formula 1. In addition, it has a large number of golf courses, and the British open is one of the most prestigious golf tournaments of the world circuit.
Economic activities of England
The coal and iron They have been central axes for the development of the history of this country And they are important economic activities of England today. As for agriculture, England has fertile soil for sowing rye, wheat, sugary beet, barley and potatoes. Besides, This country produces wood trees Among those who stand out pine, oak and ash.
There are also some high -tech industries such as Pharmaceutical, platforms of oil Maritime, electronic and aerospace.
The services area is the most important for the country, financial services are especially highlighted. England is one of the most important financial and banking centers on the planet and The London Stock Exchange is one of the most influential in the world economy.
Educational services are also very important to the country. Universities such as Oxford and Cambridge are recognized worldwide.
Tourism is a fundamental economic activity for England’s economysince its tourist attractions – like the cities of London and Liverpool, Buckingham Palace and the British Museum – are some of the most visited sites in the world.
Its main commercial partners are Germany, the United States, China, the Netherlands and France. Its currency is the pound sterling.
History of England
The first Neolithic societies in England emerged in 4000 a. C. Between this stage and the Bronze Age (initiated in 1800 BC), megalithic monuments such as Stonehenge were built. In the first millennium a. C. In addition, there were migrations from Celtic peoples to this territory.
In 43 d. C. The Roman emperor Claudio began the conquest of the center and south of the island, which became the Roman province of Britania. In 450, Anglos, Saxons and Jets (Germanic peoples of Northern Europe) began to settle in England. This led to the formation of seven kingdoms (the Anglo -Saxon heptarchy) that were unified in 927 and gave rise to the Kingdom of England.
Vikings attacks led to the Danish conquest of England in 1014, but in 1042 the English throne was again occupied by an Anglo -Saxon king. In 1066, Guillermo the Conqueror, Duke of Normandy, began the Norman domination of England, which lasted up to 1135. During the reign of Enrique II (1154-1189), the English domain extended to much of France and Ireland.
King Ricardo Corazón de León fought in the third crusade (1189-1192) and his successor, Juan without Earth, lost territories in France and was forced to sign the Magna Carta (1215) that limited the king’s power. In the thirteenth century Wales was annexed and between 1337 and 1453 The one hundred years against France was developedin which England lost almost all its possessions in continental Europe.
Between 1455 and 1485 there was the war of the two roses between the houses of Lancaster and York that concluded with the establishment of the Tudor dynasty. During the reign of Enrique VIII, the Anglican Church (1534) was created and during the reign of Isabel I the commercial expansion that led to the colonization of North America charged.
In 1603 he assumed the throne of England Jacobo I, King of Scotland, who gathered the two crowns, and in 1642 a civil war broke out that led the Oliver Cromwell protectorate (1653-1659). In 1688 there was the glorious revolution that consolidated the parliamentary monarchy regime.
In 1707 the act of union between England and Scotland that gave rise to the kingdom of Great Britain came in effect. In 1801 the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland was born, that was called the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland after the independence of the free state of Ireland in 1922.
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References
- Economic Activities (SF) Economic activities of England. https://activitieseconomicas.org/
- England.net (SF) Culture of England. http://www.inglaterra.net/
- La Moncloa (2020) What is Brexit. https://www.lamancloa.gob.es/
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2023) United Kingdom. Country record. Diplomatic Information Office of Spain. https://www.exteriors.gob.es/
