Britannien

Britannien is a historical and geographical term used in German to denote the island of Great Britain and, in broader usage, the British Isles. In classical Latin, the area was known as Britannia, the Roman province established after the conquest of the island. Today the term can refer to different concepts depending on context, ranging from the island itself to the historic entities connected with its governance.

Geographically, Great Britain is the largest island of the British Isles, located off the northwest coast of continental Europe. It comprises England, Scotland, and Wales. The United Kingdom, officially the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, includes Northern Ireland as well. The capital is London; the official language is English; the currency is the pound sterling. The population is around 67 million.

Historically, the island was inhabited by Celtic peoples known as Britons. The Romans conquered it in the 1st century CE and established the province of Britannia. After the Roman withdrawal, various kingdoms emerged and eventually united. The 1707 Act of Union created the Kingdom of Great Britain by merging England and Scotland; the 1801 union with Ireland formed the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. In 1927 the state adopted its current name, reflecting the status of Northern Ireland and most of Ireland remaining separate. Since the late 20th century, devolution has granted Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland their own parliaments or assemblies.

Politically, the United Kingdom is a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary democracy. The monarch's role is largely ceremonial, and Parliament consists of the House of Commons and the House of Lords. The country has a highly developed economy, with services and finance centered in London, and a broad cultural influence in literature, media, science, and the arts.