Timeline of British history (1600–1699) facts for kids

The idea of "British history" really started to take shape in the 1600s. This was partly because King James II tried to say that the joining of the crowns of England and Scotland in 1603 had created a new country called Great Britain. However, this didn't actually happen until 1707. Until then, the governments of the Kingdom of England and the Kingdom of Scotland stayed separate. Most Scots were also not allowed to share in the lands England had overseas.

This page looks at important events in English and Scottish history from 1600 to 1699.

Key Events in 17th Century Britain

The Start of a New Era: 1600-1620

• 1603: Queen Elizabeth I of England passed away on March 24.
• 1603: James VI of Scotland became King of England, known as James I of England. This meant one king ruled both England and Scotland, but they were still separate countries.
• 1603: A serious outbreak of the Plague hit England.
• 1605: On November 5, the famous Gunpowder plot was discovered. Guy Fawkes and other Catholic plotters tried to blow up King James VI and I and the Parliament of England. They wanted to change the government.
• 1618: Sir Walter Raleigh, a famous explorer and writer, was executed in England.

Royal Changes and Conflicts: 1620-1650

• 1625: King James VI and I died on March 27.
• 1639: England and Scotland went to war. This conflict, known as the Bishops' Wars, lasted until 1644. These wars were mainly about religion and how the church should be run in Scotland.
• 1640: The Long Parliament was called in England. This Parliament would play a huge role in the upcoming conflicts with the King.
• 1642: The English Civil War began. This was a major war between the King and Parliament over who should have more power. You can find more details in the Timeline of the English Civil War.

New Ideas and Great Disasters: 1650-1670

• 1652: Tea was first brought to Britain. It quickly became a very popular drink.
• 1666: The Great Fire of London caused huge damage to the city. From September 2 to 5, the fire destroyed many buildings, but it also led to a new, better-built London.

Revolutions and Rights: 1680-1699

• 1688: The Glorious Revolution took place in England. This event saw King James II replaced by William III without much fighting. It changed how the monarchy worked.
• 1689: The Bill of Rights 1689 was passed by the Parliament of England. The Claim of Right Act 1689 was passed by the Parliament of Scotland. These laws set out important rights for people and limited the power of the monarch.

See also

• Timeline of British history
• Timeline of British history (1500–1599)
• Timeline of British history (1700–1799)
• Early Modern Britain
• History of the British Isles
• History of England
• History of Ireland
• History of Northern Ireland
• History of Scotland
• History of Wales
• History of the United Kingdom