How did the United Kingdom of Great Britain come into being?

This question has been asked and answered several times on Quora already. The name of the current nation-state is the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. read more

The name of the current nation-state is the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The key events are as follows: 1066: William the Bastard, Duke of Normandy, invades Anglo-Saxon Kingdom of England; defeats King Harold and becomes King William I. read more

The state came into being following the Treaty of Union in 1706, ratified by the Acts of Union 1707, which united the kingdoms of England (which included Wales) and Scotland to form a single kingdom encompassing the whole island of Great Britain and its outlying islands, with the exception of the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands. read more