In London, people are acutely aware that they are only a small island in the scale of the whole world, and that 2020s are just one decade in the thousands of years England has existed. The United States of America is 244 years old, which is old, but countries in Europe date much further back. For example, the first King of England was crowned in 827. In the United Kingdom I am constantly surrounded by so much history and have learned how to look at the world from a new perspective. Though London is a constantly growing and evolving city, it is still affected by its thousands of years of history. Though the British Monarchy may be the most famous around today, it did not develop in isolation; for instance, the kin of Queen Victoria at one point could be found in every royal family in Europe. Did you know that Queen Elizabeth and Prince Phillip are very distantly related! Learning about England’s long history has taught me that I must always think about the world globally and as being very old! Even in London, there are markers of this ancient history such as the Tower of London and the Palace of Westminister. The Tower of London is a fortress in the center of London, and is one of the oldest castles in the world. The Tower marks the history of London since 1078; it is the site of many executions but also the home to many Kings of England. These markers of history remind us that not only are we part of a continuing and evolving history, but part of a history that is inherently global and interconnected.
