Throughout recent history, three countries have always been involved in European and national affairs. These countries are Great Britain, France and Germany. Each had their own lust for power, along with relationships and conflicts between them. However, the clash between these countries involves great tensions, some of which have devastating effects. These countries have played an important role in shaping the world as we see it today, and they also represent a major part of the modern problems we face. Each country had its beginning and rise to greatness. They also had their own radical ideas about what the world should be and how to govern it. Furthermore, we must not forget the problems that each had with the others. There are three major events throughout history that have caused great tension between these three superpowers. Before Britain became the superpower it was to be, it passed through many hands. Humans have inhabited the island for more than 30,000 years, with true civilization beginning in the Iron Age with a people called the Britons. The Romans conquered and controlled the island for 500 years, as invading Germanic tribes fought over the land. They divided the territory into Scotland and England. Then, in the 10th century, the Normans conquered England. This French elite ruled until the 16th century. On 20 October 1604, King James became the first true ruler of both countries, however each remained its own country until 1707, when the Treaty of Union unified parliament. It was only in the 18th century that England became the world's colonial power, rivaled by France. This was the beginning of a long series of tensions and conflicts. France was first colonized by the Celts around 2500 BC. They ruled an area c...... middle of paper ......orld.net/wrldhis/ PlainTextHistories.asp?groupid=2783&HistoryID=ac62 >rack=pthcFerguson, Niall (2004). Empire, The rise and fall of the British world order and the lessons for global power. Basic BooksMcLynn, Frank (1998). Napoleon. Pimlico"Napoleon I - MSN Encarta". Napoleon I - MSN Encarta. Encarta.msn.com. Retrieved 12 April 2010 http://www.nmm.ac.uk/collections/nelson/viewCategory.cfm/category/90346/#aboutColl http://www.napoleon.org/en/reading_room/articles/files/omeara_napo_invasion. aspRiehn, Richard K. pp. 138–140Riehn, pp. 253–254.Hofschroer, pp. 171-191Hofschroer, pp 325-330http://static.howstuffworks.com/gif/willow/history-of-africa3.gifhttp:// History1900s.about.com/od/worldwarii/a/wwiistarts.htmhttp://members .fortunecity.com/mikaelxii/losses.htmlhttp://www.secondworldwarhistory.com/world-war-2-statistics.asp