England's land has been inhabited for more than 800,000 years, based on discoveries of early human tools and footprints. Modern humans have lived there continuously for around 13,000 years since the end of the last Ice Age. However, England as a unified political entity is generally considered to be about a thousand years old, with unification under Æthelstan around 927 AD. In summary:

• Human presence in the region now called England dates back over 800,000 years.
• Continuous human habitation has been traced back approximately 13,000 years.
• England as a unified country formed about 1,000 years ago, around 927 AD.