The British Isles is a group of islands in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Continental Europe.It includes Ireland, Great Britain, the Isle of Man, Shetland, Orkney, and thousands of smaller islands.Traditionally the Channel Islands, are included, however these specific islands are geographically part of mainland continental Europe, as they are positioned off the French coast …

The British Isles have witnessed intermittent periods of competition and cooperation between the people that occupy the various parts of Great Britain, the Isle of Man, Ireland, the Bailiwick of Guernsey, the Bailiwick of Jersey and the smaller adjacent islands.. Today, the British Isles contain two sovereign states: the Republic of Ireland and the United Kingdom.