The United Kingdom of Great Britain was a state in the British Isles. The kingdom came into existence because of the Acts of Union 1707. These acts of parliament joined together (unified) the Kingdom of Scotland and the Kingdom of England. The kingdom's lands were Great Britain (an island in the Atlantic Ocean near Continental Europe) and some other islands in the British Isles. Throughout its existence, the kingdom was in a personal union (sharing the same monarchy) with the Kingdom of Ireland. Outside the British Isles, Great Britain governed other lands and started colonies: the British Empire.