Araluen and England share more than just geography. Here are some of the many reasons they deserve to be classified as "similar."
1) Government. Both follow a monarchy. The supreme ruler is a king (or a queen) who has power over all of the smaller nobles- the barons. The land is divided into smaller portions to allow the King to delegate power to lesser nobles. The throne is passed down through a family by way of the eldest child. The main difference in English and Araluen government is that, in Araluen, girls can inherit the crown. English monarchs preferred the crown to go to a boy.
2) "Eyes and Ears of the Queen." Queen Elizabeth the First took intelligence forces very seriously. And yes Will, they were very intelligent. Elizabeth was painted in a dress with eyes and ears on it to symbolize her constant watch over her kingdom. Like the Ranger force, the main purpose was to keep peace in a tumultuous time. Elizabeth the First was Protestant, but her successor, Mary Queen of Scots (Bloody Mary) was Catholic, and her predecessor, Edward VI, was Protestant. This constant switching of the national religion caused some people, the ones who had been loyal to Mary Queen of Scots, to hate Elizabeth. This is comparable to the power struggle between young King Duncan and Morgarath in the Battle for Hackham Heath.
3) Tactics. England used many of the same battle tactics as the Araluens. For one, knights were predominantly noblemen who had been training for the position since their youth. When a person was knighted, they were given a title by the king, just as Horace was. England was also dependent on their cavalry in battle, just as Araluen was. The weapons used were also notably similar; broadswords, lances, spears, bows, etc. Similarly, jousting tournaments were huge events in England. They were run with much of the same protocol as those in Araluen. Both countries were notably weak during harvest time.
4) Villages. You would be hard pressed to find an English village without a tavern and an inn. Halt commented on the presence of taverns in Araluen as well, saying that no town would be able to function without a central gathering place and a spot for travelers to stay. The professions of villagers also are very similar. Farmers would have made up the vast majority, with butchers, innkeepers, and blacksmiths in most villages. Closer to castles or large settlements one might find someone to train warriors, a skilled horsemen, and scholars.