初中英语 英美文化 Survey of Britain素材

Survey of Great Britainn What is the difference between British Isles(不列颠群岛), (Great) Britain, United Kingdom and England? These terms are familiar, but puzzling to us Chinese.n The British Isles are made up of two large islands: One is Britain and the other Ireland. Britain, or Great Britain, is the larger of the two islands, and is divided into three parts: England, Scotland and Wales.n The United Kingdom (UK) is the short for the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. UK consists of Scotland, Wales and England (i.e. the whole of Britain), and also about one-sixth of Ireland, i.e., the Northern Ireland. The rest of Ireland is self-governing.Part 1 GeographyChapter 1 Physical Geographyn Situated in Northwestern Europen Lying to the north of France and west of Belgium, the Netherlands and Denmarkn Consists of England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Irelandn Total area: 242 534 sq. km.ITopography1Topography- Scotland n North: Scottish Highland, Mountainous.n The Grampian Ranges lies in the highlands;n Ben Nevis (1,343 m) is the highest peak in Britain;n Middle: Midland Valley, lower hills and rolling country drained by Clyde and Forth Riversn South: Uplands- contains broad, rounded hillsn Capital City: Edinburgh2Topography -Englandn North: Uplands continue - the Pennines (the backbone of England)n Northwest: the Lake District-valleys and lakesn Eastern and south central: mainly an open cultivated plain, lowlandsn South: Peninsula, uplands, scarps, cliffsn London (capital), Manchester, Birmingham and Liverpool are the major cities.3Topography-Walesn a mountainous area with hills rising steeply from the sea and with flat topsn 6% of Wales is covered with forest and much of the country is pasture, with only 12% of the area arable.n The capital city is Cardiff.4Topography-Northern Irelandn North: a broad plateau (Antrim Mts, Sperrin Mts.), coast (Giants Causeway)n South: Mountains (Mourne Mts. )n The Lough Neagh here is the largest lake in Britain.n Belfast is the capital city.IIClimaten Milder: moderated by Atlantic Gulf Streamn Rain: in Britain every month favorable maritime climatewinters mild, not too cold；summers cool, not too hot steady reliable rainfall；small range of temperature average in winter 4C 6C；average in summer 12C 17CIIIRivers and Lakesn Main rivers flowing westward into the Atlantic, eastward into the North sean The longest river is the Severn River which is only 338 km long. (drain into Bristol Channel)n The second largest river in Britain is the Thames River, which is 336 km long. It rises in southwest England and flows rather slowly through the Midlands of England to Oxford, London and out into the North Sea.n There are many lakes in Britain especially in northern Scotland, the Lake District in north-west England and north Wales. n The largest lake in Britain is the Lough Neagh in Northern Ireland which covers an area of 396 sq. km Chapter 2 Natural Resourcen The UK is rich in coal, iron, tin, copper, lead and silver.n Water: abundantn The free-flowing rivers provides plenty surface watern Large reservoirs in Welsh mountains and English Lake Districtsn Fuel: Coal, Natural Gas, Oiln Coalfields: Midland Valley of Scotland, Lancashire, Durham, Derbyshire, Northumberland, Nottingham in England, and in South Walesn Natural gas: UK Continental Shelf(大陆架) of the North Sean Oil: the North Sea along the British-Norwegian boundaryn Iron ore: Lincolnshire and Northamptonshiren Tin ore: Cornwall and Devonn Lead ore: Northern and Southern Penninesn Copper: North Walesn Saline Deposits: Cheshiren Clay: Cornwall, DerbyshireChapter 3 EconomyI. Characteristics of British Economyn One of the worlds most advanced manufacturing and trading nationsn The first to have been fully industrialized during 1750-1850(Industrial Revolution)n Export: manufactured goods, service, oiln Import: raw material, foodstuffn Industry is operated by small family business, private business and great public corporationn Boom areas: London and the southeast；“Development areas”: the north and westII. Industryn Cotton: Lancashiren Wool: Yorkshiren Linen: Northern Irelandn Shipbuilding: the Clyde, NE coast, N. Ireland n Iron, Steel, Chemicals: the north, the Midland, South Wales n Machine: North and Western Midlandsn Auto industry: one of the chief exporting industries, account for 11% of Br. Industrial outputn Chemicals: grow faster, capital-intensive, high valuen Iron and Steel: grow rapidlyn Coal Mining (diversified), Textile (contraction), Wool (craft), Shipbuilding (craft): withered, declinedIII. Agriculturen Animal husbandry: predominates in the farming economyn Crop production: Wheat 40%, Barley 30%, Oats, Rye, Corn, Potatoes, Sugar beets, Oilseed rape , Kale, Beans 30%n Horticulture: a very important part of Britains farming economyn Livestock: cattle, sheep, pig, poultryIV. Trade and Financen Visible trade: Commodity -deficitn Importer: food and raw materialn Exporter: manufacturesn Invisible trade: Service -Surplusn Financial Service: banking, insurancen Capital investmentn Finance:n The Bank of England: Founded in 1694n Role: the center of British financial system，Protect gold and currency reserve, maintain the value of PoundChapter 4 The PeopleI. Population: consists of n English 80% n Scottish 10% Irish 4% Welsh 2% -(Celts)n Other people 4%n Densely populated，High degree of urbanization 80%n Language: n English: Official languagen Welsh: speaking in Wales -Celtic languagen Gaelic: 80 000 speaking in Scotland-Celtic languagen National anthem: God Save the Queen (English)II. Formation of British Racen Invasions by different races at various time from Europen Iberians: Mediterranean racen Celtsn Gaels: Scottish and Irish race and culturen Britons: Welsh race and culturen Romans: Latin alphabet and civilizationn Anglo-Saxons: English race and languagen Danes: Some peculiarities of dialectn Normans (French-speaking): Final unification of England, Great administrative progress, Foundation of aristocracy Chapter 5 The Main Citiesn London: the capital, political center, major port, one of the worlds leading banking and financial centers, On the north bank of the Thames. Consists ofn The city of London: 2.5sq.km. n Greater London: a metropolitan county 都市郡n 12 Inner London boroughsn 20 Outer London boroughsn West End(西区): a shopping district with many large department stores and expensive hotels.n East End(东区): poorest district in London, crowded with unskilled workers n House of Parliament, Westminster Abbey, St. Pauls Cathedral, Buckingham Palace, British Museum, Victoria and Albert Museum, National Gallery, Royal Festival Hall(节日音乐厅), Tower of Londonn Whitehall: lined with offices of the most important ministries of the British Government (Stands for Br. Gov.)n Downing Street. No. 10: the official residence of the British prime minister (Stands for Br. PM)n Hyde Park: Lake Serpentine, Speakers Corner (a haven避难所 for protesters, the epitome(典型) of British freedom of speech) Part 2 HistoryChapter 1 Pre-feudal Society1. Early Settlement (-55 B.C.)n Before the great Ice Age, GB was joined to the continent of Europe. Cave men or stone age men came to Britain.n About 3000 B.C., Iberians from the Mediterranean lands came to the west coast of England and around Scotland.n About 750 B.C., the Celtic tribes from Europe began to settle in Britain.n 1st: Gaels, whose language Gaelic, is still spoken in Scotlandn 2nd: 500B.C. Britons, from whom Welsh are descendedn 3rd: 100B.C. another group from Gaul came.n Celtic tribes had their own civilization, practiced a kind of primitive communism.n The Celts are ancestors of the Scots, the Irish and the Welsh people 2. The Roman Occupation (55B.C.- 410)n 55-54B.C., Julius Caesar, a Roman general, invaded Britain twice.n In 43, the real conquest began, Britain became a Roman province.n Lowland Britons: accepted and appreciated Roman way of lifen Highland Scots & Picts: resisted and revoltedn Contribution: Romanized civilizationn English upper class: landlords , Native people: slavesn Slave society was introduced into Englandn Roman power collapsed in 410 with the downfall of the Roman Empire. 3. Anglo-Saxon Times (410 871)n Germanic tribes: the Angles, Saxons, Jutes were invited by Br. King to defend his kingdom against Picts and Scots around the middle of 5th century.n They spoke Old English or Anglo-Saxon.n The Celts were defeated and pushed back into the Mts. of Wales and Scotland and across to Ireland.n King Arthur: a brave Celtic leader n By the end of 7th century, the distinction between these 3 tribes lost significance. “The nation of English” came into being.n They lack unity and England was divided into a number of kingdoms, called the “Heptarchy”. They are Kent, Essex, Sussex, Wessex, East Anglia, Mercia, Northumbria. n In 829, Wessex won the overlordship, whose king Egbert, began to style himself as “King of English”.n In the late 6th century, Christianity was introduced to England. All England was united under one well-organized church.n Culturen Bede: a great historiann Beowulf: the greatest old English epic poem 4. The Invasion of Vikings and the Danish Rule n 8th century, Vikings from Denmark invaded England.n King Alfred of Wessex defeated the Danes. He was considered the 1st national hero.n 973, Edgar became the King of England.n The class polarization appeared. Clan system was replaced by the village system. The social system advanced towards feudalism.n The end of 10th century, under the reign of Ethelred II, fresh waves of Danish fighters attacked the south.n 1016, Edmund II (Ethelreds son) made an agreement with Danes, later died mysteriously. n 1016, Canute, the son of Danish king, became the ruler of England. n 1035, his two sons, Harold I and Hardecanute, reigned England successively.n 1042, the English once again ruled England. Edward the Confessor ruled England.Chapter 2 The Growth of Feudalism1. The Norman Conquest n 1066, Edward died. Harold II became the King of England.n William, Duke of Normandy claimed the throne, landed on England and defeated Harold II in the Battle of Hastings.n On Christmas day 1066, William the Conqueror was crowned in Westminster Abbey. n Consequences of Norman Conquest: n Feudalism was finally established in England. The manor system replaced the village system.n William established a strong monarchy in England.n French came to England, which was spoken in the court and by upper classes till 14th century. Many English words come from French. 2. The Consolidation of Monarchyn 1154, Henry II became the king and established the House of Plantagenet.n Henry II controlled more land in France than did the king of France himself. n The power of the Crown was intensified further.n The royal powers of justices were expanded.n For administration, the Inquest of Sheriffs was introduced. n Skilled trade, commerce, agriculture, arts all made rapid progress.3. The Great Chartern 1199, John (Lackland) succeeded to the throne of England. French king took back some territories from his hands in France. n After William I, the kings power grew greater and greater. There naturally rose a conflict between the king and his vassals. There had been opposition among the barons to John.n Under great pressure, John signed the document in 1215, called the “Magna Carta” or the “Great Charter”, a list of demands drawn up by the bishops, the barons and the townsmen. n The Great Charter contained 3 sets of provisions:n a. the king was not to exact extra payments from feudal vassals without their consentn b. laws were not to be modified by arbitrary action of the kingn c. should the king attempt to free himself from the law, the vassals had the right to force king to obey it, by civil war or by otherwise.n A feudal document in the interest of feudal lords, had a progressive significance, granted to the townspeople freedom of trade and self-government.4. The Beginning of Parliamentn English parliament originated in Great Council -an advisory assembly of kings chief feudal vassals.n Main purpose of summoning parliament was to get consent for taxation.n 1216, Henry III (Johns son) became King. Like his father, he wanted to defeat the lords, barons and their great charter.n The baron rose up in opposition. 1264, Montfort defeated the royal army and called parliament in 1265. n The Parliament of 1265 is known as the All Estates Parliament” (各等级议会) including the usual lords and churchmen, also knights and representatives from each borough, which is generally considered the beginning of parliament.n 1272, Edward I (Henrys son) succeeded the throne. His time was a secure, flourishing age.n 1295, he summoned the “All Estates Parliament. This came to be looked upon as a model for all succeeding ones. It is known in history as “Model Parliament”n The representatives included not only the nobility, clergy, but also the middle class, representatives from shires and towns, known as “commons” in Parliament.Chapter 3 The Decline of Feudalism1. The Hundred Years War (1337-1453)n The Norman and Plantagenet kings of England were also French nobles.n Henry II controlled more land in France than did the king of France himself. n Such preponderance of power in France naturally led to rivalry with French king and to intermittent wars throughout 12th and 13th centuries.n England lost much of her French possessions.n The second phase of medieval Anglo-French hostility began in 1337 and ended in 1453, known as Hundred Yrs War.n It was a series of wars, a feudal and trade war.n Ostensibly, the war was caused by the claim of Edward III to be the King of France.n The real causes were deeper, more complexn English kings tried to get back land Henry II owned in Francen While French kings were always on the lookout to weaken and reduce English powern The economic interests clashed in Flanders (Belgium)n Victory now on one side, now on the other.n 1340, some indecisive campaigns fought.n 1359, English led by Edward III and his son Black Prince defeated France.n 1369, the French were victorious.n By 1420, France had enough defeat. Henry V (House of Lancaster) led his army to seize all northern France.n 1435, English power in France crumbled. Joan of Arc fought against the English. French won back their lands.n 1453, only Calais remained under English rule. The Hundred years war was over.2. The Wars of Roses (1455-1485)n 1377, Edward III died. Richard II succeeded to the throne.n 1399, with Richards abdication, Henry IV became king and started a new dynasty, the House of Lancaster.n As a result of the Hundred Years War, two most influential rivals were formed in England, the family of Lancaster and York, who were war-like nobles having their own armies.n 1455, Duke of York tried to displace Lancaster King Henry VI (1422-1461), the civil war “the Wars of Roses” broke out. n The War got such a name because Lancastrians wore the badge of red rose and Yorkists wore badge of white rose.n The wars were for power, wealth, ultimately for the possession of Crown. It was a feudal civil war.n Henry Tudor of Lancaster defeated Richard III, married Elizabeth of York, united the two Houses, became Henry VII and established House of Tudor in 1485.n The Wars of Roses ended and the House of Tudor began.n The Wars of Roses had an important consequence:n The weakening of old feudal nobility: old feudal barons slaughtered one another in Warsn beginning formation of English nationChapter 4 Growth of Capitalism and the Rule of the Tudors1. Economic Development and the Enclosure Movementn By the beginning of Tudor reign, manorialism had already declined and had been replaced gradually by a money economy.n The 1st impact of modern industrialism was felt in England in the 2nd half of 18th century.n The cloth industry already shadowed every branch of English trade and industry.n The cloth industry increased the value of wool. Raising sheep became more profitable.n This in consequence encouraged landlords to convert arable land into pastures.n The nobility, merchants started to enclose land. Large areas of land were hedged or fenced without any warning to peasants.n This process known as Enclosure Movement.n Whole villages disappeared. Thousands of peasants were expelled from the land and became vagabonds, beggars.n The two results of Enclosure Movement:n a. the primitive accumulation of capitaln b. the continuation of supply of cheap labor paved the way for capitalism2. Foreign Trade and Colonial Plundern In the reign of the Tudors, the other two forms of primitive accumulation: foreign trade and colonial plunder, including the slave trade, started.n The rapid growth of English cloth manufacture in 15th century revolutionized the character of the countrys export trade.n The primitive accumulation of capital and cheap labor sped up the growth of capitalism in England.3. The Strengthening of the Centralized Monarchn 1485, Henry VII was crowned and established House of Tudor.n 1486, Henry VII married Elizabeth of York, thus uniting the rival Houses of York and Lancaster.n Henry VII established good relations with Spain and France through his son or daughters marriage arrangement.n In order to retain his crown, Henry took a series of steps:n 1st: he put down all revolts with a heavy hand, executed their leaders; put to death those likely to become his rivals to t