2012英美概况教案

新年2012壬辰年(龙年)AnIntroductiontotheSocietyandCultureoftheMajorEnglish-SpeakingCountriesABriefIntroductiontotheUnitedKingdom(1)FocalPoints:DifferentNamesforBritainandItsPartsGeographicalFeaturesandNaturalResourcesClimatePeopleDifferentNamesandItsPartsFullName:TheUnitedKingdomofGreatBritainandNorthernIreland〔大不列颠及北爱尔兰联合王国〕GreatBritain:England,Scotland,WalesTheBritishIsles:大不列颠群岛GreatBritainandIrelandTheIsleofWight(tothesouthofEngland)TheIslesofScilly(tothesouthwestofScotland)

AngleseyorAldersey(tothenorthpartofWales)OuterHebridesandInnerHebrides(tothewestpartofScotland)OrkneyIslandsandShetlandIsland(tothenortheastpartofScotland)Capitals:London(England)Edinburgh(Scotland)Cardiff(Wales)Belfast(NorthernIreland)TheCommonwealthofNations

英联邦Itwasestablishedin1931,afreeassociationoffifty-fourindependentmemberstatesthatwereoncecoloniesofBritain.Ithasnospecialpowers;thedecisiontobecomeamemberoftheCommonwealthislefttoeachnation.TheCommonwealthisnotapoliticalunion,butanintergovernmentalorganizationthroughwhichcountrieswithdiversesocial,politicalandeconomicbackgroundsareregardedasequalinstates.Thememberstatescooperatewithinaframeworkofcommonvaluesandgoals.Theseincludethepromotionofdemocracy,humanrights,goodgovernance,theruleoflaw,individualliberty,egalitarianism,freetrade,multilateralism,andworldpeace.GeographicalFeaturesandNaturalResourcesBritainisanislandcountrysurroundedbythesea.IrliesintheNorthAtlanticOceanoffthenorthcoastofEurope.ItisseparatedfromtherestofEuropebytheEdnglishChannelinthesouthandtheNorthSeaintheeast.TheEnglishChannelbetweenEnglandandFranceisquitenarrowandthenarrowestpartiscalledtheStraitsofDover(多弗尔海峡〕Whichisonly33kmacross.UndertheStraitsofDover,thereisachanneltunnelcalled“Chunnel”builtbytheBritishgovernmentandtheFrenchgovernment,whichwasopentotrafficinMay1994.Britaincoversanareaof244.100squarekm.Itruns1000kmfromnorthtosouthandextends,atthewidestpart,about500kilometresfromwesttoEast.(Englandinthesouth,Scotlandinthenorth,andWalesinthesouthwest).Itscoastlinerunsabouttenthousandkilometres.InBritain,noplaceisover250kilometresawayfromthesea.Englandisthelargestandmostdevelopedofallthethree.Itsareaisabout130,423,squarekilometres,Scotland78,822sq.km,Wales20,776,NorthernIreland13,600sq.km.GeographicalFeaturesLocation:

IslandcountryHighlands(thenorthandwestofBritain)Lowlands(theeastandsoutheast)Rivers,lakesandmountains:SevernRiver(塞文河〕(thelongestriverinBritain)ThamesRiver(泰晤士河〕(thesecondlongestandmostimportantriver)RiverClyde(克莱德河〕(inScotland)LoughNeagh(内伊湖〕(thelargest)Snowdonia(斯诺多尼亚〕(thehighestmountaininWales)BenNevis(本尼维斯山〕(thehighestmountaininBritain)ThePennines(奔宁山脉〕(the“BackboneofNorthernEngland”)Scafell(斯克菲尔峰〕(thehighestpeakofEngland)Themainnaturalresourcesare:Petroleum,naturalgas,coal,ironandnonferrousmetalbesidesriversandlakesClimateTheclimateintheUKbelongstothemaritimeclimate.(海洋性气候〕Itliesbetweenlatitude〔纬度〕50to60degreesnorth.Comparedwithothercountriesofthesamelatitudesithasamoremoderateclimate,inwhichwintersaremild,nottoocoldandsummersarecool,nottoohot,andithasAsteadyreliablerainfallthroughoutthewholeyear.TheaverageannualrainfallinBritainisover1,000mm.Thereisawatersurplusinthenorthandwestandawaterdeficitinthesouthandeast.Withanaveragetemperatureinwinterinthenorthis4-6℃,andinwummerinthesouthis12-17℃.

Factorsthatinfluencetheclimate(1)Thesurroundingwaterstendtobalancetheseasonaldifferencesbyheatingupthelandinwinterandcoolingitoffinsummer.Astheseaheatsupandcoolsoffrelativelyslowlyitbringswarmairinwinterandcoolairinsummer.(2)Theprevailingsouth-westwindsortheWesterlies〔一年四季盛行的西南风或西风〕blowoverthecountryalltheyearroundbringingwarmandwetairinwinterandkeepingthetemperaturesmoderate.〔气候宜人〕(3)TheNorthAtlanticDrift,〔北大西洋暖流〕whichisawarmcurrent,passesthewesterncoastoftheBritishIslesandwarmsthem.TheFeaturesofEnglishClimate(1)Rainy,changeableandunpredictableweather.(frequentcloudydaysandrainstorms)(2)Smalldifferencesbetweentheseasons.(cooltemperatures)PeopleDenselypopulatedanduneavenlydistributedcountrywith90%ofthepopulationinurbanareaandonly10%inrural.TheancestorsoftheEnglish:Anglo-SaxonsTheancestorsoftheScots,WelshandIrish:CeltsImmigrants:MainlyfromWestIndies,IndiaandPakistanReligiousBeliefChristianCatholicMuslimJew(Jewishreligion)UnitTwo

ABrief IntroductiontotheUnitedKingdom(2)FocalPoints:TheOriginoftheNationTheShapingoftheNationTransitiontotheModernAgeTheRiseandFalloftheBritishEmpireOriginoftheNationEarlySettlersRomanBritishTheAnglo-SaxonsTheNormanConquest1.EarlySettlers:TheIberians(伊比利来人fromSpain)(3000BC-55BC)TheStonehenge(before2000BC)TheBeakerFolk(宽口陶器人fromHollandandRhinelandabout2000BC〕

Stonehengeisaprehistoric

monumentlocatedintheEnglishcountyofWiltshire,ontheplain,160kilomtersawayfromLondon.Stonehengeiscomposedofacircularsettingoflargestandingstones,whichcouldpossiblyhaveservedasaburialgroundfromitsearliestbeginnings.Itwasconstructedfrom3000-2000BC.AchievementsbytheBeakerFolk

ArtofPotteryFashionBronzeToolsCustomofindividualburial

FarmingsocietyHillFort

TheCelts(凯尔特人〕(FromeasternandcentralEurope)ThreeCelticTribes:TheGaels(600BC),theBrythons(400BC)andtheBelgae(150BC)2.RomanBritain:BritishrecordedhistorybeginswhiththeRomaninvasion.GeneralJuliusCaesar(朱利斯.凯撒〕invadedBritainfromGaulwhichisnowFrancebelongingtopartofRomeatthattimeforthefirsttimein55BC.TheEmerorClaudius(克劳迪斯大帝〕madethesuccessfulinvasionin43AD.During400years,RomecannottotallyoccupythewholeBritainfortworeasons.AchievementsmadebytheRomans:networkofwalledtownsandroadsmakinggooduseofnaturalresourses(mininglead,iron,tin)ManutacturingpotteryBringingChristiananityReasonsforlimitedRomaninfluence:A)SubjectpeopleofslaveclassB)NointermarriageC)NoimpactonthelanguageorcultureoftheordinaryBritons.First,someofthecountryresisted.Second,RomantroopswereoftenwithdrawnfromBritainfofightinotherpartsoftheRomanEmpire.AchievementsbytheRomans:networkoftowns,roads

Christianity3.TheAnglo-Saxons〔446-871〕(盎格鲁-撒克逊时期〕Inthemid-5thcenturyanewwaveofinvaders,Jutes,(fromsouthernDenmark)Saxons,andAngles(fromnorthernGermany)cametoBritain.TheywerethreeTeutonictribes(条顿部族，日耳曼部落).Heptarchy(七国时代〕Severnpriciplkingdoms:Kent,Essex,Sussex,Wessex,EastAnglia,MerciaandNorthumbria.Theywereconstantlyatwartogetmoreland.Religion:A)TheAnglo-SaxonsbroughttheirownTeutonicreligiontoBritainatfirstandChritiananitysoondisappeared.B)In597,PopeGregoryⅠsentSt.Augustine,thepriorofStAndrew’sMonasteryinRometoEnglandtoconverttheheathenEnglishtoChristianity.St.AugustinebecamethefirstArchbishopofCanterbury.C)TheRomanmissionariesheldthatthePope’sauthoritywassupremeandataconferenceatwhitbyinYorkshirein664,theRomanmissionariesgainedupperhand.TheachievementsbytheAnglo-Saxons:(laidthefoundationoftheEnglishstate)A)shires;B)narrow-stripandthree-stripfarmingsystem(窄条田，三田农耕制〕;C)establishedthemanorialsystem(庄园制〕D)createdtheWitan(贤人会议〕toadvisetheking,thebasisofthePrivyCouncil〔枢密院〕appeared.4.TheVikingandDanishInvasions

(北欧海盗和丹麦人的入侵〕A).TheNorwegianVikingsandtheDanesfromDenmarkattackedvariouspartsofEnglandfromtheendofthe8thcentury.Alfred,thekingofWessex,wasstrongenoughtodefeattheDanesandcametoarelativelyfriendlyagreement(theDanelaw)withthemin879.TheDanesgainedcontrolofthenorthandeastofEg.B)TheAchievementsmadebyAlfredtheGreat(阿尔弗雷德国王〕：1〕foundedtheBritishnavy,astronfleetwhichbeattheDanesandencouragedthetrade.2)reorganizedtheSaxonarmy,makingitmoreefficient.3)translatedintoEnglishBede’sEcclesiasticalHistoryoftheEnglishPeople(比德的《英国基督教会史》andestablishedschoolsandformulatedalegalsystem.5.TheNormanConquest1.TheNormansweresearoversandpirateswhowereoneracefromtheDanescomingfromtheScandinaviaPeninsula.ThesaileduptheSeineRiverandplunderednortherncoastofFrance.WhenPariswascaptured,theFrenchkingwasforcedtomakeabargainwiththem,givingthenorthleadedalargetractofLandinthenorthernpartofFranceonconditionthattheNorthmenpromisetoaidhiminwarandtoaccepttheChristianreligion.Theyacceptedtheconditionandsettleddown.TheyadoptedtheFrenchlanguageandcustom.TheircountrytookonthenameofNormandyandtheycalledthemselvesNormans,meaningNorthman.TheNormanConquest2.PossibleReasonsfortheConquest:ThelastAnglo-SaxonkingEdwarddiedwithoutsonanddaughterin1066.UponhisdeathheandtheWitansrecommendedhiswife’sbrother,awarriornamedHaroldashissuccessor.Haroldwasnotfromtheroyalfamily,whichgaverisetodisputeoverhisclaimtothecrown.Edward’smotherwasEmmaofNormanyandWilliamasthecousinofEdwardandtheDukeofNormandyclaimedthatEdwardhadpromisedthecrowntohimbeforehisdeath.WilliamalsoclaimedthatHaroldhadpromisedtohelphimtobecomethekingofEngland.HebecameveryangrywhenheheardthtHaroldhadsnappedthecrownfromhim.WilliamtookthechancewhensoldierswentbackhomegatheringincropsandleavingthecoastundefendedtoattackEngland.TheNormans,armedwithbowsandarrows,defeatedtheAnglo-Saxonswhofoughtwithbattle-axeswithHaroldkilledandsoldiersfleeing.Finally,LondonwasforcedtogiveinandabiggroupofnoblemenandchurchmencameouttowelcomeWilliam.HewascrownedinWestminsterAbbey(西敏寺〕onChristmasDayin1066.TheShapingoftheNationFocalPoints:William’sRuleTheGreatCharterTheHundredYear’sWarwithFranceTheBlackDeathThePeasantUprisingFocalPoints:StoryaboutWilliamtheConqueror:HewasthesonoftheDukeofNormandy.Beforetheconquest,becauseoftheillegitimacyofhisbirth,hewasknownasWilliamthebastard.TopresshisclaimtoEnglishcrown,heinvadedEnglandin1066,leadinganarmyofFrenchmen,Normans,BretonsandFlemingstovictorywasthefirstNorman

KingovertheEnglishforcesofkingHaroldatthebattleofHastingsandsuppressedtheEnglishrevolts.Williamwasoneoftheforemostsoldiersofthemedievalera,conqueringalargekingdomfromasmallerbase.Healsocreatedafeudalstatewithastrongcentralgovernment.William'sreign,whichimposedNormancultureandleadershiponEngland,reshapedEnglandintheMiddleAges.hisreignalsosawaprogrammeofbuildingandfortification,changestotheEnglishlanguage,ashiftintheupperlevelsofsocietyandthechurch,andadoptionofsomeaspectsofcontinentalchurchreform.1.William’sRule(1066-1087)A)TheFeudalSystem

TheKingownedalltheland,gavehisbaronslargeestatesinreturnforapromiseofmilitaryserviceandaproportionoftheland’sproduce.Thebaronsparcledoutlandtothelessernoblesforgoodsandservices.Thelessernobles,knightsandfreemen(小贵族，骑士和自由民〕oppressedthepeoplebelowthem.Thevilleinsorserfs,unfreepeasantslivedLittlebetterthanslaves.B)OneparticularfeatureofthefeudalsystemofEnglandwasthatalllandownersmusttaketheoathofallegiance,notlonelytotheirimmediatelord,butalsototheking.C).WilliamtookadeepinterestinthedevelopmentofthechurchinEngland.Hispolicytowardsthechurchwastokeepitcompletelyunderhiscontrol,butatthesametimetoupholditspower.2.TheGreatCharter(大宪章〕〔1215〕1).HistoricalconditionsunderwhichtheGreatChartercameintobeing:Norman’sconquestusheredinanewperiodofgreatchangesinEnglishhistory.WilliamconsolidatedtheferudalsysteminEnglandwithspecialcarethathisauthoritywasnottobechallengedbyany2.TheGreatCharterPowerfulbarons.Butsolongaspowerfullordsexistedwiththeirlargefiefs,feudalbaronialwarsweresuretobreakoutsoonerorlater.AfterWilliam’sdeaththewarslastedfor19years.WhenWilliam’sgreatgrand-nephewbecamekingasHenryⅡ,hispositionwasratherweakandmadealotofreformstokeepthebaronsundercontrol.Reducedthebaron’smilitarystrengthbydestroyingfortressesillegallybuilt.StrippedthosebaronsoftheirtitleswhohadbeenagainsthimReformingthelawcourtbyorderingthejudgestoinvestigatethebaron’spropertyandtheabuseoftheirprivileges.WithHenryⅡ’sreform,feudalorderwasfurtherstrengthenedandthecountryexperiencedaperiodofsecurityandprosperity.HenryⅡdiedinsorrowbecausehissonsrevoltedagainsthiminacontestforthethrone.TenyearsafterHenryⅡ’sdeath,hisyoungestson,theheadconspirator,John(1199-1216)becameking.JohnwassaidtohavebeentheworstofEnglishkings.KingJohngreedilycollectedmoneyandbecamemorerecklessafterhemountedthethrone.HelostallhisContinentalfiefexceptatinyspotinFrance.HealsoquarrelledwiththePope.In1213,heproposedawaragainstFrancesoastoreconquerhislostterritory,butthebaronsRefusedtofollowhim.InfacttheywereplanningtoputanendtoJohn’srecklessandtyrannicbehaviour.In1214,theydecidedtocompelthekingtosignachartercontainingthethingswhichakingmightnotdo.AfterJohnrefusedtosignittheyraisedanarmywhichmanypeoplesupportedandforcedKingJohntosign.2).TheGreatCharter(orMagnaCarta)Importantprovisions:1〕Thekingmustpromisetoobservetherightsofhisvassals(封臣〕andthevassalsinturnmustobservetherightsoftheirmen.2)ThemerchantisnottobedeprivedofHisgoodsforsmalloffenses,northefarmersofhiswagonandimplements.3)Nofreemanshallbeimprisonedorbanishedorpunishedinanyway,unlessconvictedbyajurryofhisfellowcitizens.4)Thekingshouldpermitmerchantstomoveaboutfreelyandshouldobservetheprivilegesofthevarioustowns.3)SignificanceoftheGreatCharterTheGreatCharterwasthefirststepofconstitutionalexperiment.Ittriedtoestablishalegalrelationbetweenthekingandhisbaronsbydefiningtheirrespectiverightsandobligations.TheChartermadeitpossibleforthenew-bornbourgeoisietoenterintopoliticsbecauseitgrantedsomepowertotheGreatCouncilwhichwastheEmbryonicformoftheEnglishParliament.TheCharterlaiddownthebasicrulesfortheEnglishandAmericanlegalsystem.Itraisedtheproblemofprotectinglife,property,andpreventingpossibleabuseofpowerofthegovernment.Briefly,ItwasastatementofthefeudalandlegalrelationshipbetweentheCrownandthebarons,aguaranteeofthefreedomoftheChurchandalimitationofthepowersoftheking.3.TheHundredYears’WarwithFrance

ThecausesfortheintermittentwarbetweenFranceandEnglandwerepartlyterritorialandpartlyeconomic.TheAnglo-NormankinghadoncepossessedlargetractsoflandinFrance.HenryⅡactuallycontro