THE SOCIETY AND CULUTRE OF GREAT BRITAIN Book One Third Edition Higher Education PressRequirementsofthecourseAttendance 10% Class-room presentation 10%Quizs 20%Final exam Test(闭卷闭卷) 60%ContentsIntroductionHistory Political SystemIndustry and EconomyLiterature and CultureReligions and BeliefsEducationUnit1ABriefIntroductiontotheUnitedKingdomPart I A brief Introduction to the United KingdomPart II EnglandPart III ScotlandPart IV Waleswhereisit？anislandcountrybythesea.NorthwestAtlanticOceanoffthenorthcoastofEurope.EnglishChannelinthesouthandtheNorthSeaintheeast.GeographicalFeatures1.GeographicalpositionofBritain:Britainisanislandcountrysurroundedbythesea.ItliesintheNorthwestAtlanticOceanoffthenorthcoastofEurope.ItisseparatedfromtherestofEuropebytheEnglishChannelinthesouthandtheNorthSeaintheeast.2.ThenorthandwestofBritainaremainlyhighlands；andtheeastandsoutheastaremostlylowlands.PartoneAbriefIntroductiontotheUnitedKingdomA complicated name fora complicated countryI.DifferentNamesforBritainanditsParts1. Geographical names:the British Isles Great Britain Englandthe United Kingdom (UK)TheBritishIsles:theislandofGreatBritaintheislandofIrelandsurroundingislesUK=GreatBritain+NorthernIrelandGreatBritain=England+Scotland+Wales2.Officialname:theUnitedKingdomofGreatBritainandNorthernIreland3.Othernames:theBritishEmpire(大不列颠帝国)BritishCommonwealthofNations（英联邦国家）AfreeassociationofindependentcountriesthatwereoncecoloniesofBritain.Itwasfoundedin1931,andhas50membercountriesuntil1991.London(Dominant)Capitalcity,LargestcityLargestportLargestpopulation(oneseventhofthenationspopulation)FinancialandCommercialcentreCulture(hosttheOlympicGamesin1908,1948,2012)Politicalcentre1.Westminstercentralgovernmentadministrativearea2.PalaceofWestminsterHousesofparliament(BigBen)3.WestminsterAbbeyancientchurch4.Whitehall(street)5.Downingstreet,thehouseofNo.10officialresidenceofthePrimeMinster6.BuckinghampalaceroyalresidenceoftheQueenCulturalcenter(hosttheOlympicGamesin1908,1948,2012)TourismCityComplicatedcountry1.imperialcountry2.CommonwealthofNations3.memberofEuropeanUnion4.amemberofGroupofSeven5.multiracial6.asocietywithaclassstructure7.regiondifference(justlikeChina)IV.Climate1.BritainsfavorableclimateBritainhasamaritimeclimate-wintersarenottoocoldandsummersarenottoohot.Ithasasteadyreliablerainfallthroughoutthewholeyear.Thetemperaturevarieswithinasmallrange.3.Rainfall：Britainhasasteadyreliablerainfallthroughoutthewholeyear.TheaverageannualrainfallinBritainisover1,000mm.Thereisawatersurplusinthenorthandwest,andawaterdeficitinthesouthandeast.V. The People1.populationdistributionandconposition：Totalpopulation:about60millionunevenlydistributedHighlyurbanizedMutiracial/Mutinational2.Theoriginsorancestorsofthepeople:Anglo-SaxonstheEnglishCeltstheScots,WelshandIrishnon-Europeanethnicity(Indian,Pakistan,Caribbean,etc.)immigrants3.Thecharacterofthepeople：theEnglishtheScotsRegionaldivisiontheWelshtheIrishAnglo-SaxonsEthnicalgroupCeltsCommoncharacteristicscautiousadaptableconservativehavestrongnationalconsciousnessTheWelshareemotionalandcheerfulpeople.Theyaremusicloversandareproudoftheirpast.TheScotsaresaidtobeaserious,cautiousandthriftypeople,andtheyarealsohospitable,generousandfriendly.TheIrisharecharm.VI.ThreepoliticaldivisionsontheislandofGreatBritain:England,ScotlandandWales.(1)EnglandisinthesouthernpartofGreatBritain.Itisthelargest,mostpopuloussection.(2)WalesisinthewestofGreatBritain.Capital:Cardiff(3)ScotlandisinthenorthofGreatBritain.Ithasthreenaturalzones(theHighlandsinthenorth；theCentrallowlands；thesouthUplands)Capital:Edinburgh(4)NorthernIrelandisthefourthregionoftheUK.Capital:BelfastEnglandInthesouthernpartofGreatBritainThelargest,mostpopuloussectionAnglo-SaxonstheEnglishAhistoryofinvasionsThefourmajorinvasionsinthehistoryofGreatBritain:EnglandwasoccupiedbyCelticpeople.1.in43ADtheRomanempireResult:EnglandandWalesbecameapartoftheRomanempirefornearly400years.TheRomanbuiltmanytowns,road,baths,templesandbuildings.TheymakegooduseofBritainsnaturalresources.Theyalsobroughtthenewreligion,Christianity,toBritain.2.The5thcenturyADtheAngle-SaxonResult:a.TheyeitherabsorbedtheCelticpeopleorpushthemtothewesternandnorthernedgesofBritain.b.Angle-SaxoninvaderswerecalledastheforefathersoftheEnglishandthefoundersofEngland.3.Thelate8thcenturytheVikingsandDanesResultdividebetweennorthernersandsouthernersinEnglandwhichcanbeexpressedasSaxonversusDane.KingAlfredtheGreat Hefoundedastrongfleetandisknownas“thefatheroftheBritishnavy”.HereorganizedtheSaxonarmy,makingitmoreefficient.41066TheNormantheimportantbattleofHastingsResults:a.WilliamtheConquerortooktheEnglishthroneandbecameWilliamtheFirstofEngland.b.Underhisrule,thegreatcastle,TowerofLondonwasbuilt.c.WilliamreplacedtheweakSaxonrulewithastrongNormangovernment.SothefeudalsystemwascompletelyestablishedinEngland.ScotlandThesecondlargestnationHavethemoststrongnationalconfidenceTopography:themostruggedpartthreenaturalzonestheHighlandinthenorth,thecentralLowlands,andtheSouthernUplands.Capitalcity:Edinburgh,aGermanicname,afineoldculturalcityknownforitsbeauty,fullofantiques,etc.The(third)largestcity:Glasgow,famousasshipbuildingcentreLanguage:English,GaelicPeoples:theScotsandthePictsThehistoryofinvasionsa.ScotlandwasnotconqueredbytheRomans.b.MostofScotlandwasntconqueredbyAnglo-Saxons.c.In9thcenturytheVikingsinvadedScotland.RelationshipbetweenEnglandandScotlandAnglo-ScottishconflictCloseties:intermarriageTwoimportantbattles1.TheBattleofBannockburn300Yearsoffullindependence 2.TheBattleofCullodenthelastbattleonBritishsoil,theHighlandclanculturewasbadlydestroyed. Politics:In1707,ScotlandjoinedtheUnionbyagreementoftheEnglishandtheScottishparliament.Rights:a.Electparliamentmemberandsent72representativestolondonb.havefarmorecontrolovertheirownaffairsthantheWelshC.havenoseparateparliamentParty:TheLabourPartyTheScottishNationalPartyTheConservativePartyCulturesymbol:kilt/tartanFamoussong:AuldLangSynebytheScotlandpoetRobertBurnsShouldoldacquaintancebeforgot,andneverbroughttomind?Shouldoldacquaintancebeforgot,andoldlangsyne?副歌:Forauldlangsyne,mydear,forauldlangsyne,welltakeacupofkindnessyet,forauldlangsyne.Andsurelyyoullbuyyourpintcup!andsurelyIllbuymine!Andwelltakeacupokindnessyet,forauldlangsyne.副歌Wetwo haverunabouttheslopes,andpickedthedaisiesfine;Butwevewanderedmanyawearyfoot,sinceauldlangsyne.副歌Wetwo have paddledinthestream,frommorningsuntilldine;Butseasbetweenusbroad have roaredsinceauldlangsyne.副歌Andtheresahandmytrustyfriend!Andgive usahandothine!Andwelltakearightgood-will draught,forauldlangsyne. WalesInthewestofGreatBritain.ThesmallestnationonBritishmainland,largerthanNorthernIrelandTopography:PastureCapital:Cardiff(320,000people)Language:English/Welsh(19%),Localismisdeep-rooted.Economy:Traditionalindustry:Coal-mining,coalandsteelNewindustriesbyattractinginvestmentHistoryofinvasion:a.WaleswasconqueredbytheRomans.b.WaleswasntreallyconqueredbyAnglo-SaxonsandtheVikings.c.WaleswasinvadedbytheNormansRelationshipwithEnglanda.WaleshasbeendominatedbyEnglandforlongerthantheothernations.b.WaleswasalwaysunderthreatfromEnglandaftertheNormanconquest.In1536,Waleswasbroughtlegally,adminstratively,politicallyintotheUKbyanactoftheBritishParliament.Politics:Electparliamentmemberandsent38representativestoLondonParty:TheNationalistPartyPlaidCymru/ThePartyofWalesLegendaryheroesofWelshnationalism:GlyndwrandLlywelynCulture:TheLandofSongTheWelshkeeptheirlanguageandcultureinthisway:ThroughouttheyeartheyhavefestivalsofsonganddanceandpoetrycalledEisteddfodau(艺术年会).ThegreateventoftheyearistheNationalEisteddfod.OntheseoccasionscompetitionsareheldinWelshpoetry,music,singingandart.NorthernIrelandOldname:UlsterthesmallestinareaandpopulationTopography:Lowhillsandlakedistrict,ruggedcoastlineslandmark:GiantsCausewayCapital:Belfast(about480000people,Titanicwasbuiltthere)CultureandFigures(4thpara.onPage20)Industry:shipbuildingandaircraftmanufactureEconomy:stagnant(why)LowcrimeandmurderrateLowwealthperheadLowlivingcostIrishQuestion(politicaltroubles):thegreatestheadacheoftheBritishGovernmentPeople:dividedonthequestionofreligionandnationalloyaltyProtestantsReligionCatholicsUlsterloyalistsnationalloyaltytheUnionists6.IrishQuestion(politicaltroubles):thegreatestheadacheoftheBritishGovernmentThemainprobleminNorthernIreland:thefightbetweentheProtestantsandtheRomanCatholicstheProtestants:thedominantgrouptheRomanCatholics:seekingmoresocial,politicalandeconomicopportunitiesHistoryofnationalproblemReasons:a.Ireland:thefirstcolonyb.Greathatred,littleroomThechangeofsituationPursueIrishindependenceHomeruleIrishpoliticalcontroloverIrishaffairsGuerillaorterroristactivities 1.theEasterRisingof1916:wasthemostspectacularevent,inwhichtherebelstookoverDublinsPostOffice,forcingtheBritishtoretakeitbymilitarymeans.2.thefightingofIRAin19193.theSinnFeinAPartitionofIreland(1921)Bringtoanend700yearsofBritishruleinsouthernIrelandThesouthern26countiesformanindependentstateThenorth-eastern6countiesremainapartoftheUKPoliticsasapartoftheUKSent12representativestoLondonStormont:aparliamentofitsownPartylegal:a.theSinnFeinpartyb.SDLP:SocialDemocraticandLabourParty IRA:IrishRepublicanArmy(illegal)PoliticaltroublesinNorthernIreland(famous):Indigenous Roman Catholics vs. Protestant immigrates The fuse of the revolt in the 1970sAPartitionofIreland(1921)Bringtoanend700yearsofBritishruleinsouthernIrelandThesouthern26countiesformanindependentstateThenorth-eastern6countiesremainapartoftheUKGeneralreasons:sectariandistrustanddownrighthatredFeatures:bloody,chaotic,disastrous,terroristMeans:marches,speeches,sit-ins,strikeevenriots(tit-for-tatorrevengekillings)Results:mostofthecasualtiesofcivilians1969eventTheProvisionalIRAParamilitarygroupsGettoesinNorthernIrishcitiesThepolicyofInternmentTheBloodySundaySolution1973agreement1985agreement1993DowningStreetDeclaration1994ceasefiretheGoodFridayAgreement