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Geography and History 视频公开课 西方社会与文化 第一讲 Britain: Country Profile and History 英国地理及历史概况 主讲教师：王小海 教授 Learning Objectives Geography History: centuries‟ invasion and impact; gradual development of the country‟s name British Isles a geographical term includes two large islands, Great Britain and Ireland, and 5,000 small islands http://projectbritain.com/britain/britishisles.htm British Isles occupied by two nations: 1. United Kingdom 2. Republic of Ireland http://projectbritain.com/britain/britishisles.htm Names Full: The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Short: the United Kingdom, the UK, or Britain -- used for entire nation; „Britain‟ : used when talking about the island of Great Britain UK on Map of Europe a country and sovereign state situated in west Northern Europe http://www.worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/eu.htm An island country bounded by Ocean and Seas Mainland linked to France by Channel Tunnel http://www.worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/europe/uk.htm Four Countries a political union made up of four constituent countries: England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland http://www.worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/europe/uk.htm Four Countries England -- the largest and most populous division of island of Great Britain Then Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland http://www.worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/europe/uk.htm Areas 2 England: 130,410 km 2 Scotland: 78,790 km 2 Wales: 20,760 km 2 N. Ireland: 14,160 km http://www.worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/europe/uk.htm Population England: 49m Scotland: 5m Wales: 3m N. Ireland: 1.5m http://www.worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/europe/uk.htm Major cities London Edinburgh Cardiff Belfast http://www.worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/europe/uk.htm Climate: England as an example Temperate changeable https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Climate_of_the_United_Kingdom Social Class Past: a class-ridden society; Today: multiculturalism and a changing economy gradually eroding class system, but some features of the system still remain. National Flag “Union Jack” or “Union Flag” three different crosses. St. George‟s St. Andrew‟s St. Patrick‟s British History Thousands of years ago, Great Britain joined to Europe and covered with ice; About 15,000 years ago, weather warmer; ice melted, sea level rose. Great Britain became an island about 8000 years ago. British History Prehistoric Britain Roman Britain Anglo Saxon Britain BC 43 AD 450 Viking Britain Medieval Britain Tudor Britain 793 1066 1485 Stuart Britain Georgian Britain Victorian Britain 1603 1714 1837 Modern Britain 1902 + Invaders For centuries, invaders and incomers have made their mark: Neolithic peoples about 5000 years ago followed by Celts around 500 BC; Invaders For centuries, invaders and incomers have made their mark: then the Romans, the Anglo-Saxons, the Vikings, and Normans; Impact of centuries‟ invasion a fascinating mix of culture and language -- shaped the nation and continues to evolve today For instance: etc.; via; pro and con; a.m./p.m.; P.S. How the name developed gradually? The term “Great Britain” first used during reign of King James I of England (James VI of Scotland) in 1603; separate kingdoms of England and Scotland, ruled over by same monarch; How the name developed gradually? The „United Kingdom of Great Britain‟ formed in 1707 by Acts of Union that created a single kingdom with a single Parliament; Scotland has always retained its own legal system; How the name developed gradually? A hundred years later, Acts of Union of 1800 joined Ireland to „Great Britain‟ and the name “United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland” was first used; How the name developed gradually? Since 1921 only Northern Ireland has been part of the United Kingdom; so the name changed to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Edward I in Wales & Scotland 1272 (20 November): Henry III dies and is succeeded by his son Edward He was crowned Edward I in August 1274; Edward I in Wales & Scotland 1282-1283: Edward I conquers Wales; Then Scotland……removed “Stone of Scone”; In response, Scots got in touch with Edward‟s old enemy, France; Edward I in Wales & Scotland 1301: Edward I makes his eldest son, also Edward, Prince of Wales； 1307 (7 July): Edward I dies and succeeded by his son Edward II. Henry VIII and early Unions Henry VIII (1491-1547); six wives Sign Acts of Union (1536 and 1543), formally uniting England and Wales for the first time; welcomed by Welsh gentry; The Elizabethan Age Henry VIII died in 1547 Daughter -- Elizabeth I, Virgin Queen her 45-year reign included naval defeat of Spanish Armada (1588), cultural flourishing; Stuart In 1603: Elizabeth died, but no heir; succeeded by her closest relative, Scottish King James; Stuart 1603 (24 March) -- James VI of Scotland crowned James I of England; James‟s accession meant that separate kingdoms now united, for the first time, under a single monarch; Stuart 1606 -- Union Flag adopted as National Flag No Welsh symbol. Acts of Union 1707: „Great Britain‟ 1707 -- England and Scotland officially became one country -- Great Britain Acts of Union 1707-- Acts of Union 1707 The Acts of Union were two Acts of Parliament: (1) the Union with Scotland Act 1706 passed by the Parliament of England, and (2) the Union with England Act passed in 1707 by the Parliament of Scotland; Acts of Union 1707 The Acts joined the Kingdom of England and the Kingdom of Scotland (previously separate states with separate legislatures, but with the same monarch) into a single, united kingdom named “Great Britain”; The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland Established under the terms of the Acts of Union 1800, by which the nominally separate kingdoms of Great Britain and Ireland were united; effect from 1 January 1801; Irish Free State Dec. 6, 1921, Anglo-Irish Treaty signed by British and Irish representatives; Irish Free State In 1922, The Irish Free State (6 December 1922 - 29 December 1937) established as a Dominion of British Commonwealth of Nations; Irish Free State On the day the Irish Free State was established, it comprised the entire island of Ireland; but, Northern Ireland immediately exercised its right under the treaty to remove itself from the new state; Irish Free State The Free State came to an end in 1937 citizens voted to adopt a new constitution; Under the new constitution the Irish state was named Ireland. Victoria Era Born in 1819; rule 1837 - 1901 height of British Industrial Revolution and apex of British Empire Opium War 20th Century to Present WWI (1914-1918) WWII (1939-1945), „the Blitz‟ 20th Century to Present King George VI died in 1952 -- succeeded by his eldest daughter -- Elizabeth II 1960s: applications to join EEC -- vetoed by French President Charles de Gaulle 20th Century to Present In 1979: Conservatives re-take control of Parliament -- Margaret Thatcher -- first female Prime Minister 20th Century to Present In 1982: Falklands War; In 1990: Thatcher replaced by John Major; In 1997: Tony Blair elected PM; won re-election in 2001 and 2005 In 2007: handing over power to Gordon Brown 20th Century to Present In 2010: coalition government: David Cameron as Prime Minister; In 2015: Conservatives won General Election; 20th Century to Present 2016: Brexit New PM: Theresa May Future of the UK? Summary Geographical information How the nation has been formed Development of the country‟s name.
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