英语国家概况第一单元

Unit 1 A Brief Introduction to the United Kingdom

1. the full name of the UK: the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

a member of the European Union P3

The Commonwealth of Nations

2. a multiracial and multicultural society

Britain is a multiracial society which produces a population of which 1 in 20 are of non-European ethnicity. P3

Many are Muslims, while most British people(in name at least)are Christian. Immigrants have brought aspects of their own cultures. P4

religions(denomination): mainly Christianity(基督教)--Christian, others: Buddhism(佛教)--Buddhist, Hinduism(印度教)--Hindu, Judaism(犹太教)--Jewish, Islam(伊斯兰教)--Muslim, Sikhism(锡克教)--Sikh

Christianity: (1)Roman Catholic Church: 罗马天主教

(2)Protestant Church 新教

(3)Orthodox Eastern Church东正教

London is in the south of the country, and is dominant in the United Kingdom in all sorts of ways. It has great influence on the UK in all fields including government, finance, and culture. P4

3. the significant role of London: P4

(1) the largest city in the country, with about one seventh of the nation's population

(2)the seat of government

(3)culture center, home to all the major newspapers, TV stations, the widest selection of galleries, theatres and museums.

(4)business centre, headquarters of the vast majority of Britain's big companies

(5)financial centre of the nation, one of the four major international financial centers in the world

London is a huge weight in Britain's economic and cultural life

4. brief history of invasions: P5

Before the 1st century AD, Britain was made up of many tribal kingdoms of Celtic people.

4.1 invasions from the Roman Empire: P5

in 43 AD

England and Wales(though not Scotland or Ireland)become a part of the Roman Empire for nearly 400 years.

As the Roman Empire came under threat from the east, the Roman armies and Roman protection were withdrawn from Britain, and Britain was again divided into small kingdoms.

again it came under threat from outside, this time from Germanic peoples: the Angles, and the Saxons.(about 5th-6th century AD)

4.2 settlement of the Anglo-Saxons:

It is said that King Arthur drove the Saxons back and united Britain with his magical sword. (his real existence is in doubt) P5

He created the famous "round table".

Whatever Arthur's success was, legend or not, it did not last, for the Anglo-Saxons did succeed in invading Britain, and either absorbed the Celtic people, or pushed them to the western and northern edges of Britain. P6

They are the forefather of the English; the founders of "Angle-land" or "England"

4.3 Vikings from Scandinavia(from the late 8th century on)

Scandinavia n.斯堪的纳维亚（北欧国家的原称，指：瑞典、挪威、丹麦、芬兰、冰岛）

King Alfred the Great turned the tide in the south against the Vikings. P6

Next invaders were the Normans, from northern France, who were descendants of Vikings.

4.4 William the Conqueror: P6

（1）crossed the English Channel in 1066;

（2）defeated an English army under King Harold in the Battle of Hastings;

（3）took the English throne and became William the First of England;

（4）built The Tower of London.

5. physical features P7

Scotland: the second largest of the four nations, both in population and in geographical area

5.1 Wales P1O

It is the smallest among the three nations on the British mainland, though larger than Northern Ireland. It is very close to the most densely populated parts of central England. It's good at getting investment from abroad, particularly Japan and the United States.

physical features of Wales P10

Though it is hillier and more rugged than adjacent parts of England there is no natural boundary.