英概知识复习.docVIP

The United Kingdom of Great Britain Northern Ireland Chapter 1 Land and people 1.Different names for Britain and its parts: ·Location: an island country./ English Channel and Strait of Dover is between the UK and European continent. ·Geographical names: the British Isles, Great Britain and England. ·Official name: the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. ·The British Isles are made up of two large islands---Great Britain (the larger one) and Ireland, and hundreds of small ones. ·Three political divisions on the island of Great Britain: England, Scotland and Wales. 2. The longest river in Britain: Severn River ★The British Empire 英帝国 About a hundred years ago, as result of its imperialist expansion, Britain ruled an empire that had one fourth of the world’s people and one fourth of the world’s land area. However, the two world wars greatly weakened Britain. The British colonies became independent one after another. The British Empire gradually disappeared and it was replaced by the British Commonwealth in 1931. ★The British Commonwealth 英联邦 The British Empire was replaced by the British Commonwealth in 1931.It is a free association of independent countries that were once colonies of Britain. Member nations are joined together economically and have certain trading arrangements.??The Commonwealth has no special powers. The decision to become a member?of the Commonwealth is left to each member nation. At present there are 54 members in the commonwealth. The official leader is the British Queen or King. Chapter 2 The Origins of a Nation (5000BC-1066) I. Arrival and settlement of the Celts (700 BC) 1. the Iberians: the first known settlers of Britain (伊比利亚人) 2. the Celts came to Britain in three main waves （凯尔特人） II. Roman Britain (55BC—AD410) ·British recorded history begins with the Roman invasion. ·The Roman also brought the new religion,Christianity, to Britain. III. The Anglo-Saxons (446-871) --Basis of Modern English race 1. three Teutonic tr