英语国家概况(英国部分).docx

Chapter 1The Land and History英国全称大不列颠及北爱尔兰联合王国，由英格兰、苏格兰、威尔士及北爱尔兰构成，位于大西洋东部的不列颠群岛，是个岛屿国家，由大不列颠岛，爱尔兰岛北部和众多小岛组成。面积约24.40万平方公里，人口超过6400万(2013年)。英国属于温带海洋气候，常年温和多雨，气候多变。受高纬度因素的影响，有类似极昼极夜的现象，冬季日短夜长，夏季日长夜短。公元前3000年左右，伊比亚人最先到达大不列颠岛。随后，比克利人、凯尔特人相继来到不列颠。公元前1世纪到公元5世纪，罗马入侵。罗马人撤离后，欧洲北部的盎格鲁撒克逊人和以丹麦人为主体的斯堪的纳维亚先后入侵。到了1066年，诺曼底公爵威廉征服了英格兰，英国的封建制度正式形成。1215年，国王约翰被迫签订了大宪章。不久，议会制度形成，从此英国的王权被不断削弱和限制。1688年，“光荣革命”爆发，确立了君主立宪制。18世纪后期到19世纪前期，英国成为世界上第一个开始并完成工业革命的国家。19世纪是英国发展的鼎盛时期，分别建立了第一大英帝国和第二大英帝国。到二战前夕，英国统治了世界约1/4的土地。第一次世界大战以及第二次世界大战的爆发，导致英国的政治、经济势力大为削弱，失去了霸权地位。随着其殖民地的相继独立，20世纪60年代，大英帝国彻底瓦解。I. General IntroductionMap of British Isles1. Location and the Four NationsThe full name of the UK is the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. It is made up of four nations: England, Scotland, Northern Ireland, and Wales. It is located to the northwest of continental Europe, separated by the English Channel. Geographically, it is an island country, covering an area of about 244,019 km2, and consists of Great Britain and northeastern part of Ireland, together with many small islands of British Isles.Great Britain accounts for over 90% of the country’s total landmass. It is the largest island off the northwestern coast of mainland Europe with England, Scotland and Wales on it. Ireland is the second largest island of British Isles located to the northwest of Great Britain. It is divided into two parts: Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland (an independent country).England is the largest part of the UK and occupies most of the southern two thirds of Great Britain. The total area of England is 130,410 km2 with a population of around53.9 million (Mid-2013 estimated), which covers more than 84% of the total UK population. It is the most populous and highly urbanized part of the UK. London, the capital of the UK and England, as well as the seat of government, is located in its southeastern part.Scotland is the second largest and most mountainous part of the UK in the north of Great Britain.