英美文化基础lecture 2.pptVIP

 Lecture 2 British History Part 1 Review and Assignments-Checking (1) England is in the southern part of Great Britain. It is the largest, most populous section. (2) Scotland is in the north of Great Britain. It has three natural zones (the Highlands in the north; the Central lowlands; the south Uplands) Capital: Edinburgh (3) Wales is in the west of Great Britain. Capital: Cardiff (4) Northern Ireland is the fourth region of the UK. Capital: Belfast. The Scots Key words: kilt, tartan, bagpipe The Welsh Key words: love of music and poetry, the National Eisteddfod The Irish Key words: Ulster, long history with England, ethnic problem (Protestant—Catholic) Part II General Introduction to British History British recorded history begins with the Roman invasion. In 55BC and 54BC, Julius Caesar, a Roman general, invaded Britain twice. In AD 43, the Emperor Claudius invaded Britain successfully. For nearly 400 years, Britain was under the Roman occupation, though it was never a total occupation. The Roman built many towns, road, baths, temples and buildings. They make good use of Britain’s natural resources. They also brought the new religion, Christianity, to Britain. But the Roman influence on Britain is limited. First, the Romans always treated the Britons as a subject people of slave class. Second, never during the 4 centuries did the Romans and Britons intermarry. Third, the Romans had no impact on the language or culture of ordinary Britons. The Jutes, who fished and farmed in Jutland, came to Britain first. A Jutish chief became the King of Kent in 449. Then the Saxons, users of the short-sword from northern Germany, established their kingdom in Essex, Sussex and Wessex from the end of the 5th century to the beginning of the 6th century. In the second half of the 6th century. In the second half of the 6th century, the Angles, who also came from northern Germany and were to give their name t