英美国家概况英语论文
英美国家概况—Early Writing
British LiteratureEarly WritingⅠ.The Anglo-Saxon Period(450—1066)Historical backgroundAbout 450 A.D.,waves of the Angles,Saxons,and Jutes invaded the British Isles. The Angles and Saxons were Germanic tribes occupying parts of the coast of modern Denmark and modern Germany on both sides of the Elbe and the difference between their languages was very slight.Their language---Anglo-Saxon was called Old English.The Anglo-Saxons were heathens upon their arrival in Britain.In 597 St.Augustine was sent to England to convert the Anglo-Saxons.Wthin a century all England was Christianized.Heathen mythology was gradually replaced by Christian religion.Representatives and WorksThe Northumbrian School--------Caedmon turned the stories in the Bible into verse form (7th century) The title of the work is Paraphrase.The first Anglo-Saxon poet.Venerable Bede a monk, wrote in Latin(673—735) The Ecclesiatical History of the English People“Father of English History”Wessex literature-----------King Alfred a. a number of Latin books of educative value were translated into West Saxon dialect; b. the was responsible for the launching of The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle;c. he created a style of Anglo-Saxon prose which was not obscure.Anglo-Saxon poetry---------One of the oldest “Old English” literary works is l long epic poetry Beowulf.There are also a number of religious poems and heroic poems,and some elegies.The earliest is Widsith and the last is Maldon(a poem about the battle of Maldon).Ⅱ. The Norman Period(1066—1350)Historical backgroundWith the Norman Conquest in 1066 Britain entered the Middle Ages,and the language of the royal court became French.So literature of that period was written in French or Latin.A feudal system of hierarchy was formed during the reign of Williamthe Conqueror.In the three centuries after 1066 the religious literature was voluminous.Most of them were addressed to Christ or the Virgin Mary.Representatives and WorksRomance and the influence of French literature-------The life and adventures of knights Sir Gawain and the Green Knights (usually about love,chivalry,and religion.)The exploits of Charlemagne the Great and Roland Chanson de Roland The tales about Sir Gawain, Launcelot, Merlin,the quest for the HolyGrail,and the death of King Arthur.Geoffrey of Monmouth’s History of the Kings of Britain Ⅲ.The Age of Chaucer(1350—1400)Historical backgroundThe Hundred Years’War between England and France.With the awakening of national consciousness which as the result of the Hundred Years’War,the French language was gradually replaced by the native tongue.The peasant uprising of 1381.Representatives and WorksJohn Wycliff translated the Bible into standard English.Wrote many pamphlets in Latin to attack thefeudal lords and the church for their abuse of power.“Father of English prose”William Langland The Vision of Piers the Plowman(influenced thepeasant uprising in 1381)Geoffrey Chaucer (1340—1400)In his life Chaucer underwent a great variety of occupations,as courtier,soldier,ambassador,legislator,and burgher of London and was thus familiar with the lives of various classes.From 1360 to 1372, he imitated French poetry and even translated French literature poems himself.”The Book of the Duchess” It has much of the conventional romance elements in it.From 1372 to 1386, he wrote under the influence of the Italian literature. ”Troilus and Cryseyde”is adapted from a long poem by Boccacio.Other poems : The Parliament of Fowls, The House of Fame.In the last 15 years of his life, The Canterbury Tales was written in the years between 1387 and 1400. The significance of The Canterbury Tales-----a. It gives a comprehensive picture of Chaucer’s time. b. The dramatic structure of the poem has been highly commended by critics. c.Chaucer’s humour, gentle satire and mild irony. d. Chaucer’s contribution to the English language(he proved that the English language is a beautiful language and can be easily handled express different moods.He greatly increased the prestige of the English language.).Ⅳ.The Fifteenth Century(1400—1550)Historical backgroundThe Hundred Years’ WarThe War of the RoseThe discovery of America and the new sea routesReformation of the churchRepresentatives and WorksIn the field of literature during that period, folk literature,especially Ballads, became an important feature in the 15th century.Other forms are Lyrics and Folk tales. The stories is often told through dialogue and action.Sir Thomas Malory Le Morte d’Arthur (The Death of the Arthur)The stories of King Arthur and the Knights of theRound Table which were scattered in a number ofFrench romances and made great contributionthe development of English prose.Famous folk tales The Owl and the NightingaleThe Geste of Robin HoodEarly English plays Mystery Play Morality Play (about religion)。
英语国家概况论文
On the Rise and Fall of Great Britain.班级：学号：姓名：教授：分数：______On the Rise and Fall ofGreat Britain.中文摘要：英国，又称大不列颠及北爱尔兰联合王国，是由英格兰、苏格兰、威尔士和北爱尔兰组成的联合王国。
它曾经在世界历史发展的漫长时期中湮没无闻，人口不过数百万，国土资源也很有限，却率先敲开通向现代世界的大门，从地理的边缘变成了世界的中心，一跃成为西方强国的领头人，并独领风骚数百年，给人类文明烙上了不可磨灭的印记。
然而到了十九世纪末期，由于美、德等国的崛起以及其他种种原因，英国逐渐失去优势,后来又在第二次世界大战中受到严重创伤，大英帝国国力日渐衰落,海外殖民地也在二战后纷纷宣告独立，大英帝国逐渐演变成一个组织松散的英联邦。
这个曾经号称“世界工厂”和“日不落帝国”的国家又逐渐衰落。
不过，英国仍然是一个在世界范围内拥有巨大影响力的政治、经济、文化和军事强国。
关键词: 英国；世界工厂；日不落帝国；衰落Abstract in English：Great Britain, also known as The United Kingdom of Great Britain and North Ireland, is made up of England, Scotland, Wales and North Ireland. It was once little-known in the long history of the development of the world and had only several millions of people. What' more, her territorial resources were also limited. However, she is the first country to open the door to the modern world ranging from the geographical edge to the center of the world. She had once been the leading power of the western countries for hundreds of years and also branded an indelible mark on the human civilization. However, in the late 19th century, with the rise of America and German and other factors, Britain began to lose the upper hand in the international competition. Afterwards, she suffered great loss in the two world wars. Britain began declining and the foreign colonies began to win independence one afteranother. The Great Britain Empire became a loose federal country and Britain which was once known as the "Workshop of the World" and "the Sun-Never-Setting Empire" began declining gradually. Nevertheless, Britain is still a political, economical, cultural and military great power which has great influence on the world.Key words: the Great Britain; the Workshop of the World; the Sun-Never-Setting Empire; fall1. IntroductionBritain is an island country surrounded by the sea to the west and off the European Continent. With the decline of the feudalism and the increase of the influence of the new-born bourgeoisie, she began her capitalist development. Through the closure and foreign plunder, expansion and aggression, she completed the primitive accumulation of capital. She became the first country to undergo the industrial revolution. Soon she became the workshop of the world and had the largest colonies. Of course, she became the most powerful country in the world. However, in the late 19th century with the competition of the new industrialized countries and other factors, she began to lose the upper hand. Afterwards, she suffered great loss in the two world wars. She began to decline. The colonies laid overseas began to revolt against Britain and won independences. Great Britain has gradually evolved into a loose organization of the Commonwealth. In the modern times, she tried to recover form it, but for different reasons she still developed slowly. Now she is still one of the major developed countries, she has been reduced to be a second-class world power that is always at the America's command in international affairs.2. The rise of Great BritainAs a small country, which had been invaded by several times, how could Great Britain developed into the workshop of the world and establish the largest empire that history has ever been seen? Let's explore it together.2.1 The Industrial RevolutionThe British Industrial Revolution was a great result of the socialdevelopment in Britain. In political power, Bourgeois had more say on national affairs; in economy ,they accomplished their "primitive accumulation of capital";in ideology, they are more open; besides ,Britain was gaining the upper hand in the contest to reign supreme on the sea ,which expanded foreign market.All the factors combined to make Britain the first country to undergo the Industrial Revolution. In first, it began in the textile industry. With the expansion of market, the demand for cloth also increased. The old instrument could not meet the need o the massive production. Therefore, before long, new and large machines which could increase productivity by hundreds of times appeared. The invention of the steam engine was used to furnish power. With the new source of power, iron, steel and coal industries began to a fast development. Productions needs were largely met by a series of refinements of existing techniques in the major industries and the extensions of mechanization to the other fields, as in sewing and the marketing of boots, cutlery and nails. The expansion of production and trade promoted the transportation revolution. The convenient transport made Britain products flood the world market. The Britain bourgeoisie amassed large amounts of wealth through trade, plunder and colonization. No country was strong enough to match Britain in the 19th century. Britain raced ahead of all the other countries.The industrial revolution marked the beginning of a new era in the history of mankind. Since the 18th century that rate of growth had been revolutionized, as one country that after another had embarked upon an industrialization which to this day was regarded as the key to the future development of new nations. It led on a much broader expansion. The major markets, however, lay overseas, where the more advanced economies were now moving into an intensive period of industrialization. Ultimately, of course, this was to create many powerful competitors for Great Britain, but at the time her superior technology made her the workshop o the world.2.2 Foreign Plunder, Expansion and AggressionOn the 7th July, 1588, the Spanish’s Armada, the Invincible Fleet was defeated by English which made a big difference to England’s getting sea supremacy as well as paving the way for her expansion. And Elizabeth was regarded as the foundation-layer-of the British Empire. During her reign, she encouraged her citizens to sail to trade, even plunder as much as they can. If they were accused of the international crime, the Queen would deny that she had nothing to do with it, in order to avoid stigma from other nations. But if they succeed to return in triumph like respectable soldiers, she might even grant an interview to these gainers, which was considered as a noble glory. In this way, ordinary people were all inspired to voyage, bringing about the prospect of England: nearly every one became rich and the society simultaneously made big change.With flourishing economy and proficient navigation base, the expansion and aggression enjoyed an unprecedented foundation. If the land was sparsely populated, they just drove away or killed off the natives to make room for Britain colonies. In other countries, they first knocked the door open with commerce, often backed by gunboats, and then, on a certain pretext, followed it up with armed occupied about 33million square kilometers, taking one fifth of the world's total dry land. These areas ever provided raw materials or became her market. Among them, the most famous one was East India Company. All these factors enabled Britain to be the “workshop of the world”and London became the financial center of the world trade. The British Empire had climbed to her peak.2.3The Great EmpireWhen the British Empire was in its prime of life, it occupied 33million square kilometers, taking up one fifth of the world dry land. The area was about 135 times as large as Great Britain. It ruled over a population of 560 million, which was more than 10 times as large as that of Britain. What’s more, the Britain fleet controlled the main sea routes and the strategic spots along them. The British Empire was on its crest and became the most powerful andimportant country in the world. That’s “the sun never setting”Great Empire-Britain.3. The fall of Great BritainTowards the end of the 19th century, the British began to go downhill.3.1 The Two World WarsUnder the two Industrial Revolutions’ pushing, more and more countries wanted to pursuit foreign markets and raw materials. Therefore, the competition became fiercer, so did the struggle between repartition and anti-repartition. So many factors combined, the First World War broke out in 1914 and had lasted a little more than four years. As we all know, nearly every country had suffered from it except America.Although Britain was one of the victorious nations and won many new colonies from the Germans in Africa and the Pacific, she could not continue to undertake the great expenses which were used to maintain an empire huge financial expenditure. Millions of people died, and many assets were destroyed, and caused mounting debt, capital market turmoil. At the same time, nationalism in the new and old colonies are high, and the Empire and the white soldiers fought in the war that felt in strong racial discrimination were much contributed to this kind of nationalism.Economically, Britain became debtor instead of creditor country and the economy postwar suffered depression, and the most important one was that the international financial center also transferred from British London to New York. On international influence, although Britain in Paris Peace Conference kept being a leader, her economic, military strength was retrogressing. Eventually, Britain could no longer maintain her hegemonic position. The most typical sign was the Washington Naval conference, limiting Britain’s naval power, which showed that the British had to admit that she was no longer the global hegemony. On the colony, although territory increased, her control became weaker on account of large death and losses. Then independence movements of colonies had affected British profoundlyAbout ten years later, in 1929, a serious crisis started in America and soon spread to other countries. Large unemployment caused endless demonstrations and strikes which shocked the whole capitalist world. Hitler’s constant thirst for power led Europe into the Second World War from 1939 to 1945. And the Second World War witnessed the disintegration of the British Empire.Though Britain and her allies won the war with Germany being invaded and Japan being hit by two atomic bombs, Britain suffered heavy losses. Repeated bombed, her financial position was greatly weakened and had to rely on America. The independence movement of colonies caused the British lose all her colonies except Hong Kong by the year 1970.As a result, the British Empire gave way to the British Commonwealth after 1931; her membership in European Community was endorsed by a national referendum in 1975; Britain’s defence policy is now based on the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). Nowadays, the British Empire doesn’t exist and is replaced by the strong America, and then Britain is a second-class developed country.3.2 Postwar BritainAfter the two World Wars, much burden was laid on her and the Great Empire had gone downhill. Britain was no longer in the leading class in the world’s economy and underwent enormous economic difficulties. She lost the privilege in the industrial technology. Its financial was greatly weakened and it had to rely on America aid for its economic reconstruction. On the other, awakened and tempered by the war, consequently, most of its colonies in the world swept a large scale of independence movement. By the year 1970, Britain had lost all its former colonies except Hong Kong. Because its economy relied heavily on foreign markets and imports of raw materials, the losses of its colonies impose a great influence on Britain. She lost expansive lands and a large amount of British population, which weakened its power and was out-competed by other countries.4. ConclusionLooking back from Britain’s rise to fall, it is not difficult for us to find that Britain can become the European most powerful country and then the strongest country is a result of its new policy, technology and expansion. The rising bourgeoisie gave rise to the end of the feudal system and ushered a new stage to come. The Industrial Revolution turned Britain into the “workshop of the worl d” and England was the world’s economic center. And after the colonial expansion, wealth flooded in Britain and the great empire on which the sun never set was established. However, as we all are concerned, one’s previous glory doesn’t guarantee her a brilliant future. When the British were resting on their laurels, the world situation changed. When other countries were researching advanced technology and developing their economy, England was unwilling to adopt new technology and new equipment, she thus lost the monopolize position in the world’s industry and sea power. After two World Wars, the Great Britain’s power declined heavily. Though she won both of two wars, she is still a loser. Many problems were emerging, economic plunge, weakened sea power, loss of foreign colonies, large unemployment, and so on. It can no longer claim to be the most powerful country in the world. However, though it had lost its landlord position, the nation as a whole was not crushed by despair, it was still a powerful country in the world but not the strongest.From the process of Great Britain, we can sum up the experience and make China develop soundly and quickly. We should attach the importance to science, innovation and education. And the policy and society system should keep pace with the time. Last but not least, one nation's rise is based on science and technology, the competition between countries is in the contest of national quality, and talent competition. In addition, every country should keep in mind to be prepared for danger in the ties of safety.Bibliography：A.C.W., Winchester. Nineteenth Century Britain 1815-1914, Harlow, Essex, UK:Longman House, 1982, PP175-181Alderman Geoffrey. Modern Britain 1700-1983, Burrell Row: Provident House, 1986, PP1-15陈德新编英美概况，西安：西安交通大学出版社，2008来安方英美概况, 河南：大象出版社，2004年, PP1-212张奎武英美概况(上)，吉林，吉林科技大学出版社，1984,PP115-129/view/3565.htm/wiki/United_Kingdom_of_Great_Britain_and_Northern_ Ireland//question/122668056.html。
英语国家概况论文FROM THE BRITISH EMPIRE TO THE COMMONWEALTH
FROM THE BRITISH EMPIRE TO THECOMMONWEALTHI.Introduction.Great Britain, also known as The United Kingdom of Great Britain and North Ireland, had once been the center of world for centuries and made great contributionto human civilization. However, in the late 19th century, with the rise ofother countries, Britain began to fall in the fierce competition among capitalist countries. Afterwards, suffering great loss in the two world wars, Britain became less powerful and thecolonies won independence one after another. The Great Britain Empire gradually transformed itself to a friendly and harmonious Commonwealth. II.Background: The Rise of The British Empire.a)Industrial Revolution and ExpansionThe British Industrial Revolution, which took place in 1700s, resulted in great development of the British society.Hand production methods could no longer meet the need of products.The newly-invented machines simplified the process of production and greatly increased the productivity.And the well-known steam engine provided new source of power, thanks to which, fast development also took place in other important fields such as transportation, steel industry and coal industry.The industrial revolution marked the beginning of a new era in the history of mankind.In 1588, the Spanish Armada was defeated by the Great Britain, which marked Great Britain’s gaining of sea supremacy, and paved the way for the expansion.During the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, British citizens were encouraged to trade abroad,or even plunder and colonize through sailing. Weaker countries’ door s were first knocked open with commerce, and it was often followed by occupation and colonization backed withstrong military force.With advanced technology and broad market, bourgeoisie of Britain started their accumulation of capital, and the country started to lead theworld.b)The Sun-never-set EmpireThe British Empire became the “workshop of the world”, and London became the financial center. For over a century, it was the principal naval and imperial power, and almost unchallenged at seaand in territory. In the early 1900s, it ruled a population of over 500 million and occupied more than one fifth of the Earth’s total land ar ea.Because of its expanse around the globe, the sun could shine on at least one of its territories at any time. P eople call it “the empire on which the sun never sets”.III.Transformation to the Commonwealth.a)The Proposal of CommonwealthQueen Elizabeth II once declared that the confederation of Canada on 1st July 1867 marked “the beginning of that free association of independent states which is now known as the Commonwealth of Nations".In 1884, Lord Rosebery, while visiting Australia, described the changing British Empireas some of its colonies became moreindependentas a "Commonwealth of Nations".In 1917, a specific proposal was presented by Jan Smuts,at that time a member of the British Imperial War Cabinet, when he brought up the term "the British Commonwealth of Nations". The term first received imperial statutory recognition in the Anglo-Irish Treaty of 1921, which concluded the Irish War of Independence, when the term “British Commonwealth of Nations” was substituted for “British Empire” in the wording of the oath taken by the parliament of the Irish Free State.b)Falling EmpireThe two Industrial Revolutions pushed more countries to develop bourgeoisie and look for foreign markets and raw materials.Therefore, the competition became fiercer. Newly-emerging powers, especially Germany, struggled for a repartition of market and land, while the British Empire had to fight to defend the acquired benefits.The First World War broke out in 1914 and lasted about four years, during which nearly every country suffered from it except America.Although Britain was one of the victorious nations and won many new colonies from the Germans, it could n’t afford to the great expenses for maintainingsuch a huge lions of people died, economy suffered, and Britain became a debtor, rather than creditor. At the same time, independence movements in thecolonies were running high.The empire was losing its control of the colonies. The international financial center transferred to New York. All of these deprived the Empire of its hegemonic position.c)TransformationThe Balfour Declaration, issued by the 1926 Imperial Conference, declared that the United Kingdom and the Dominions are...autonomous Communities within the British Empire, equal in status, in no way subordinate one to another in any aspect of their domestic or external affairs, though united by a common allegiance to the Crown, and freely associated as members of the British Commonwealth of Nations. ...The declaration accepted the fact that the dominions were having growing independence in internal and external affairs in the years after World War I, and became the basis of the Statute of Westminster 1931.The Parliament of the United Kingdom passed Statute of Westminster in 1931. It is a statutory embodiment and formalization of the principles of equality and allegiance to the Crown, which were brought up in the Balfour Declaration. Until today, the Statute of Westminster still serves as a basis of the relationship between the Commonwealth realms and the Crown.d)Postwar ChangesAfter World War II, the situation of the world changed profoundly. Europe, a continent that had dominated the whole world for several centuries, was in ruins. The United States and Soviet Union held the super power, while Britain was left bankrupt.In this period, anti-colonial movements were on the rise in the colonies of European nations.The London Declaration was issued by the 1949 Commonwealth Prime Ministers' Conference. It is considered a milestone in the history of the modern Commonwealth.The declaration allowed the Commonwealth to admit and retain members that were not Dominions, and it changed the name of the organization from the “British Commonwealth of Nations”to the “Commonwealth of Nations”. The dropping of the word “British” reflects the major changes.After London Declaration, the colonies gained their independence and new members from different continents joined the Commonwealth.Finally, the handover ceremony of Hong Kong in 1997 marked the end of the long decolonization process, as well as the empire.monwealth Today.The Commonwealth of Nations is an voluntary intergovernmental organization of52 independent member states that are mostly former territories of the British Empire.Although they acknowledge the British Monarch as the symbolic head of the Commonwealth, they have no obligation to each other and have full autonomy on their own internal and external affairs. They are united by language, history, culture and their shared values of democracy, human rights, and the rule of law.Commonwealth countries interact with each other outside governmentwith various non-governmental organizations of different fields, such as sport, culture, education, law and charity.The Commonwealth Foundation is an intergovernmental organization, resourced by Commonwealth governments. It aims to strengthen civil society in theachievement of Commonwealth priorities: democracy and good governance, respect for human rights and gender equality, poverty eradication, people-centered and sustainable development, and to promote arts and culture.The Commonwealth games is the third largest multi-sport event in the world.Being held every four years, the games include sports particularly popular in Commonwealth countries, such as netball and rugby sevens. The games were designed with the goal of promoting relations between Commonwealth countries and celebrating their shared sporting and cultural heritage.V.Conclusion.History witnessed the rise and fall of the British Empire and its transformation to the Commonwealth of Nations.From the history, there’s much we can learn.The rise of the British Empire from the Industrial Revolution can help us realize the importance of science and technology. With advanced technology, a little effort can produce great achievement.The lack of ability and power to control the large area of colonies can remind us that we should pre-estimate the situation, in order that what we wouldn’t cause results that we cannot control.The self-transformation to a loose commonwealth can also enlighten us that we should always follow the historical trend and that being against the trend is not a wise option.。
英美概况论文unit1ABriefIntroductiontotheUnitedKingdom1
英美概况论文unit1ABriefIntroductiontotheUnitedKingdom1A Brief Introduction to the United Kingdom Ⅰ As a student majored in science in my high school, I have little knowledge about the society and culture of countries. But I’m still curious about this. So I hope I will learn more about the English-speaking countries. Next I will talk about the preview of the unit 1.The first passage is about the introduction of the United Kingdom. In my memory, I only know the United Kingdom is a developed country, and the building of United Kingdom is very beautiful and magnificent. Now, after reading those passages, I know The UK is includes 4 parts : England , Scotland , Wales , and Northern Ireland . I always thing the UK is point at English, but now I know the four country make up the UK. The United Kingdom is a complicated country with a complicated name and it is a multiracial social. The remarkable class , regional and economic difference of the United Kingdom make it different.Now let’s talk about the four countries.England is a highly urbanized country. And its capital, London, which is dominant in the UK in all fields: government, finance, and culture. So London is a huge weight in Britain’s economic and culture life. It is the conquest of Britain. Before the 1st century AD, British was made up of many tribal Kingdoms of Celtic people. In 43AD Britain was invaded by the Roman Empire, and became part of the Roman Empire for nearly 400 years; Then it came under threat from Germanic peoples; from the late 8th century on, raiders from Scandinavia, the ferocious Vikings threatened Britain’s shores; King Alfred the great turned in the tide in south against the Vikings; the next invaders were theNormans who speak French, from Northern France, who English throne, and became William the First , King Arthur and his Round Table, giving Knights equal precedence and showing Knights’demand for a more democratic system. Second, Robin Hood hid in the forest, rebelled against Normans and robbed from the rich to give to the poor. The next few hundred years following the Norman invasion and power gradually transferred from the monarch to the parliament. Scotland is the second largest of the four nations, both in population and in geographical area. And Scotland is the most rugged part of the UK, and the most confident of its own identity. The largest city is Glagow, and its capital is Edinburgh. Both cities have ancient and internationally respected universities dating from the 15th century. The capital, Edinburgh, which is a east coast, famous for its beauty, dominated by its great castle on a high rock largest city. Scotland was neither conquered by the Romans nor by the Anglo-Saxons. The division between highland and lowland Scotland remains a cultural divide today, in much the same way as north and south England see themselves as different from each other. Scotland has a great tradition of innovation in the arts, philosophy and science.Wales is the smallest on the British mainland. It is very close to the most densely populated parts of central England. It retains a powerful sense of difference from England. And it retains its own language. 19% population speak Gaetic. The capital of Wales is Cardiff.Ireland has been divided by a long and blood conflicts as a result of its colonial history. Until 1921 the full name of the UK was “The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland”One of the key issues in late 19th century. British politics was a campaignin parliamen t for what was called “the Home Rule Bill”.The artistic and cultural activity in the UK Artistic and cultural activity in Britain ranges from the highest professional standards to a wide variety of amateur involvement, London, is one of the leading world centers for drama, music, opera and dance. Some 650 professional arts festivals take place each year. The Edinburgh International Festival is the largest of its kind in the world.There is music for every taste in Britain including opera, choral and classical orchestras pieces, rock and pop, folk and jazz, military and brass bands, acoustic and newly emerging musical collaborations such as music theatre, music with live arts. In musical composition, experimentation is in vogue, with composers mixing their sources: medieval modes and minimalism, quotations from Wagner and from Debussy, Indian melodies and African rhythms. Since the early 60s with the emergence of the Beatles, The Rolling Stones, and the Who, through the 70s with Genesis, Led Zeooelin and Pink Floyd and the 80s with Dire Straits bands have generated major followings worldwide representing a multi-million dollar industry. And the legacy continued into the 90 with Pop phenoms The Spice Girds and groups like Oasis, the Verve, Jamiroquai, and the list goes on. British Pop music is alive and well and will continue to be in 2000 and beyond.。
英美国家概况 A brief introduction to the United Kingdom
Before
1AD. British people were made of Celtic people （凯尔特人， tribal people)
in 43 AD, British was invaded by the Roman Empire, English and Wales became a part of the Roman Empire
next invaders were the Normans from Northern France
legend of Robin Hood (罗宾 汉带领绿林好汉) ，rob from the rich to give to the poor
The
It
was independent from the UK for a long time, so still imagine themselves as independent
Many
people who think of Britain think of the English gentleman But most of the British people are not like that For example, a Scottish woman would not be like to be called an English gentleman Actually Scottish people and English people do not like each other
Immigration
was encouraged in the 1950s and 1960s 1/20 are not of European origin Some from India(印度) or Pakistan(巴基斯坦) Some from Caribbean(地中海国 家)
英美国家概况论文
Elizabeth’s worldElizabeth was the fifth and last monarch of the Tudor dynasty. Sometimes called The Virgin Queen, Gloriana, or Good Queen Bess.when she became queen of England in 1558, she inherited a weak and backward island that had been severely divided by three religious upheavals in two decades. Most of her subjects doubted the ability of a woman to lead the tattered country and anxiously waited for her to marry.But Elizabeth chose to play her role as the monarch of he realm alone.Applying her instinct,intelligence ,energy,and stubbon willfulness to the task, she would become the strongest and most beloved the island had seen in centuries. During Elizabeth’s forty-four year reigna of great success, England became one of Europe’s most powerful and sophisticated countries and a growing empire. In military strength ,exploration ,commerce ,and above all the arts .the nation experienced a golden age that changed the culture of England ,as well that of Europe and North America,forever.In November 7, 1558,Mary died of cancer .English legend has it that when lords arrived to bring Elizabeth the news ,thery found her reading a Bible under an oak tree in her garen.(The oak tree is an English symbol of the nation’s stability and duration.) Upon hearing of Mary’s death ,Elizabeth fell to her knees,anf the messengers heard her recite a werse from Psalm 118 in Latin:“This is the Lord’s doing;and it is marvelous in our eyes”As is know to everyone,“Bloody Mary”was a totally political innocent.she had left the nation in poor shape.Its military powers were diminished,the royal government was deeply indebt,poverty was widespread,and the population had become bitterlyby the rapid religious changes imposed by three monarchs in a row.No one could imagine that after a long social unrest, to be added the political chaos, religious persecution and external setbacks, the 1558 marked the great England that it was about to enter an unprecedented era.Elizabeth was a master of political science. She inherited her father's supremacist view of the monarchy, but showed great wisdom by refusing to directly antagonize Parliament. One of her first moves as queen was to support the establishment of an English Protestant church, of which she became the Supreme Governor. And then,she began to reccorganize the Privy Council ,the board of advisors that carried out the administrative function of the government in the matters of economy ,defense,foreign policy,and law and order,and its members served as the queen’s chief advisors. Elizaeth also dimissed thirty of Mary’s councilors. she depended heavily on a group of trusted advisers led by William Cecil. No one but Elizabeth herself was to have greater power during her reign .Though Ceil began his office holding the firm belief that a woman alone could not rule England ,he would serve Elizabeth faithfully for forty years.He was a voice for caution and moderation and a valuable counterbalance to some of the dashing ,but rash ,statesmen that flocked to Elizabeth ‘s court.What’s more, Elizabeth used the varying factions (instead of being used by them, as were her siblings), playing one off another until the exhausted combatants came to her for resolution of their grievances.Almost in every country of the world, they are all facing the politicalharassment at the turn of regime. That is to say,a drastic reform of Politics is imperative.When Elizabeth ascended the throne, the fighting between the Catholic who regarded the European continent as its core and Protestants was very intense because of "Bloody Mary" who is a paranoid. Religious reform of the United Kingdom ,the British civil wars, and religious wars in Europe liked staggered reefs, full of dangerous.The one mistake being made, the United Kingdom would not be only involved into a big bloody melee of continental Europe, but also into the "civil war" between the Protestant in Scotland and the Catholic in Ireland. That was the the real challenge which shou be faced When Elizabeth tookthe throne. It was hard to imagine that she was chosen and then consolidate the middle way.That was to say, Elizabeth established the ingenious Anglican System after then, making Protestant and Catholic strike a balance On the surfaceThis Elizabethan Religious Settlement held firm throughout her reign and later evolved into today's Church of England. During a long period of time, the British were in a stable era. Few English monarchs enjoyed such political power but Elizabeth, while still maintaining the devotion of the whole of English society.As the old saying goes，“All things dying, the spirit is forever.”The one of the best judgements to a monarchy, but also from the ideological legacy of its era. Elizabeth's reign ,known as the Elizabethan era ,was during one of the more constructive periods in English history. It was famous above all for theflourishing of English drama, led by playwrights such as William Shakespeare and Christopher Marlowe, and for the seafaring prowess of English adventurers such as Francis Drake and John Hawkins. Moreover,Bacon ,with its fun-filled language, endowed the thinking way of human beings with the "new science" and "new tools". Hobbes was "frightened premature" in the gunfire of the “Spanish Armada" and later its "Leviathan" has become one of the pioneers of modern political science.What I want to emphasizs is that at that time,under the rule of the this beautiful and lonely Queen, the United Kingdom brought the whole world entered a golden era in human beings’history.But why did such a wonderful woman live alone, never married then? I guess this is what everyone does want to know. Whether out of kindness or political intentions, every one had a desire that expected that Elizabeth would marry.It was but despite several petitions from parliament, she never did. The reasons for this choice are unknown, and they have been much debated. In government, Elizabeth was more moderate than her father and siblings.One of her mottoes was: "I see, and say nothing". This strategy, viewed with impatience by her counsellors, often saved her from political and marital misalliances.Ever once,Elizabeth was surrounded by some radical ministers who forced her to get married,but then the whole country was totally shocked by what she said, “I can only have one, that is England”. Some psychologi sts believe that Elizabeth’s move was closely related to her painful childhood. Anyway,she was a heroine in England.Because she give up the joy of the flesh and become a completewell-being of women,jut for England.Although Elizabeth was called “Good Queen Bess” and she had so much reputation,her most important contribution were her concern for her subjects, her defense of the country, the use of a good consultant,and her help for England avoiding the economic crisis and religious wars, and whatever. However,each coin has two sides.According to what I know,historians tend to be more cautious in their assessments. They often depict Elizabeth as a short-tempered, sometimes indecisive ruler. Towards the end of her reign, a series of economic and military problems weakened her popularity to the point where many of her subjects were relieved at her death,especially in the problems of the expedition to Spain and Portugal in 1589. Recently,there is a Intense criticism about the slave trade in Africa in Elizabethan era and her mistakes made in Ireland.At first,Queen Elizabeth put the blame on Hawkins who started to participate in such immoral trade.But Hawkins showed her the profits of his career soon after, she changed her views. She not only covered the trade of Hawkins, but also directly benefited from it, or even to provided him with ships and personnel. The support provided by the royal recognition of Queen Elizabeth on the slave trade made this trade legalized, even it made more British businessmen participate into it. On the other thing, Elizabeth did a military victory in the Irish, but not a religious and politica lvictory. That kind of extreme cruelty which meant annihilation, or one rebel, all need death.could not be erased from history.Since then,the Irish are always the problem of the Imperial bodybleeding, Pusing part- which has been extended to the contemporary Therefore, for my part, Queen Elizabeth should be criticized in some aspects not always be praised.However,she was an excellent England ruler, the Tudor dynasty founder of the Golden Age. As Queen, she had defeated Spain's all-powerful Armada, making the British Empire become the legendary founder of the Sea, letting the English Reformation in a calm and a firm advocate of national unity and executor.Her 44 years on the throne provided valuable stability for the kingdom and helped forge a sense of national identity.Elizabeth, women's classics, is a legend of the history of the classic human,评论，观念，各有不同做好自己那份就好。
英美概况英文作文
英美概况英文作文The United States is a diverse and multicultural country with a rich history and a strong sense of individualism. From the bustling streets of New York City to the serene beauty of the Grand Canyon, the US offers a wide range of experiences for visitors and residents alike.In terms of politics, the US is a federal republic with a two-party system dominated by the Democratic and Republican parties. The country is known for its strong emphasis on democracy and individual freedoms, and has a long history of political activism and social movements.When it comes to food, the US is a melting pot of different culinary traditions, with each region offeringits own unique dishes and flavors. From Southern barbecue to New England clam chowder, there's something for everyone to enjoy.In terms of culture, the US is a global leader inentertainment, with Hollywood producing a large majority of the world's films and television shows. The country is also known for its music, with genres like jazz, rock, and hip-hop all having roots in American culture.In terms of geography, the US is incredibly diverse, with everything from deserts and mountains to forests and beaches. The country is also home to a wide variety of wildlife, including bears, eagles, and bison.In terms of economy, the US is one of the largest and most influential in the world, with a strong emphasis on innovation and entrepreneurship. The country is known for its technological advancements, particularly in the fields of Silicon Valley and biotechnology.In terms of education, the US is home to some of the world's top universities and research institutions, making it a popular destination for students from all over the world. The country also has a strong emphasis on sports, with American football, basketball, and baseball being particularly popular.In terms of language, English is the most widely spoken language in the US, but the country is also home to a large number of Spanish speakers, particularly in states like California and Texas.In terms of transportation, the US has a well-developed network of highways, railways, and airports, making it easy to travel around the country. The US is also known for its love of cars, with many Americans relying on them for their daily commute.。
英美国家概况1LandandPeople
Commonwealth Countries
Land and People Geographical Features
English Channel
England
largest, southern part of Great Britain 130,000 sq km 60% of the island southwest and west: plateau principal mountain chain: Pennines highest peak: Scafell (978m), in Lake
average in winter 4°C – 6°C average in summer 12°C – 17°C
English Speaking Countries Unit 1
UK Garden
Factors That Influence the Climate
surrounding waters prevailing wind - Westerlies the North Atlantic Drift
90% urban 10% rural
English Speaking Countries Unit 1
English (81.5%) Scottish (9.6%) Welsh (1.9%) Irish (2.4%) Northern Irish (1.8%) other peoples (2.8%)
English Speaking Countries Unit 1
Scots Never been conquered Safe in Highlands Speak Gaelic
English Speaking Countries Unit 1
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Britain and the United States, in today's world is the two big powers in society, the two countries have extremely similar in a lot of places, so they have the obvious differences?
First，the character of Americans and British man was not the same.
British tradition, focusing on good manners etiquette. Americans believe in freedom, not like constraints.
The British character traits are: apathy, subtle, introverted, conservative and rational rigor, gentleman's humor. Corresponds to American character was summed up as follows: warm, cheerful, adventurous, innovative, and imaginative alive, straightforward humor.
Second，British and American philosophy of education is different.
British Conservative and strict, reflected in education was rigorous style of study, improve the education system. It has a strict quality control system, quality assessments and scientific research and university teaching evaluation results known to the world, United Kingdom higher education is being checked on a regular basis.
Americans are pursuing equality and freedom, reflected in education is the United States education system with diversity, openness Characteristics, internationality, flexibility, the United States education is to ensure fair and equal opportunities for education, and to give full play to different educational objects can meet the personality characteristics to raise the full of vigor and vitality.
Third, British and Americans in their everyday life practices also differ.
From the fashion point of view, Britons are paying attention to clothing, paying attention to a gentleman, Americans are more casual, wants to wear what, in their own comfort, not to mind other people's assessment, will not be evaluated.
See from eating food of both countries, British diet also exudes British upper classes should be noble, from selection to Cook, and then at the dinner table, the British none to maximize detail. Americans -diet does not pay attention to fine, the pursuit of fast and convenient, not luxury, more popular. Three meals a day are just. Such eating habits to some extent also reflected American life, vigorous and resolute, as if it is not to the British procrastination, so attention to detail.
British and American in their respective essence on why such a huge difference? Human environment is the main reason, I think. Secondly geographical environment is one of the indispensable factors.。