Overview: 1) Terminology Why do we call it Great Britain?
2) National Symbols Flag, coat of arms, plant symbols, Royal Hymn 3) Cultural references GB UK England Britain The British Empire The UK of GB and Northern Ireland
1. Etym. of Britain 1) The oldest mentions: by Aristotle (384 - 322 BC) "...in the ocean however, are two island, and those very large, called Bretannic, Albion and Lerna..." Pliny the Elder (23 - 79 AD), "It was itself named Albion, while all the islands about which we shall soon briefly speak were called the Britanniac." 2) The earliest name: Albion "Albion" means "white" "Britain" from Latin (Britannia) = "Land of Britons" "Britannia major" - "Britannia minor" 1st official usage of "GB" in 1474
Use of the term "GB" The British Isles = geographical name for all islands UK = England + Scotland + Wales + Northern Ireland GB = England + Scotland and Wales (affirmed in 1975) !! Great Britain isn't UK
2. National Symbols The Britain flag = The Union flag General facts: - the national flag of GB and North. Ireland - has an official status in some Commonwealth Realm - 1st introduced in 1606 - the current dates from 1801 Scotland's flag called "St. Andrew's Flag" England's flag called "St. Georges Flag" Northern Ireland's flag represented by the flag of St. Patric A COAT OF ARMS - DESCRIPTION IN THE INTERNET
Plant Badges of symbols of the UK England - Red Rose The Hymn: God Save the Queen!
National Symbols of Scotland - the patron – St. Andrew - Hymn - "Flower of Scotland" - plant badge - a thistle (чертополох) - a bagpipe - tartan, kilt - a unicorn
National Symbols of Wales - the patron - St. David - flag - the Red Dragon - plant badge - daffodil and leck
- Welsh language - Snowdonia is the highest mountain in Wales
National Symbols of Ireland - the patron - St. Patric - plant badge - shamrock - green color - harp - dancing and music
*The History of British Monarchy*
1. The history of English monarchy Kings of Angles & Scotts: King Alfred the Great - wise and diplomatic ruler - able warrior - dedicated scholar - learnt languages - translator (translated into Old Language)
King Alfred the Great: - wrote the English Law (on protection of people's lives) - promoted the education of clergy - alone among English monarchs, he is known as "the great" - known for the story of the burning of the cakes - started full-time army - revolutionized taxation In one of his treaties, he wrote: "He seems to me a very foolish man, and very wretched, who will not increase his understanding, while he is in the world, and ever wish and long it reach that endless life where all should be made clear."
William the Conqueror: The Norman conquerors (1066), medieval period: - introduced the French language and culture - built castles - introduced social hierarchy - gave forests a royal status - commissioned the Doomsday Book
Medieval London (ML) - ML was much smaller and had different streets - houses (wooden), upper floors stuck out over the streets - roads (cobbled) - heating systems (fireplaces - chimneys: smoke) - > Foggy Albion - shops (with signs), open markets (pies, fruit, spiced meat) Trade development: - merchants and craftsmen - streets named after shops' goods (Bread street) - powerful groups were formed (Guilds) Entertainment: - Jousts
The history of monarchy Magna Carter (Great Charter) - One of the most important historical events of Medieval era - A document that King John of England (1166 - 1216) was forced into signing - It greatly reduced the power he held as the King of England and allowed for the formation of a powerful parliament - The Mc became the basis for English Citizens' Rights - the 1st parliament session (1240) - The Bill of Rights - 1st step to constitutional monarchy
Henry VIII - separated English Church from the Roman's Church - became head of English Church - Henry VIII and his 6 wives: divorced, beheaded and died, divorced, beheaded, survived - under the Tudors London grew wealthier and bigger - London's population was about 200,000 people - financially supported the fleet ('galleons')
Elizabeth I Elizabethan period - Golden Age First Theatres (the Globe Theatre) - wearing woolen hat on Sundays to support English economy - people couldn't wear cloacks (плащи). The Queen wanted to protect herself from attack with weapons - people couldn't wear purple and gold colors - rich people used sugar as toothpaste - short hairstyle - baggy clothes - blood letting (кровопускание) - religious issue - women had pale skin - royal style
Charles I Stuart dynasty - Stuart London - Death and disaster Civil War (King Charles and Parliament, king's execution) Plague (1655, about 1,000,000 million people died in London) The Great Fire of London (1666, began in bakery, lasted 4 days)
George I - people started wearing big wigs - Georgian period (18th century) - The Hanover's dynasty - Britain as one of the most powerful countries in the world - time of internal peace and stability at home - time of dramatic expansion abroad - a growth of towns (but still must lived in villages) - town houses were built (high, three windows, wide arched doorways with a window called a fanlight)
Georgian London art - writers, painters and actors gathered in 18th century
- Hogarth is one of the most important in paintings
Georgian London - London is the heart of trade - financial business began to develop - Exchange Alley vs The Stock Exchange - a lot of business is done in coffee houses
River business - ships brought goods (coffee, silk, etc) - the goods were unloaded in the port and checked by inspectors - some goods were unloaded in secret to avoid control
London life - the streets were badly lit - lots of beggars and thieves - "Pillory" and "Hanging" were popular punishments
Georgian looks - used lead paint (свинцовые белила) - big wigs (with dead birds, flowers, fruit) - eyebrows - the bushier, the better (fur or dead mice) - red silk for hiding problems with skin, even diseases
Queen Victoria - she became queen at the age of 18 - London was the heart of a powerful Empire - the city was busy with trade, industry and grew ... - better lightning, plumbing, developed transport
Victorian big changes - industrial revolution began (steam power, electric bulb) - people flocked to cities that made them busy and crowded - overcrowded cities had new threats (bad sanitation and diseases) - if the only wage-earner died, his family would become homeless and go to live in slums
Victorian inventions - *Great Exhibition* - photo cameras, gas cookers, flush toilets, agricultural equipment, home appliances (kettle) - railways spread, steamboats, hot-air balloons, street gas lightning, telephone, etc - Victorian floral messaging service - flowery patterns were very popular - tradition of celebrating Christmas - no onions - you can't blow your nose on public - men can't sit next to women - children punishment at school (put in stocks, cages)
Monarchy at present Present situation
The Windsor's (a real name - Saxe Coburg Gotha) Elizabeth II - 1952-nowdays
The present role: - The Ceremonial Head of State - The Head of 3 branches of Power (legislative, executive, judicial) - The Head of Church of England - The Commander-in-chief of the Armed forces - The Head of the Commonwealth - The State representative during ceremonies
Queen's property: - The crown estate - 120,000 ha of land - The Royal palaces - Private property
What do people say? - representative role during ceremonies and visits - source of money - the disappearance of tradition - "something different from the government" - a long-term tradition
