《英语国家社会与文化》课程教学资源（课本重点）the UK

A Brief Introduction to the United Kingdom Britain is no longer an imperial country.though the effects of its imperial past may be often encountered in all sorts of ways:not least in the close relationshipswhich exist with the fifty or more countries which used to be a part of that empire.and which maintain links through a loose (and voluntary)organization called the Commonwealth of Nations But more important today in Britain's intemational relations is the European Union.3 of which the UK has been a member since 1973.and it is more useful when considering modern Britain to emphasize its role as a European nation. rather than its membership of the Commonwealth.It remains a relatively wealthy country.a member of the Group of Seven large developed economies.One other obvious effect of that old imperial role lies in the make-up of the British population itself.Immigration from some of those Commonwealth countries. which was encouraged in the 1950s and 1960s.has produced a population of which 1 in 20 are of non-European ethnicity.They themselves.or their parents or grandparents,were bor in India or Pakistan,the countries of the Caribbean,to name only the most common. This introduces what is the key theme of the chapters about the United Kingdom as is the case for most,or all,countries.it is not possible to sum up the British people with a few simple phrases.Many people who think of Britain think of the 1

1 A Brief Introduction to the United Kingdom Britain is no longer an imperial country, though the effects of its imperial past may be often encountered in all sorts of ways; not least in the close relationships which exist with the fifty or more countries which used to be a part of that empire, and which maintain links through a loose (and voluntary) organization called the Commonwealth of Nations But more important today in Britain’s international relations is the European Union,3 of which the UK has been a member since 1973, and it is more useful when considering modern Britain to emphasize its role as a European nation, rather than its membership of the Commonwealth. It remains a relatively wealthy country, a member of the Group of Seven large developed economies. One other obvious effect of that old imperial role lies in the make-up of the British population itself. Immigration from some of those Commonwealth countries, which was encouraged in the 1950s and 1960s, has produced a population of which 1 in 20 are of non-European ethnicity. They themselves, or their parents or grandparents, were born in India or Pakistan, the countries of the Caribbean, to name only the most common. This introduces what is the key theme of the chapters about the United Kingdom: as is the case for most, or all, countries, it is not possible to sum up the British people with a few simple phrases. Many people who think of Britain think of the

English gentleman.But this is just a stereotype which never applied to the majority of the British people.and really has little validity today.The UKis one nation,with a single passport,and a single government having sovereignty over it all,but as the full name of the nationsuggests,it is made up of different elements.It includes 4 parts:the island of Great Britain is made up of England,Scotland and Wales,and Northern Ireland.a province on the neighboring island of Ireland,completes the set5. It has been already pointed out that the UK is now a multiracialsociety,and these quite recent groups of immigrants have brought aspects of their own cultures with them which sit side by side with more traditionally British ways of life. It is a society with a class-structure.It is possible to exaggerate the importance of this class-structure.because of course most countries have some kind of class- system.but it is true to say that the class structure of UK society is relatively obvious.The culture of a factory worker whose father was a factory worker may be quite different from that of a stockbroker whose father was a stockbroker:they will tend to read different newspapers,watch different television programmes. speak with a different accent,do different things in their free-time,and have different expectations for their children Another difference which marks British society is that of region.Even within each 2

2 English gentleman. But this is just a stereotype which never applied to the majority of the British people, and really has little validity today. The UK is one nation, with a single passport, and a single government having sovereignty over it all, but as the full name of the nation suggests, it is made up of different elements. It includes 4 parts: the island of Great Britain is made up of England, Scotland and Wales, and Northern Ireland, a province on the neighboring island of Ireland, completes the set5. It has been already pointed out that the UK is now a multiracial society, and these quite recent groups of immigrants have brought aspects of their own cultures with them which sit side by side with more traditionally British ways of life. It is a society with a class-structure. It is possible to exaggerate the importance of this class-structure, because of course most countries have some kind of class￾system, but it is true to say that the class structure of UK society is relatively obvious. The culture of a factory worker whose father was a factory worker may be quite different from that of a stockbroker whose father was a stockbroker: they will tend to read different newspapers, watch different television programmes, speak with a different accent, do different things in their free-time, and have different expectations for their children. Another difference which marks British society is that of region. Even within each

of the four countries there are different regions:the difference between the "highland"and "lowland"Scots has a long historical significance.for example:north and south England are also considered to be culturally distinct. though the boundary between them is not marked on any map.and exists only as a rather unclear mental attitude Nevertheless.there is some basis to the distinction in economic terms as the south is on average wealthier than the north.Part of the reason for that economic difference between north and south is found in another distinction which marks British society.a distinction which can be seen in many societies but is perhaps particularly obvious in the UK,that is,the difference between the capital and the provinces. London is in the south of the country,and is dominant in the United Kingdom in all sorts of ways.It is by far the largest city in the country,with about one seventh of the nation's population;it is the seat of government:8 it is the cultural centre. home to all the major news-papers,TV stations,and with far and away the widest selection of galleries,theatres and museums.Also it is the business centre headquarters of the vast majority of Britain's big companies;it is the financial centre of the nation,and one of the three major international financial centres in the world.As such it combines the functions of Beijing.Shanghai,and Guangzhou, or New York,Washington and Los Angeles,in one city.And given its long- 3

3 of the four countries there are different regions: the difference between the “highland” and “lowland” Scots has a long historical significance, for example: north and south England are also considered to be culturally distinct, though the boundary between them is not marked on any map, and exists only as a rather unclear mental attitude Nevertheless, there is some basis to the distinction in economic terms as the south is on average wealthier than the north. Part of the reason for that economic difference between north and south is found in another distinction which marks British society, a distinction which can be seen in many societies but is perhaps particularly obvious in the UK, that is, the difference between the capital and the provinces. London is in the south of the country, and is dominant in the United Kingdom in all sorts of ways. It is by far the largest city in the country, with about one seventh of the nation’s population; it is the seat of government;8 it is the cultural centre, home to all the major news- papers, TV stations, and with far and away the widest selection of galleries, theatres and museums. Also it is the business centre, headquarters of the vast majority of Britain’s big companies; it is the financial centre of the nation, and one of the three major international financial centres in the world. As such it combines the functions of Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou, or New York, Washington and Los Angeles, in one city. And given its long-

standing historical role in the UK.perhaps Xi'an too!London is a huge weight in Britain's economic and cultural life,and to some extent the rest of the country lives in its shadow England England is a highly urbanized country,with 80%of its population living in cities. and only 2%of the population working in agriculture.Its largest city is the capital. London.which is dominant in the UKin all fields:government,finance,and culture. England is physically the largest of the four nations,and it has by far the largest population.This dominance in size is reflected in a cultural and economic dominance too,which has the result that people in foreign countries sometimes make the mistake of talking about England when they mean the UK9.Significantly, people in England sometimes make that mistaketoo.but people in the other three nations would not:they might call themselves British(as might the English).or they might call themselves Scottish or Welsh or Irish,but they certainly wouldn't call themselves(or like to be called)English.So oddly.of the four nations.the English feel most British.and therefore have the weakest sense of themselves as a separate "English"culture within Britain10. British history has been a history of invasions.Before the 1st century AD Britain was made up of many tribal kingdoms of Celtic people:a powerful culture originating in central Europe.Then in 43 AD Britain was invaded by the Roman Empire and England and Wales(though not Scotland or Ireland)became a part

4 standing historical role in the UK, perhaps Xi’an too! London is a huge weight in Britain’s economic and cultural life, and to some extent the rest of the country lives in its shadow England England is a highly urbanized country, with 80% of its population living in cities, and only 2% of the population working in agriculture. Its largest city is the capital, London, which is dominant in the UK in all fields: government, finance, and culture. England is physically the largest of the four nations, and it has by far the largest population. This dominance in size is reflected in a cultural and economic dominance too, which has the result that people in foreign countries sometimes make the mistake of talking about England when they mean the UK9. Significantly, people in England sometimes make that mistake too, but people in the other three nations would not: they might call themselves British (as might the English), or they might call themselves Scottish or Welsh or Irish, but they certainly wouldn’t call themselves (or like to be called) English. So oddly, of the four nations, the English feel most British, and therefore have the weakest sense of themselves as a separate “English” culture within Britain10. British history has been a history of invasions. Before the 1st century AD Britain was made up of many tribal kingdoms of Celtic people: a powerful culture originating in central Europe. Then in 43 AD Britain was invaded by the Roman Empire and England and Wales (though not Scotland or Ireland) became a part

of the Roman Empire for nearly 400 years.As the Roman Empire came under threat from the east,the Roman armies and Roman protection were withdrawn from Britain,and Britain was again divided into small kingdoms,and again it came under threat from outside,this time from Germanic peoples:the Angles.and the Saxon.One of the best-known English legends derives from this time.In the 5th century AD it is said that a great leader appeared.united the British.and with his magical sword.Excalibur.drove the Saxons back.This is the story of King Arthur and has been embellished by singers.poets,novelists and even filmmakers ever since.Although King Arthur s real existence is in doubt,you can visit places associated with his legend,such as the cliff-edge castle at Tintagel in Comwal According to legend Arthur gathered a company of knights to him,who sat together at Arthur's castle at Camelot(possibly the real hilltop fort at Cadbury Hill in Somerset).Conflict between his knights led to Arthur creating the famous "round table"at which all would have equal precedence.Perhaps this could be seen as an indicator of the way in which the English have wished to see their monarch as something other than a remote dictator,and have in fact managed to gradually bind the monarchy into a more democratic system,rather than completely rejecting it. Whatever Arthur s success was.legend or not,it did not last,for the Anglo Saxons did succeed in invading Britain,and either absorbed the Celtic people,or 5

5 of the Roman Empire for nearly 400 years. As the Roman Empire came under threat from the east, the Roman armies and Roman protection were withdrawn from Britain, and Britain was again divided into small kingdoms, and again it came under threat from outside, this time from Germanic peoples: the Angles, and the Saxon. One of the best-known English legends derives from this time. In the 5th century AD it is said that a great leader appeared, united the British, and with his magical sword, Excalibur, drove the Saxons back. This is the story of King Arthur, and has been embellished by singers, poets, novelists and even filmmakers ever since. Although King Arthur’s real existence is in doubt, you can visit places associated with his legend, such as the cliff-edge castle at Tintagel in Cornwall. According to legend Arthur gathered a company of knights to him, who sat together at Arthur’s castle at Camelot (possibly the real hilltop fort at Cadbury Hill in Somerset). Conflict between his knights led to Arthur creating the famous “round table” at which all would have equal precedence. Perhaps this could be seen as an indicator of the way in which the English have wished to see their monarch as something other than a remote dictator, and have in fact managed to gradually bind the monarchy into a more democratic system, rather than completely rejecting it. Whatever Arthur’s success was, legend or not, it did not last, for the Anglo Saxons did succeed in invading Britain, and either absorbed the Celtic people, or

pushed them to the western and northern edges of Britain.Despite the fact that contemporary English people think of King Arthur as their hero,really he was fighting against them,for these Anglo-Saxon invaders were the forefathers of the English,the founders of "Angle-land"or "England"as it has become known Two more groups of invaders were to come after the English:from the late 8th century on,raiders from Scandinavia,the ferocious Vikings,threatened Britain's shores. Their settlements in England grew until large areas of northem and eastem England were under their control.By then the English heroes were truly English (Anglo-Saxon).such as King Alfred the Great,who tumed the tide in the south against the Vikings.There remains to this day a certain cultural divide between northerners and southerners in England,which while not consciously "Saxon" versus "Dane",may have its origins in this time.The richer southerners tend to think of northemers as less sophisticated than themselves.while northemers think southerners arrogant and unfriendly.They are also marked by having distinctly different accents.The next invaders were the Normans,from northern France,who were descendants of Vikings.Under William of Normandy(known as "William the Conqueror"they crossed the English Channel in 1066.and in the Battle of Hastings.defeated an English army under King Harold.This marks the last time that an army from outside the British Isles succeeded in invading.William took the English throne,and became William the First of England.The Tower of London,a 6

6 pushed them to the western and northern edges of Britain. Despite the fact that contemporary English people think of King Arthur as their hero, really he was fighting against them, for these Anglo-Saxon invaders were the forefathers of the English, the founders of “Angle-land” or “England” as it has become known. Two more groups of invaders were to come after the English: from the late 8th century on, raiders from Scandinavia, the ferocious Vikings, threatened Britain’s shores. Their settlements in England grew until large areas of northern and eastern England were under their control. By then the English heroes were truly English (Anglo-Saxon), such as King Alfred the Great, who turned the tide in the south against the Vikings. There remains to this day a certain cultural divide between northerners and southerners in England, which while not consciously “Saxon” versus “Dane”, may have its origins in this time. The richer southerners tend to think of northerners as less sophisticated than themselves, while northerners think southerners arrogant and unfriendly. They are also marked by having distinctly different accents. The next invaders were the Normans, from northern France, who were descendants of Vikings. Under William of Normandy (known as “William the Conqueror”) they crossed the English Channel in 1066, and in the Battle of Hastings, defeated an English army under King Harold. This marks the last time that an army from outside the British Isles succeeded in invading. William took the English throne, and became William the First of England. The Tower of London, a

castle in the centre of London which he built.still stands today. The Normans did not settle England to any great extent:rather they imported a ruling class.The next 300 years may be thought of as a Norman (and French speaking)aristocracy ruling a largely Saxon and English-speaking population.It is this situation which produced another of England's heroic legends.This is the legend of Robin Hood,the Saxon nobleman oppressed by the Normans,who became an outlaw.and with his band of "merry men"hid in the forest of Sherwood in the north midlands of England.From this secret place,armed with their longbows.they then went out to rob from the rich to give to the poor.He has featured in many television series and films,both British and American.Some writers have seen in the popularity of this legend of a rebellion hidden in the green wood a clue to the English character:a richly unconventional interior life hidden by an extemal conformity. The next few hundred years following the Norman invasion can be seen as a process of joining together the various parts of the British Isles under English rule. so that any English identity eventually became swamped by the necessity of adopting a wider British identity,both to unite the kingdom internally,and to present a single identity extemally as Britain became an imperial power26.At the same time power was gradually transferred from the monarch to the parliament Charles the First's attempt to overrule parliament in the 1640s led to a civil war in which parliamentary forces were victorious,and the king was executed.After a

7 castle in the centre of London which he built, still stands today. The Normans did not settle England to any great extent: rather they imported a ruling class. The next 300 years may be thought of as a Norman (and French speaking) aristocracy ruling a largely Saxon and English-speaking population. It is this situation which produced another of England’s heroic legends. This is the legend of Robin Hood, the Saxon nobleman oppressed by the Normans, who became an outlaw, and with his band of “merry men” hid in the forest of Sherwood in the north midlands of England. From this secret place, armed with their longbows, they then went out to rob from the rich to give to the poor. He has featured in many television series and films, both British and American. Some writers have seen in the popularity of this legend of a rebellion hidden in the green wood a clue to the English character: a richly unconventional interior life hidden by an external conformity. The next few hundred years following the Norman invasion can be seen as a process of joining together the various parts of the British Isles under English rule, so that any English identity eventually became swamped by the necessity of adopting a wider British identity, both to unite the kingdom internally, and to present a single identity externally as Britain became an imperial power26. At the same time power was gradually transferred from the monarch to the parliament. Charles the First’s attempt to overrule parliament in the 1640s led to a civil war in which parliamentary forces were victorious, and the king was executed. After a

gap of 11 years in which England was ruled by parliament's leader.Oliver Cromwell27.the monarchy was restored.Further conflict between parliament and the king led to the removal of the Scottish house of Stuart28 from the throne,and William and Mary29 were imported from Holland to take the throne,thus finally establishing parliaments dominance over the throne. Scotland Scotland is the second largest of the four nations,both in population and in geographical area.It is also the most confident of its own identity because alone amongst the non-English components of the UK it has previously spent a substantial period of history as a unified state independent of the UK.Thus it is not a big leap for the Scottish to imagine themselves independent again30 Physically.Scotland is the most rugged part of the UK.with areas of sparsely populated mountains and lakes in the north(the Highlands).and in the south(the Southern Uplands).Three quarters of the population lives in the lowland zone which spans the country between these two highland areas.The largest city is Glasgow,in the west of this zone.Scotland's capital city is Edinburgh.on the east coast forty miles away from Glasgow.It is renowned for its beauty,and dominated by its great castle on a high rock in the centre of the city.Both cities have ancient and intemationally respected universities dating from the 15th century. 8

8 gap of 11 years in which England was ruled by parliament’s leader, Oliver Cromwell27, the monarchy was restored. Further conflict between parliament and the king led to the removal of the Scottish house of Stuart28 from the throne, and William and Mary29 were imported from Holland to take the throne, thus finally establishing parliament’s dominance over the throne. Scotland Scotland is the second largest of the four nations, both in population and in geographical area. It is also the most confident of its own identity because alone amongst the non-English components of the UK it has previously spent a substantial period of history as a unified state independent of the UK. Thus it is not a big leap for the Scottish to imagine themselves independent again30. Physically, Scotland is the most rugged part of the UK, with areas of sparsely populated mountains and lakes in the north (the Highlands), and in the south (the Southern Uplands). Three quarters of the population lives in the lowland zone which spans the country between these two highland areas. The largest city is Glasgow, in the west of this zone. Scotland’s capital city is Edinburgh, on the east coast forty miles away from Glasgow. It is renowned for its beauty, and dominated by its great castle on a high rock in the centre of the city. Both cities have ancient and internationally respected universities dating from the 15th century

Scotland was not conquered by the Romans.though they did try to.and for a while occupied as far as the edge of the northern highland zone.But the difficulty of maintaining their rule there caused them to retreat to a line roughly equivalent to the contemporary boundary between England and Scotland.Along this line. from sea to sea,they.like the Chinese,built a wall to mark the northern edge of their domain,and to help defend it.It is called "Hadrian's Wall"after the Emperor of Rome at the time of its building.and although ruined,lengths of it can still be seen and walked along. Nor was most of Scotland conquered by the Anglo-Saxons,although an Angle Kingdom was established in the southeast hence Edinburgh's Germanic name.British celts displaced from the south by Saxon invasion occupied the area around what is now Glasgow,and in this same period(around the 6th century AD) people from northern Ireland invaded the south-west.They were called the Scots, and it is they that gave the modern country of Scotland its name.The original Scottish celts,called the Picts,were left with the extensive but unproductive highland zone.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. There are even areas in the highlands where(in addition to English)people speak the old Celtic language,called "Gaelic".Like England,Scotland began to 9

9 Scotland was not conquered by the Romans, though they did try to, and for a while occupied as far as the edge of the northern highland zone. But the difficulty of maintaining their rule there caused them to retreat to a line roughly equivalent to the contemporary boundary between England and Scotland. Along this line, from sea to sea, they, like the Chinese, built a wall to mark the northern edge of their domain, and to help defend it. It is called “Hadrian’s Wall” after the Emperor of Rome at the time of its building, and although ruined, lengths of it can still be seen and walked along. Nor was most of Scotland conquered by the Anglo-Saxons, although an Angle Kingdom was established in the southeast － hence Edinburgh’s Germanic name. British celts displaced from the south by Saxon invasion occupied the area around what is now Glasgow, and in this same period (around the 6th century AD) people from northern Ireland invaded the south-west. They were called the Scots, and it is they that gave the modern country of Scotland its name. The original Scottish celts, called the Picts, were left with the extensive but unproductive highland zone. 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. There are even areas in the highlands where (in addition to English) people speak the old Celtic language, called “Gaelic”. Like England, Scotland began to

experience Viking raids in the 9th century.and it was the pressure from this outside threat that led Scottish kings to unify.forming an independent singular Scottish state at just about the same time that Anglo-Saxon England was also unifying. A recent Hollywood movie,Braveheart,told the story of William Wallace's35 uprising in 1298,which was quelled by the English.But only a few years later the Scots,under the leadership of Robert the Bruce36,were victorious at the Battle of Bannockburn37.leading to 300 years of full independence.In 1603,however. Queen Elizabeth the First38 of England died childless,and the next in line to the throne39 was James the Sixth of Scotland40,so he also became James the First of England.uniting the two thrones.But for another hundred years Scotland maintained its separate political identity.However.in 1707 by agreement of the English and Scottish parliaments,Scotland joined the Union.There followed two rebellions in1715 and 1745 in which the heirto the Stuart claim(deposed in1688 by the English parliament)to the British throne attempted to reassert his right to rule Britain,gathering support in Scotland then marching with an army into England.In 1745 this led to a brutal military response from the British army.The rebel army was destroyed at the Battle of Culloden(the last battle on British soil) in northemn Scotland.Scottish highland clan(extended family group)culture was effectively destroyed at this time.and today exists largely as a way of parting tourists from their money by selling them "tartan"souvenirs or histories of

10 experience Viking raids in the 9th century, and it was the pressure from this outside threat that led Scottish kings to unify, forming an independent singular Scottish state at just about the same time that Anglo-Saxon England was also unifying. A recent Hollywood movie, Braveheart, told the story of William Wallace’s35 uprising in 1298, which was quelled by the English. But only a few years later the Scots, under the leadership of Robert the Bruce36, were victorious at the Battle of Bannockburn37, leading to 300 years of full independence. In 1603, however, Queen Elizabeth the First38 of England died childless, and the next in line to the throne39 was James the Sixth of Scotland40, so he also became James the First of England, uniting the two thrones. But for another hundred years Scotland maintained its separate political identity. However, in 1707 by agreement of the English and Scottish parliaments, Scotland joined the Union. There followed two rebellions in 1715 and 1745 in which the heir to the Stuart claim (deposed in 1688 by the English parliament) to the British throne attempted to reassert his right to rule Britain, gathering support in Scotland then marching with an army into England. In 1745 this led to a brutal military response from the British army. The rebel army was destroyed at the Battle of Culloden (the last battle on British soil) in northern Scotland. Scottish highland clan (extended family group) culture was effectively destroyed at this time, and today exists largely as a way of parting tourists from their money by selling them “tartan” souvenirs or histories of