Brief Introduction to the United Kingdom (Part I).

Brief Introduction to the United Kingdom (Part I) What is the UK? Full Name: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Includes England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland British Empire ended after World War II No longer an imperial country though we can still see remnants of this in British culture Member of the EU since 1973 Member of the Group of Seven (Formed in 1975, G-7 originally included France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the U.S. Canada was later added) More on the G7 As an economic and political group of seven developed countries with large economies (but not the seven largest overall), this powerful group of nations does not include any developing nations. Collectively, the G7 nations comprise 50.7% of global nominal GDP and 39.5% of global GDP (PPP). Based on forecasts by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP published in early 2010, the G-7 will be eclipsed in economic size by the world's largest emerging markets (E-7) within two decades, led by China. In 2000, the G-7's GDP was twice as large as the E-7 and in 2010 the gap has shrunk to 35 percent. The combined GDP of E-7 (China, India, Brazil, Russia, Mexico, Indonesia, and Turkey) is projected to match the G-7 around [2][dead link] As of January 2011, PriceWaterhouse says the G-7 will be overtaken by emerging economies in 2032.developed countrieslargest overall50.7% of global nominal GDP39.5% of global GDP (PPP)E-7China, India, Brazil, Russia MexicoIndonesiaand Turkey [2]dead link (from wikipedia.com) Ethnicity 1/20 people living in the UK are of non-European ethnicity Much of the immigration to the UK happened in the 1950s and 60s So Britain is not only the stereotypical stuffy English gentleman Multiracial Society Different Religions Different Cultures Different classes of people Different accents within England Cockney Higher Class Accent Cornish Accent Irish Accent London Business, Financial, and Cultural Center of the UK England 80% of people live in cities 2% are farmers though many have home gardens Feel the most British Originally populated by Celtic people before being invaded by the Romans in 43 AD Germanic influences as wellthe Angles and the Saxons (Today, people from these nationalities are called Anglo-Saxons Celts Known throughout the western world though not much is known of their culture Their impact remains; much of Irish and Welsh language is a remnant from Celtic rule. King Arthur Famous legend of British Empire Known throughout the western world Many movies and TV shows today are based off the famous legend of King Arthur Perhaps not a real story, but you can visit places associated with the story Tintagel Castle in Cornwall 1136: Geoffrey of Monmouth writes that it was here that King Arthur was conceived. Later stories tell of how Arthur was born and even lived at Tintagel. King Arthur Knights of Camelot/Knights of the Round Table Sword called Excalibur Wizard called Merlin Sister named Morgana Wifes name: Gwenivere Best Friend/Man who stole his wife: Lancelot Son: Mordred Lady of the Lake King Arthur and the Coming of the Vikings Arthur was likely a Celt, despite the fact that modern people (mostly Anglo-Saxons) revere him as a British hero. After Anglo-Saxons, invaded by Vikings, fierce warriors who came by boat and took over small parts of England. The Vikings never took full control. After the Vikings, the Normans invaded from France. This Was the last time an army from outside the British Isles successfully invadedthe British empire. William the First of England built the Tower of London, a building which remains an important historical sight in London even now. Scotland Second Largest Most rugged part of the UKmany mountains and lakes in the north and few people who live there 75% of population lives in lowand zone Capital is Edinburgh Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland Scotland Not conquered by the Romans Built a wall marking the northern edge of Scotland Hadrians Wall Scotland Not really conquered by Anglo-Saxons either although the Anglo-Saxons had more luck than the Romans People from northern Ireland called Scots invaded the south-west in the 6 th century. Gave Scotland its name In some areas people still speak the old Celtic languageGaelic Scotland Viking Raids forced Scottish kings to unify Shakespeares play Macbeth set in this time period Intermarriage between aristocracies and royal families William Wallace William Wallace rose against the English in 1298 Subject of Modern movies/stories With Scotland threatening to descend into civil war, King Edward stepped in to arbitrate. Before the process could begin, he insisted that all of the contenders recognise him as Lord Paramount of Scotland. In early November 1292, at a great feudal court held in the castle at Berwick-upon-Tweed, judgement was given in favour of John Balliol having the strongest claim in law.Lord Paramount of ScotlandBerwick-upon-TweedJohn Balliol Edward proceeded to reverse the rulings of the Scottish Lords and even summoned King John Balliol to stand before the English court as a common plaintiff. John was a weak king, known as "Toom Tabard", or "Empty Coat". John renounced his homage in March 1296 and by the end of the month Edward stormed Berwick-upon-Tweed, sacking the then-Scottish border town. In April, the Scots were defeated at the Battle of Dunbar in East Lothian and by July Edward had forced John to abdicate. Edward then instructed his officers to receive formal homage from some 1,800 Scottish nobles (many of the rest being prisoners of war at that time). (wikipedia.com)homageBattle of DunbarEast Lothian Was eventually caught and hanged, drawn, and quartered Images of William Wallace Scotland 1603, Queen Elizabeth the First of England died without having had any children, so James the Sixth of Scotland became James the First of England In 1707, Scotland and England joined together, causing two unsuccessful rebellions in 1715 and 1745 Many famous Scottish literature, art, philosophy, and science Auld Lang Syne Sir Walter Scott Robert Louis Stevensons Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde Wales Capital: Cardiff Coal-mining was a major industry for the Welsh Smallest among the three nations on the British mainland but larger than Northern Ireland No natural boundary between England and Wales Own language, Welsh. 19% of the population speaks Welsh. Wales Conquered by the Romans but not the Anglo-Saxons Wales unified to defend itself from the British under Llywelyn ap Gruffudd, the first man called Prince of Wales (1267) After he died, Wales was conquered by Edward the First who named his son the Prince of Wales, a title given to the oldest son of the King or Queen of England The last time Wales tried to achieve indepence was in the early 15 th century Legally brought into the British parliament in 1536. Wales