Countrystudy Summary (0)

Country Study

Mari-Liis Luukas
11c
The British Isles
Administrative / əd'mɪnɪstrətɪv / haldus-
Self- governing / ˌself'gʌvənɪŋ / isemajandav, iseseisev
Legislative assembly/ 'ledʒɪslətɪv ə'semblɪ/ seadusandlik kogu
The British Isles is the name of a group of islands washed by the North Sea in the east and the Atlantic Ocean in the west . The British Isles are shared by two separate and independent countries: the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. All the islands have administrative ties with the mainland, except some islands which have their own legislative assemblies and systems of law, but the UK Government is responsible for their international relations and defence.
Great Britain
Across / ə'krɒs / risti, läbi, põiki
Locality / ləʊ'kælətɪ / asukoht, paikkond
Inland body / 'ɪnlænd 'bɒdɪ / sisemaine osa
Inlet / 'ɪnlet / merekäär, laht
Headland / 'hedlənd / neem
Scour / 'skaʊə / küürima
Foreshore / 'fɔ:ʃɔ: / tõusu ja mõõna vaheline rand
Recreational / ˌrekrɪ'eɪʃnəl / lõõgastumis-, vabaaja-
Scenery / 'si:nɚrɪ / maastik
Juxtaposition / ˌdʒʌkstəpəʊz'iʃn / kõrvuti asetsev
GB consists of England , Scotland and Wales . GB is only a dot on the world map. It offers a great variety and scenic contrasts are often within easy reach. The coastline is washed by the tidal system twice a day. Britain´s speciality is the man-made scenery. Each part of the country has its peculiar geographical features .
England
Indented / ɪn'dentɪd / sakiline
Estuary / 'estjʊrɪ / suudmelaht
Watershed / 'wɔ:təʃəd /veelahe
Pike / paɪk / haug
Rugged / 'rʌgɪd / konarlik, karm
Meadow / 'medəʊ / aas, heinamaa
England features mostly low hills and plains. The Pennine Chain runs from the north to south , splitting northern England into western and eastern parts. The Lake District in situated in the north-west of England and there are the most beautiful landscapes and the highest peak in England is Scafell Pike (978 m). The warmest part in England is the Peninsula of Cornwall in summer .
Scotland
Densely / 'denslɪ / tihedasti
Scotland features very wild landscapes, large areas of untouched land , mountains and lochs. Scotland can be divided into two parts: the Lowlands and the Northern Highlands. The highest peak in Scotland is Ben Nevis (1343 m)
Wales
Earthwork / ɜ:θwɜ:k / mullavall
Beacon / 'bi:kən / tuletorn , majakas
Peninsula / pɪ'nɪnsjʊlə / poolsaar
Wales is surrounded by the sea on three sides and has two major mountain systems: the Black Mountains and the Brecon Beacons. The rivers offer a wide variety of fish .
Wales gets a bit more rain than other parts of Britain. The highest peak in Wales is Snowdon ( 1085 m), one of the mountains of Snowdonia.
Ireland
Emerald / 'emrɚld / smaragdroheline
Intensity / ɪn'tensətɪ / jõulisus, intensiivsus
Tranquility / 'træŋkwɪliti / hingerahu, rahu ja vaikus
Ornithologist / ˌɔ:nɪ'θɒlədʒɪst / linnuteadlane
Pasture / 'pɑ:stʃə / karjamaa
Ireland is the second largest of the British Isles. It´s called the “Emerald Isle” because of its intensive greenery. It´s often visited to see natural beauty and feel relaxed and peaceful. Ireland is known for its pastures and dairy products .
Climate
Temperate / 'tempɚrət / mõõdukas
Ripen / 'raɪpɚn / küpsema
Prevailing / prɪ'veɪlɪŋ / üldlevinud, ülekaalus olev
Dampness / 'dæmpnɪs / niiskus, rõskus
Precipitation / prɪˌsɪpɪ'teɪʃn / sademed
Distribute / dɪ'strɪbju:t / levitama, jagama
The climate is mild and temperate and has an influence on everything. It is influenced by the surrounding seas. The climate is the primary talk subject . In winter there is an average of only an hour or two of sunshine a day.
The Weather
Wintry / 'wɪntrɪ / talvine , jäine
Set in / set ɪn / algama , võimust võtma
Spell / spel / hoog
Localised / 'ləʊkəlaɪzd / paigutama, lokaliseeruma
They say that you can experience four seasons in the course of one day. English wisely comment current weather, not the entire day. The weather is always unpredictable.
Questions
1) British Isles is the geographical name of islands that consist of Great Britain, Ireland and many small islands. Great Britain consists of England, Scotland and Wales. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.
3) Estonia lies on the eastern shores of the Baltic Sea, south of Finland. The country's highest point is the Suur Munamägi (318 m) in the southeast. Estonia has many lakes. Most are very small the largest is Lake Peipsi . There are many rivers in the country. The largest are the Võhandu (162 km) and Pärnu (144 km). Estonia also has numerous bogs and coastline marked by numerous bays, straits, and inlets. Two largest islands are large enough to constitute their own counties: Saaremaa and Hiiumaa .
England is north from France , surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean from the west and North Sea from the east. The highest peak in Great Britain is Ben Nevis (1343 m). The largest river in Great Britain is the Severn.
5) England: Scafell Pike, low hills and plains, the rose , the Pennine Chain, very little dry land
Scotland: wild landscapes, large areas of untouched lands, Ben Nevis, lochs, mountains, sheep, ancient castles
Wales: mountains, sea on three sides, National Park, caves, rivers, beaches
Ireland: intensive greenery, pastures, tranquillity, dairy products, second largest of the British Isles, spectacular landscape
9) British talk about the weather because it changes very often and therefore is unpredictable. It also varies according to the location ; it can be sunny in one place and cloudy just a few kilometres away . The weather has changed Britain´s landscape.
Estonians use the weather as a neutral talk subject. People start complaining about the weather if it has been like that for a long time.
10) The British weather has made the British easily adaptable, more reserved and a bit tired.
British History
Prehistoric Britain
Hill figures / hɪl 'fɪgəs / künkajoonised, - figuurid
Hill forts / hɪl fɔ:ts / künkakindlused
Fortification / ˌfɔ:tɪfɪ'keɪʃn / kindlustamine
Ditch / dɪtʃ / kraav
Bank of earth / bæŋk ɒv ɜ:θ / mullavall
There are no written records of Prehistoric Britain, the history is recorded in hill figures (pictures on mountains), hill forts like Hadrian ´s wall and stone circles which were used as temples like Stonehenge. The priests were called Druids.
Britain was inhabited by various peoples who later spread the Christianity through Northern England and Scotland.
Roman Britain
Nearing / nɪərɪŋ / lähenev
Wide- scale / waɪd skeɪl / laia haardega
Warlike / 'wɔ:laɪk / sõjakas
To overrun / ˌəʊvə'rʌn / vallutama
Bath / bɑ:θ / saunakompleks, linnasaun
Julius Caesar arrived in Britain in 55 BC and named this island Albion after the chalk cliffs on the southern coast. Britain became the Roman colony. They built roads, villas, public baths and fortifications. Emperor Hadrian built a stone wall to protect England from Scots. Romans left Britain in 400 AD to protect their empire on the continent of Europe from the Germanic tribes .
The Anglo-Saxon, Danish and Norman Invasions
Raid / reɪd / rünnak
Abbey / 'æbɪ / klooster
Parish / 'pærɪʃ / kihelkond
Germanic tribes attacked Britain after the Romans had left. The Angles named this island Anglia. In 597 AD St Augustine of Rome brought Christianity to England after which religion became very important . The Vikings settled mainly in Scotland and Ireland, the Danes in the north and east of England. Local Anglo- Saxons lost their power in 1066 to Norman conqueror William the Conqueror.
Medieval Britain
Centralised / 'sentrəlaɪzd / tsentraliseeritud, kesestatud
Administration / ədˌmɪnɪ'streɪʃn / valitsus, juhtkond
The Normans introduced the feudal system, strengthened the power of the King and the Church . England became a strong country under military rule . The Normans enjoyed absolute power: they built castles and destroyed villages. The main language spoken was Norman French which influenced the development of English.
Main Events of the Period
Canonised / 'kænənaɪsd / pühakuks kuulutatud
Charter / 'tʃɑ:tə / üürima, harta
Latter / 'lætə / viimane, lõpupoolne
1066 – The Battle of Hastings – Normans took over power in England, William the Conqueror (William I) became the King.
1170 – The murder of Archbishop Thomas a Becket – a fight between the King and the Church, Canterbury Cathedral became a Mecca for pilgrims after the murder of Thomas a Becket.
1215 – The Magna Carta – King John was forced to sign a document which limited his power and extended the rights of his subjects .
1337 – The Hundred Years ´ War – a war with France which lasted 100 years, England tried to maintain control over the properties in France. France won.
1348 – The Black Death – an illness which killed a lot of people
1455 – 1485 – the Wars of the Roses – a war between the House of York (white rose) and the House of Lancaster (red rose). Henry Tudor of the House of York became the King.
The Tudors
1485 – 1603
Lively / 'laɪvlɪ / pulbitsev, elav
Armada / ɑ:'mɑ:də / sõjalaevastik
Invincible / ɪn'vɪnsəbl / võitmatu
Unfazed / ʌnfeizd / külma kõhuga, häirimatu
Bowls / bəʊlz / keegel
Supremacy / sʊ'preməsɪ / ülemvõim, üleolek
Intellectual brilliance / ˌɪntə'lektʃʊɚl 'brɪlɪəns / vaimne hiilgus
Flourishing / 'flʌrɪʃɪŋ / õitseng, õitsev
Prosperity / prɒ'sperətɪ / majanduslik õitseng
Evergreen / 'evəgri:n / igihaljas
A lively period where much new was learned, naval battles won, sea explored and trading flourished. England beat Spanish Armada, under the guidance of Sir Francis Drake, which was thought to be unbeatable.
Most powerful Tudor monarchs were Henry VIII and his daughter Elizabeth I who had a long and golden reign and whose time the literature flourished.
Walter Raleigh was an explorer who was the first to bring potatoes and tobacco to Britain from America.
The Stuarts
1603 – 1714
Exile / 'eksaɪl / pagendus
Commemorate / kə'meməreɪt / mälestust austama
On the 5th of November in 1605 English Catholics tried to blow up the King and the Parliament , but they failed. In 1642 the Civil War between the Parliament and the King began.
The Parliament won and Oliver Cromwell took up rule of the country. Britain became a republic. Charles I was executed. After Cromwell´s death Charles´s son became the King.
The House of Hanover
1714 – 1901
Controversial / ˌkɒntrə'vɜ:ʃl / vastuoluline
The Cabinet / θə 'kæbɪnɪt / valitsus
Jacobite rebellions / 'dʒækəʊbaɪt rɪ'belɪəns / jakobiitide mäss/ülestõus
Retreat / rɪ'tri:t / taganemine
Slaughter / 'slɔ:tə / tapmine , surmama
Pretension / prɪ'tenʃn / nõudlus
Prolonged / prəʊ'lɒŋd / kauakestev, pikaajaline
Confine / 'kɒnfaɪn / piirduma, sulgema
Foothold / 'fʊthəʊld / jalaase, tugipunkt
Coal / kəʊl / kivisüsi
George I left the power to the Cabinet which led to having a Prime Minister (first Prime Minister was Robert Walpole).
The Scottish Jacobite rebellions in 1715 and 1719 threatened the King, but the leader of Jacobites, James Stuart, was easily defeated.
During the reign of George III, Britain lost its American colonies and the United States was born.
In 1805 Admiral Nelson defeated the French navy in the Battle of Trafalgar. In 1815 Arthur Wellesley, known as the Duke of Wellington, ended Napoleon Bonaparte ´s plan to rule the world in the Battle of Waterloo.
Captain James Cook changed the map of the world, mapped many seaways and countries. Thanks to him Britain became rich in colonies and trading.
Industrial Revolution
Iron ore / 'aɪən ɔ: / rauamaak
Loom / lu:m / kangasteljed
Weaving / 'wi:vɪŋ / kangast kuduma
Enterprise / 'entəpraɪz / ettevõte
Disregard / ˌdɪsrɪ'gɑ:d / eirama
Imprint / 'ɪmprɪnt / jälg, jäljend
Supplement / 'sʌplɪmənt / täiend, lisa
Tenement / 'tenəmənt / vilets üürimaja
Industrial Revolution started in the second half of the 18th century . It was a period when many machines were invented and factories established. Factories meant more work for people but the conditions were inhuman. By the end of the 18th century Britain was the most industrialised country enjoying an international trade boom .
During the late 18th century a huge network of canals and railways were built. Telegraph lines, magazines and newspapers became a part of every day.
In the 1840s, when Britain was struck by famine, millions of citizens had to live in overcrowded tenements and their work regimes came close to slavery.
The Victorian Age
Encompass / ɪn'kʌmpəs / ümbritsema, hõlmama
Inconsolable / ˌɪnkən'səʊləbl / lohutamatu
Withdraw / wɪð'drɔ: / taanduma, tagasi tõmbuma
The Victorian Age lasted from 1837 to 1901, when the throne belonged to Queen Victoria. She liked to be involved in the affairs of state and this resulted in Britain being the most powerful nation in the world and the British Empire having a quarter of the world´s territory and population. Queen Victoria had nine children during her 20- year marrige to Albert . After her husband ´s death, she built many memorials to him.
Florence Nightingale
Nightingale was the first woman to run a field hospital. She later set up a school for nurses, turning nursing into a real profession.
Charles Dickens
Dickens was one of the greatest English novelists of all time. He was popular with royality and common people. After he became very rich, he used it to support antislavery movement , social housing projects and international copyright laws .
Edward VIII
Sovereign / 'sɒvrɪn / kõrgeim, ülim
Abdication / ˌæbdɪ'keɪʃn / loobumine, äraütlemine
Edward VIII fell in love with an American divorcee, but he couldn´t marry her, because it was forbidden in Britain to marry a divorced person . Edward chose love over duty and gave the throne to his brother Albert. Edward and his loved one lived in exile for years, but now they are buried together in a royal family tomb near Windsor .
World War I
1914 - 1918
Spark / spɑ:k / süütama
Archduke / ˌɑ:tʃdju:k / ertshertsog
Trench / trentʃ / kaevik
Proclamation / ˌprɒklə'meɪʃn / väljakuulutamine
Bombardment / bɒm'bɑ:dmənt / pommitus
Inaugurate / ɪ'nɔ:gjʊreɪt / pühitsema, pidulikult tähistama
Annex / 'æneks / liitma, liidetuks jääma
World War I broke out because of an assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand . The war was thought to end quickly, but it lasted for four years during which over ten million people were killed.
During that time Irish Volunteers captured Dublin ´s strategic points and declared the birth of the Irish Republic. Britain was unable to resist to the movement. Five years later, on 6 December 1921 the Irish Free State was created. Northern Ireland remained attached to the United Kingdom.
World War II
1939 – 1945
Blitz / blɪts / pommirünnak
Rationing / 'ræʃnɪŋ / talongisüsteem
Cease / si:s / lakkama, järele jääma
Comprehensive / ˌkɒmprɪ'hensɪv / laiaulatuslik
Aegis / 'i:dʒɪs / kaitsja, eestkostja
It was started by Adolf Hitler and involved almost every country in the world. About 55 million people were killed. The war ended when the United States dropped nuclear bombs on two Japanese cities after which Japan surrended.
The war was destructive. Many buildings collapsed and the amount of goods became subject to restriction.
Sir Winston Churchill, a Prime Minister of that time, led Britain through the war.
After the war, the Labour Party promised the greatest social revolution in British history.
Queen Elizabeth II
1953 –
Founder / 'faʊndə / karile jooksma
She was coronated in 1953 and the coronation ceremony was televised around the world. Her reign has seen ten prime ministers, separation and tragic in the royal family. The death of Diana , her daughter-in-law, had an influence on the royal family as a whole .
How Did Britain Lose Its Empire
Extent / ɪk' stent / ulatus, määr
Retain / rɪ'teɪn / säilitama
Momentum / məʊ'mentəm / impulss, hoog
Neglect / nɪ'glekt / hooletusse jätma
The first signs appeared in 1920s, when Britain had many colonies and started allowing a degree of self-government. On different reasons , one by one, the colonial countries started to separate. Britain didn´t pay much attention to Europe until it lost its empire.
Britain And Europe
Crop up / krɒp ʌp / esile kerkima
Opt out / ɒpt aʊt / loobuma
Britain tried to avoid a European Union, saying that they could never become real patriots of Europe. After joining the Council of Europe in 1949, Britain had to admit that it was difficult to stay out of Europe. British people tend to feel that they didn´t get any economic benefit from Europe.
Britain And the USA
The relationship with the United States is based on their common language, wartime alliance, the Cold War and the popularity of W. Churchill in America. In 1962 Britain purchased American Polaris nuclear missiles, which tied them even more closely together. Toward the end of 1980s it was obvious that Britain hadn´t made up its mind whether its first loyalty belonged to the United States or to the Soviet Union.