Unit three History
1. What are the major eras in British history as phased in terms of ruling royal families?
In Roman Britain times, Britain under the Norman kings and Renaissance
2. Who were the main foreign invaders of Britain at different times in British history? What contribution have they respectively made to the British culture, or what impacts have they had?
The first foreign invader is Roman. They make the archaeology evidence indicates that man lived in what is now the British Isles long before it broke away from the continent of Europe and before great seas covered the land bridge now known as the English channel. Early men came from the European continent and settled in this region leaving behind tools dating back to the lower Paleolithic Age around 700000 years ago. Than after 800BC, the Celts invaded from central Europe and had covered account as being warlike, courageous, and aggressive. They introduced two important changes: The beginning of the Iron Age and the building of hill forts. The Romans also recorded two additional war-like peoples, the Picts in Scotland and the Scots in Ireland. And south Britain was progressively invaded by successive waves of Germanic tribesmen, including The Angles, Saxons and Jute, all from the Northwestern Europe. From about AD 793, the Vikings from Denmark, Norway or Sweden (know as Danes) began to i
nvade Britain and eventually settled in northern and eastern England. During the Anglo-Saxon rule, the northern part of Britain remained independent, inhabited by Celtic tribe.
3.How did feudalism emerge and decline in medieval Britain ?
Feudalism, concept often used to describe the medieval society, had existed under the Anglo-Saxon kings. To consolidate his power, the new king, William the Conqueror, strengthened and enlarged the system of feudal relations.
Decline :after Richard I , king John suffered the loss of Normandy and numerous other French territories through mistreatment of his vassal lord. Medieval Wales was rarely united, but was under the rule of various native principalities. Added to economic and social dislocations caused by hundred Y ears’ war was the Black Death , fierce and widespread outbreak of plague that ravaged the whole of Europe .With Henry Tudor accession as Henry vII, the central authority of the Crown was soon to be resumed, bringing England’s turbulent medieval period to an end and, most importantly, ushering in a new age.
4.What was the social background for the Reformation to take place in England? What major achievement did the Elizabethan era witness?
The church had gained not only material importance. But also extensive power in politics and law. Following about a decade’s turbulence during the reign of Edward and Mary, which arose from strife between the Protestant faith and the Catholic Church, British history entered the reign of Elizabeth I in 1558, an age of glory. Elizabeth she succeeded in putting to rest most notably by balancing the interests of Puritans and the Catholics. Furthermore, her government was effective in reducing the power of the old nobility, expending the power of her government and effecting common law and administration throughout England. Elizabeth Era also witnessed the
English Renaissance.
5.In what sense did Tudor Britain serve as a transition to modern times?
The Tudor period was a decisive one in English history in the sense that it further sapped feudal strength and nurtured the modern English nation state. which was bound together by a common language, a powerful central government ,and a strong church . On the other hand ,the Tudor period posed many import questions- the relative power of the monarch and parliament and to what extent one should control the other-which would have to be answered in the next century and during the English Civil War .
6.How did the UK Parliament come into being? How did the major political parties evolve?
Richard I antagonized the feudal nobility and the leading church figures to the Magna Carta to impose legal limits on the king’s personal powers in raising money from his subjects. For this purpose ,a royal council of twenty-five barons was formed and then joined by some lesser men or the “commons”, which slowly develop into a parliament with two separate houses .During in Henry III’s reign ,Simon de Montfort summoned the first elected parliament in 1265.The franchise in parliamentary elections set the scene for the so-called “Model parliament” of1295 adopted by Edward I.
7. How did the English Civil W ar break out? What were the consequences of the W ar?
Chares I, son of JamesI, succeeded to the throne in1625.He inherited from his father a complete and unshakable belief in Diving Right kingship and demanded outright loyalty in return for “just rule”. But parliament sought to limit the powers of the prerogative and to guarantee civil liberties through the petition of right. This led to a serious break between the two, and eventually to a war known as Civil War. Essentially The Civil War was a constitutional issue between a king who claimed to rule by divine right and represented the feudal nobility, and Parliament representing country gentry, merchant and artisans, who claimed real sovereignty. As far as religion is concerned, it was a conflict between the Pr
otestants and the Catholics, but indeed it had much to do with the division within the one protestant religion-between the Anglican belief and the anti-royal Puritan ideology..
8.How did the English industrial Revolution proceed from the mid-18 century to the mid-19th century and beyond? How has it impacted British society?
The Industrial Revolution in Britain first start in its age-old wool textile industry. In the mid-1750s,Britain enjoyed all condition that would favor adoption of new devices and efficient method of production in the industry. Oversea, economic temptation had involved England in chronic wars with both Spain and French before Georgian period, which continued until 1815,only punctuated by brief interval of peace .The impetus of the Industrial Revolution had already occurred, but it was during the Victorian period that the full effect of industrialization were moat felt ,leading to the mass society of 20th century .the middle of the century saw the Great Exhibition of 1851 the first World’s fair that showcased the greatest innovations of century ,including photography, among other things .
9.How did Christianity emerge and develop in English society? What role has it played though out English history?
In the Middle age, the church had gained not only material importance, but also extensive power in poli
tics and low. During Henry VIII’s early reign. there emerged an atmosphere of widespread criticism of church for the immorality of its clergy and corruption of its structure. Henry VIII initiated revolution separating the English church from Rome and establishing himself head of the church . As we say it doesn’t just a belief ,it is a way to control people in the country !The leaders always use that way to control a country !
10.What were the distinct features of Victorian era that made it different from other times?
In the political arena, the agenda was increasingly liberal with a number of shifts in the direction of widening of the franchise and gradual political reform. in social life, movements for justice, freedom and other strong moral values occupied an in creasing portion of public attention. Municipal reforms were directed at urban problems in health, hygiene and education .women were grants the legal right to their property upon marriage the right to divorce, and right to fight for custody of their children upon separation. Single women ratepayers gained the municipal vote in1869. during the Victorian period that the full effect of industrialization were moat felt,leading to the mass society of 20th century .the middle of the century saw the Great Exhibition of 1851 the first World’s fair that showcased the greatest innovations of century ,including photography, among other things .The Victorian era also marked the apex of the British Empire attained through constant wars and colonial consolidation world
wide.
Unit Three Words
nutshell坚果的外壳；小的东西，小容器
chronological按年代顺序排列的；依时间前后排列而记载的
villa别墅；郊区住宅
warrior战士，勇士；鼓吹战争的人
shire郡
monastery修道院；僧侣
medieval中世纪的；仿中世纪的；老式的；[贬]原始的
vassal诸侯；封臣
baron男爵；大亨；巨头
intermittent间歇的，断断续续的
erroneous不正确的；错误的
plague瘟疫；灾祸；麻烦；讨厌的人
subdue征服；抑制；减轻
revolt反抗；反感；叛乱
turbulent骚乱的，混乱的；狂暴的；吵闹的
usher引座员，带位员；接待员；门房
tract小册子；大片土地，地带；束
convene召集，集合；传唤
doctrine教义；学说；主义；信条
ascend上升；登高；追溯
reiterate重申；反复地做
atrocity暴行；凶恶，残暴
assassination暗杀，行刺
internecine两败俱伤的；互相残杀的；致命的
gentry贵族们；（英）上流社会人士；人们（多用贬义）
textile纺织品，织物
captive被俘虏的；被迷住的
hygiene卫生学；卫生；保健法
seamy丑恶的；露出线缝的
mindset心态；倾向；习惯；精神状态
incandescent辉耀的；炽热的；发白热光的
suffrage选举权；投票；参政权；代祷；赞成票
conscription征兵；征用；征兵制度
monarchydismantle拆除；解散；取消；除掉…的覆盖物
escalate逐步升高；逐步增强
ruthless无情的，残忍的
Unit four Government and Politics Part one New Words
Nonetheless 尽管如此ballot 投票
Monarchy 民主政体cast 投
Legislate vi. 立法postal 邮局
Reinforce 加强proxy vote 代理人
Theoretically 理论上地turnout 出席者
Initiate 发起compulsory 强制的
Wield 行使subsequently 随后
Tremendous 巨大的Sovereign 君主
Preside vt. 管理overall 全体的
Constituency 选区coalition 联合
Part two Simple Questions
1. The British Constitutional demonstrates the following characteristics:1) Constitutional monarchy. 2）Parliamentary sovereignty. 3) Representative democracy.
4) The rule of law.
2. The Crown mainly performs ceremonial duties whose work consists largely of signing papers.The monarch formally summons and dismisses and declares war.
3. In theory,the main function of Parliament is to legislate,that is ,to create,abolish or amend new laws f
or the entire nation.In addition,Parliament also votes the ta xation and expenditures of the government;examines government policies and administration;and debates major political issues of the day.
When legislation is initiated by the cabinet in the form of a public bill,it is given three separate readings.If passed on the third reading,the bill is sent to the House of Lords,where it goes through the same procedure.If passed by the second house,the bill is sent to the monarch for the ceremonial formality of royal assent before becoming law.
4.He or she can choose an inner cabinet of key ministers and appoints junior ministers in various ministries.
5.Devolution is a process by which the powers of the central government over local affairs devolve,or are passed down,to the Scottish and Welsh people through their own democratically elected local legislatures-----as previously mentioned.
6.A two--party system of government in the UK Parliament with power being held by either the Conservative Party or the Labour Party.
Two of the party activity around on the parliamentary electio n, the ruling party not only master the administrative power, and master the legislative power. The two parties take centralism.
7.British citizens,citizens of other Commonwealth countries and the Republic of Ireland who are residents in the UK may vote in parliamentary elections,provided that they are aged 18or over and are not disqualified.And every 5 years does a general election take place.
8.Because its members are not democratically elected,the power of the House of

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