Background Information
1. How Britain gained naval supremacy
1) In mediaeval times, the trade of the world and the centre of maritime power lay in the Mediterranean Sea. 2) The discovery of Cape route to India and the discovery of the American continent shifted the centre from the Mediterranean to the Atlantic Ocean. 3) The early major sea powers were the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain and France.
Background Information
1. How Britain gained naval supremacy
7) The battle of Trafalgar took place on October 21, 1805, between the British fleet and the combined French and Spanish fleet, off Spain’s Cape Trafalgar. The British fleet, 33 ships in all, was commanded by Admiral Nelson. The battle ended with the capture of 20 French ships. Nelson was badly wounded and died shortly before the battle came to an end. The victory established Britain’s naval supremacy which was unchallenged for over a century.
Background Information
2. British nationaБайду номын сангаас traits: both gentleman (Roman) and pirate (Nordic) 1) Gentleman (Roman/Latin influence): a. Legacy of Roman culture: AD 43 Roman Conquest of Britain begun by Emperor Claudius. Civil Laws; Procedural Justice. Mechanisms of contracts and negotiations. b. Unique features of British feudalism: No serfs, but yeomen. No strict social classes as in other feudal societies of Europe. System of patronization. Long Presence of Parliament (since 1265)
Teaching Aims
1. To learn the importance of navy industry of Britain 2. To study the structure of the whole text 3. To grasp the type of literature 4. To appreciate the language and understand synonyms, initials and acronyms, formal and colloquial expressions
Background Information
5. UNCTAD:
United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, set up as an organ of the UN General Assembly by a resolution of December 1964. UNCTAD is concerned with the fundamental problems affecting the trade of developing countries. It has its headquarters in Geneva.
Background Information
6. Iron Curtain:
referring to the Soviet Union and the eastern European countries in the capitalist press, first used by Churchill in his speech at Fulton, Missouri, 5 March 1946:"From Stettin in the Baltic to Trieste in the Adriatic an iron curtain has descended across the Continent. "
Background Information
2. British national traits: both gentleman (Roman) and pirate (Nordic) c. Magna Carta (signed at Runnymede by King John in 1215 Jun 15) d. Reformation, not revolution: (only two exceptions: Peasants’ Revolt in 1381 and the Civil War in the 1640s): Glorious Revolution in 1688, passage of the Reform Bill in 1832. Marx’s prophecy not fulfilled. e. Liberty over democracy (check and balance, sharing of power) (Locke, Burke, Mill)
Background Information
7. EEC:
European Economic Community, established by treaty signed at Rome March 25, 1957, effective January 1, 1958. EEC headquarters are in Brussels and it comprises a Council of Ministers, an executive Commission, and the Assembly and Court of Justice.
Background Information
3. North Sea Oil:
oil produced from the British sector of the Continental Shelf under the North Sea. Oil was first discovered under the bed of the North Sea in 1970 and production began in 1975.
Background Information
2. British national traits: both gentleman (Roman) and pirate (Nordic) f. Conservatism over radicalism (e.g. not until 1971 did Britain adopt the metric system) g. Pragmatism over idealism: reflected in its philosophy (empiricism and utilitarianism) and foreign policy (another version of check and balance)
Background Information
1. How Britain gained naval supremacy
6) In 1588, Elizabeth I (1558-1603) defeated the Spanish Armada, a fleet of 130 great ships, sent by King Philip II of Spain against England. There was a running gun of fight in the British Channel and the Armada vas routed. The remnant of the Spanish fleet later met a storm along the coasts of Scotland and Ireland. Out of the 130 ships, only about half reached home. This victory established England as a major sea power.
Background Information
4. depression:
a protracted period in which business activity is far below normal and the pessimism of business and consumers is great. It is characterized by a sharp curtailment of production, little capital investment ,a contraction of credit, mass unemployment and low employment, and a very high rate of business failures.