New ZealandAn independent member of the British Commonwealthit's national flag is similar to the Australian flagA British union jack in the top left hand cornerThe southern cross on a blu backgroundNational anthem:God defend New ZealandIt lies in the south pacific oceanIt is between the equator and the south pole.Made up of 2 main islands:north island and south islandCapital:WellingtonThe size of the country is similar to Britain or Japan.It is the first country to get the new day as it is just west of the international date line.The most serious potential natural disasters are earthquakes and volcanoes.A fault line runs the length of the country.ClimateGenerally temperate, but because the country runs north south, the climate is varied.In the north:subtropicalIn some mountainous areas of south:almost sub-arcticThe red pohutukawa:New Zealand Christmas treeThe kiwi is a national symbol and new Zealand refer to themselves as kiwisNative people:the Maori.National day/Waitangi day:February 6th2 official languages: new Zealand:English MaoriCanada:English French The republic of Ireland : English Irish/GaelicThe making of new ZealandThe first European to visit new Zealand in 1642 was a Dutchman, Abel Tasman .The first Englishman in 1769 was captain James cook of the British royal navy.In1840 Hobson, representing queen Victoria, and some Maori chiefs, signed the treaty of Waitangi. Modern new Zealand was founded.The first country to give women the right to vote(1893).The world's largest exporter of mutton and dairy products.2nd largest exporter of wool.Head of state:the British monarch represented by the governor-generalThe government is headed by the prime minister.Leader of the majority partyIt's parliament has only one house:the house of representatives.A two-party system:the national party The labor partyRepublic of IrelandThe British isles are made up of 2 large islands and hundreds of small ones.The two large islands are great britain and Ireland.Ireland is also called the emerald isle because of its rich green countrysideIreland is divided into 2 political units: northern Ireland / the republic of IrelandNorthern Ireland is part of the UKThe republic of Ireland is an independent countryIt occupies about 5/6 of the island of Ireland.Different names of the countryThe constitution provides (article4) that the name of the state is eire , or in the English language, Ireland. However, the country is generally called the republic of Ireland.National flag:the national flag is a tricolor of green, white and orange.National emblem:the official symbol or coat of arms of Ireland :the harp.National emblem-shamrockThe national flower of northern Ireland is the shamrock, a three-leaved plant.it symbolized the rebirth of spring. National anthem: the solder's songNational day:st patrick's day march 17thIt commemorates st.patrick, the patron saint of Ireland who died on march 17th,461 A.D.It is bounded on the northeast by northern IrelandOn the north and west by the atlantic oceanThe capital is DublinHighest mountain:carrantuahillLongest river:ShannonThe most significant feature of irish landscape is bogsThe climate of Ireland is described as mild moist changeableIreland has excessive rainfallThe basic ethnic stock is CelticThere are no significant ethnic minorities.Historically Ireland has been free of ethnic conflicts because of its racial homogeneityEmigration plagues the country2 official languages: IrishOne of the most catholic countries of Europe :93%The UK1.the official nameThe united kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandBritainThe united kingdomU.KThe British EmpireThe British commonwealth of nations (1931-)2.national Anthem and flag and capitalGod save the queenThe British meteor flag/union jack3.geographical features:The British islesTwo large islands:1.great britain :England ,Wales &Scotland 2.ireland:northern Ireland &republic of irelandSome hundreds of small islandsAn island country in north Atlantic ocean, off the north coast of Europe, separated from the main continent of Europe by the English channel in the south and the north sea in the east.4.Rivers and LakesThe Severn. The longest riverThe Thames :the best known river on which London standsThe lough neagh:the largest lakeThe lake district5.climateA maritime type of climate:Moderate, changeable, damp, warm6.the peopleThe English(Anglo-Saxons )The Scottish(celts)The welsh(celts)The Irish (celts)The cockney :a Londoner7.religionChurch of England(52%)Roman catholic (9%)Presbyterian (3%)Methodist(2%)The two established churches in Britain :The church of EnglandThe church of Scotland (presbyterian)8.major citiesLondonBirminghamManchesterLiverpoolEdinburgh (capital of Scotland )Glasgow(a major port, an industrial center, the largest city in Scotland )Belfast(Northern Ireland)CardiffThe UK is a constitutional monarchy :the head of the state is the king or queen who reigns but does not rule. The central government includes the monarch, parliament, and the cabinet.MonarchyElizabeth IIThe crown represents both the sovereign and the government, and is the symbol of supreme executive power. The king or queen is addressed as your majesty.ParliamentHouse of parliament and the big BenThree branches/elements: the monarch, the house of lords, and the house of commons;The term of each P is 5 yearsParliament -house of lordsNoble titles/nobility:1.duke, duchess2.marquis,marchioness3.earl,countess4.viscount, viscountess5.baron, baronessMPs are elected through general election;Citizens of 21years old and above (except those holding noble titles)Related terms:1.the party in powerCabinet-prime ministerThe PM, the leader of the party in power, is appointed by the queen;Duties:1.the composition of the cabinet2.presides over the cabinet3.the allocation of functions among ministersrm the queen of the general business of the governmentThe most senior ministers(usually about 20) compose the cabinetJustice and lawBritain does not have a written constitution.The primary sources of British law:1.statutes成文法mon law 不成文法3.equity law 衡平法4.european community law 欧共体法The British criminal law presumes the innocence of the accused until he has been proven guilty beyond reasonable doubtCapital punishment for murder has been abolished in the U.KSocial affairsBritain is a welfare state.The system is funded out of national insurance contributions and taxation.Festivals:Christmas, EasterEaster celebrates the resurrection of Christ.Cultural affairsEducation is compulsory for all between the ages of 5 and 16.The universities of Oxford and Cambridge(Oxbridge)Newspaper :Quality dailies:the times, the guardianWeekly magazines:the economistRadio:BBC the British broadcasting corporationHistory1.the origin of a nation(1).early settlers in Britaina.the Liberians (Stonehenge)b.the beaker folkc.the celts(2).roman BritainThe roman invasion: Julius Caesar(3).the Anglo -SaxonsJutes, Saxons and angles(4).the Viking and Danish invasionsAlfred the Great :the father of the British navy(5).the Norman conquest ; the battle of Hastings;a.harold of Wessex vs William the conquerb.consequences of the Norman conquest1.established the feudal system2.opened relations with the continent3.introduced Norman -French culture, language, manners and architecture;4.tightened the church's connection2.the shaping of the nation 1066-13811.norman rule(1).william's rule:The feudal system/The grand council/Domesday book(2).henry II and the Plantagenet dynastyConsolidated the monarchyReformed the courts and the law2.the great charterThe confrontation between king John and his barons led to the charter on June 19,1215The beginning of parliament3.the hundred years' war with France 1337-1453The name is given to the intermittent war between France and England that lasted from 1337 to1453Causes of the war:territorial &economicThe battle of argencourtJoan of ArcConsequences of the war4.the black death of 1348-49&the peasant uprising(1).black and it's consequencesIt swept though England in the summer of 1348 without warning and cure. It killed between one half and one third of the population of england(2).the peasant uprisingJohn Ball-1387Wat Tyler3.transition to the modern age(1). The wars of the rosesThe house of Lancaster (red rose)The house of York (white rose)The war ended in 1485 with the accession of Henry Tudor as Henry VIII, the founder of the Tudor monarchy.The middle ages also ended with the accession of the new king.(2).the English reformationHenry VIII and the English reformationRebuild the power of the monarchReligious reform of the church"Bloody Mary"Against protestantism in favor of roman Catholicism(3),Elizabeth IBritish naval power and the destruction of the Spanish ArmadaThe English renaissance became flourishingThe reign of elizabeth I was a period of political and religious stability on the one hand and economic prosperity on the other, laying the foundation of the British empire.(4).the English renaissanceTransitional period between the middle ages and modern times(1350-1650)the flourishing of Elizabethan drama, poetry,prose, W.Shakespeare; F.Bacon(5).Britain under James IThe divine right of kings;The king James bible or authorized version in 1611Religious persecution and the mayflower(6).charles I and the Par: the civil warsCharles I 's quarrels with the parliamentOliver Cromwell;the new modal armyConsequences of the civil wars:overthrew feudal system in England(7).establishment of the commonwealthAfter the king's execution, the HC proclaimed England to be thereafter a commonwealth, a republic, without king and the HLCromwell assumed the title of lord protector, a dictator and kept it for 5years until his death in 1658(8).the restoration and the glorious revolution of 1688The restoration and Charles II ;4.the rise and fall of the british1.whigs and Tories2.the industrial revolutionThe capitalist accomplished "primitive accumulation of capital" through enclosure/expansion/slave tradeRural-urban3.the Christ movementA movement for political reform, so called from the people's charter, drifted largely by William LovettAn expression of working class resentment against economic distress, the poor law and the failure of the attempt to develop trade unionism.4.trade unions and labor party5.colonial expansionForeign plunder, colonial expansion and aggression enabled the English bourgeoisie to establish the largest empire in historyThe formation of the empire wen through two processes:aggression and annexationThe sun-never -set empire6.20th centuryWorld war IMilitary blocsThe treaty of VersaillesThe disastrous effects of ww I1.disillusion2.economic recession3.political unrestWorld war IICauses of the warProceeding of the warConsequences of the war。