English Language and Culture
,Edwina Smits
Inhoudsopgave
1. UK Geography & demographics ............................................................................................................. 7
1.1. geography ............................................................................................................................................ 7
1.1.1. capital cities ..................................................................................................................................... 7
1.1.2. ten biggest cities .............................................................................................................................. 7
1.2. UK- Demographics ................................................................................................................................ 7
1.2.1. Population ....................................................................................................................................... 7
1.2.2. Religion ............................................................................................................................................ 8
1.2.3. Language.......................................................................................................................................... 8
1.2.4. North-South divide .......................................................................................................................... 8
1.2.5. Gap between rich and poor ............................................................................................................. 9
1.3. Terms .................................................................................................................................................. 10
2. UK History part 1 ................................................................................................................................. 11
2.1. Britons and invaders (up to 1066) ...................................................................................................... 12
2.1.1. dinosaurs to first invasion ............................................................................................................. 12
2.1.2. Roman occupation......................................................................................................................... 12
2.1.3. arrival of the Angles, Saxons, and Jutes......................................................................................... 13
2.1.4. Anglo-Saxon consolidation (6th-8th centuries) ............................................................................... 13
2.1.5. the coming of the Vikings: 9th century ........................................................................................... 13
2.2. Medieval Britain (1066-1485)............................................................................................................. 14
2.2.1. William the Conqueror (1028-1087).............................................................................................. 15
2.2.2. from William’s legacy to 14th century ............................................................................................ 15
2.2.3. literature in the 14th century ......................................................................................................... 17
2.2.4. Richard III ....................................................................................................................................... 17
2.3. Tudors and Stuarts 1485-1688 ........................................................................................................... 17
2.3.1. Henry VII 1475-1509 ...................................................................................................................... 18
2.3.2. Henry VIII ....................................................................................................................................... 18
2.3.3. Mary I (1553-1558) ........................................................................................................................ 19
2.4. Elizabeth I (1559-1603) ...................................................................................................................... 19
2.4.1. 1st part of Elizabeth’s reign: unstable ........................................................................................... 19
2.4.2. 2nd part of Elizabeth’s reign: the Golden Age ................................................................................ 19
..................................................................................................................................................................... 19
2.4.3. James I (1603-1642)....................................................................................................................... 19
2.5. 17th century = tumultuous period in British history ............................................................................ 20
2.5.1. 2.1.5. Oliver Cromwell ................................................................................................................... 20
2.5.2. Charles II (1660-1685) en James II (1685-1688) ............................................................................ 20
2.5.3. Colonial expansion in the 17th century .......................................................................................... 21
2.6. Terms .................................................................................................................................................. 21
3. UK History Part 2 ................................................................................................................................. 24
3.1. Rise of Power 1688-1815 .................................................................................................................... 24
3.2. 18th century Britain............................................................................................................................ 24
3.2.1. general information ....................................................................................................................... 24
3.2.2. politics in the 18th century ............................................................................................................. 24
3.3. British expansion ................................................................................................................................ 25
3.3.1. early 18th century........................................................................................................................... 25
3.3.2. middle 18th century ....................................................................................................................... 25
3.3.3. bye bye America ............................................................................................................................ 25
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,Edwina Smits
3.3.4. the Georgian Age ........................................................................................................................... 25
3.3.5. industrial revolution ...................................................................................................................... 25
3.3.6. the Napoleonic Wars ..................................................................................................................... 26
3.4. industry and Empire 1815-1914 ......................................................................................................... 26
3.4.1. Queen Victoria 1837-1901............................................................................................................. 26
3.4.2. the Industrial Age .......................................................................................................................... 27
3.4.3. electoral reform in 19th century .................................................................................................... 27
3.4.4. the Irish famine: 1845-1850 .......................................................................................................... 27
3.4.5. the British empire in the 19th century ................................................................................................ 28
3.5. the Edwardian Age ............................................................................................................................. 28
3.6. the road to WWI ................................................................................................................................. 28
3.7. Terms .................................................................................................................................................. 29
4. UK History part 3 ................................................................................................................................. 31
4.1. Modern Times 1914 – now ................................................................................................................. 31
4.2. The Great War 1914-1918 .................................................................................................................. 31
4.2.1. battle of the Somme ...................................................................................................................... 31
4.2.2. armistice ........................................................................................................................................ 31
4.2.3. legacy of WWI................................................................................................................................ 32
4.3. WWII................................................................................................................................................... 32
4.3.1. road to WWII ................................................................................................................................. 32
4.3.2. Britain fights alone: 1939-1941 ..................................................................................................... 33
4.3.3. towards an allied victory (1943-1945) ........................................................................................... 33
4.3.4. the post-war years (1945 – ca. 1954) ............................................................................................ 34
4.3.5. Britain in late 50s ........................................................................................................................... 34
4.3.6. Meanwhile: decline & fall of the British Empire ............................................................................ 34
4.4. 60s, 70s, 80s ....................................................................................................................................... 35
4.4.1. swinging 60s .................................................................................................................................. 35
4.4.2. Britain in the 70s............................................................................................................................ 35
4.4.3. troubles in Northern Ireland (late 60s, 70s and 80s) ..................................................................... 35
4.4.4. Margaret Thatcher (Conservative PM 1979-1990) ........................................................................ 36
4.4.5. Tony Blair ....................................................................................................................................... 36
4.4.6. David Cameron .............................................................................................................................. 37
4.4.7. Brexit ............................................................................................................................................. 37
4.4.8. Elizabeth II ..................................................................................................................................... 38
4.5. Terms .................................................................................................................................................. 38
5. UK Political institutions ........................................................................................................................ 40
5.1. the basics ............................................................................................................................................ 40
5.2. Parliament .......................................................................................................................................... 40
5.2.1. House of Commons ....................................................................................................................... 41
5.2.2. electoral process and parties......................................................................................................... 42
5.2.3. procedures, rules & traditions of parliament ................................................................................ 43
5.2.4. Devolution to Scotland, Wales & Northern-Ireland (1998) ........................................................... 44
5.2.5. House of Lords ............................................................................................................................... 45
5.3. The government ................................................................................................................................. 45
5.3.1. basics ............................................................................................................................................. 45
5.3.2. important government departments & their heads...................................................................... 46
5.3.3. Civil Service .................................................................................................................................... 46
5.4. Terms .................................................................................................................................................. 47
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, Edwina Smits
6. UK – Education (England and Wales); Higher education (UK)................................................................ 49
6.1. general ............................................................................................................................................... 49
6.2. Secondary schools .............................................................................................................................. 49
6.2.1. general information ....................................................................................................................... 49
6.2.2. Private schools ............................................................................................................................... 49
6.3. Further Education ............................................................................................................................... 50
6.4. Higher Education ................................................................................................................................ 50
6.4.1. Universities .................................................................................................................................... 50
6.5. differences in education UK vs. BE...................................................................................................... 51
6.6. terms .................................................................................................................................................. 52
7. UK – the media .................................................................................................................................... 54
7.1. General Facts ...................................................................................................................................... 54
7.2. the Press ............................................................................................................................................. 54
7.2.1. The Times ...................................................................................................................................... 54
7.2.2. The Guardian ................................................................................................................................. 54
7.2.3. The Daily Telegraph ....................................................................................................................... 55
7.3. Tabloids .............................................................................................................................................. 55
7.3.1. The Sun .......................................................................................................................................... 55
7.3.2. Daily Mirror ................................................................................................................................... 55
7.3.3. Daily Mail ....................................................................................................................................... 55
7.4. Sunday Papers .................................................................................................................................... 56
7.4.1. Quality ........................................................................................................................................... 56
7.4.2. Tabloids ......................................................................................................................................... 56
7.5. Television ............................................................................................................................................ 56
7.5.1. BBC ................................................................................................................................................ 56
7.6. BBC radio stations (national + local) .................................................................................................. 56
7.6.1. Radio 1 ........................................................................................................................................... 56
7.6.2. Radio 2 ........................................................................................................................................... 56
7.6.3. Radio 3 ........................................................................................................................................... 57
7.6.4. Radio 5 ........................................................................................................................................... 57
7.6.5. The BBC’s 2 flagship ‘terrestrial channels ...................................................................................... 57
7.6.6. ITV .................................................................................................................................................. 57
7.6.7. Channel 4 ....................................................................................................................................... 58
- Commercial TV network founded in 1982 to broadcasts more ‘high-brow’ programmes, including
documentaries, detailed news reports, and more ‘permissive’ films, plays and comedies ........................ 58
7.7. Terms .................................................................................................................................................. 58
8. US Geography & demographics ............................................................................................................ 59
8.1. geography .......................................................................................................................................... 59
8.1.1. general information ....................................................................................................................... 59
8.1.2. main geographical landmarks........................................................................................................ 59
8.1.3. five main regions ........................................................................................................................... 59
8.1.4. The American dream ..................................................................................................................... 62
8.2. demographics ..................................................................................................................................... 62
8.2.1. population.......................................................................................................................................... 62
8.3. Terms .................................................................................................................................................. 64
9. US History part 1 .................................................................................................................................. 65
4
,Edwina Smits
Inhoudsopgave
1. UK Geography & demographics ............................................................................................................. 7
1.1. geography ............................................................................................................................................ 7
1.1.1. capital cities ..................................................................................................................................... 7
1.1.2. ten biggest cities .............................................................................................................................. 7
1.2. UK- Demographics ................................................................................................................................ 7
1.2.1. Population ....................................................................................................................................... 7
1.2.2. Religion ............................................................................................................................................ 8
1.2.3. Language.......................................................................................................................................... 8
1.2.4. North-South divide .......................................................................................................................... 8
1.2.5. Gap between rich and poor ............................................................................................................. 9
1.3. Terms .................................................................................................................................................. 10
2. UK History part 1 ................................................................................................................................. 11
2.1. Britons and invaders (up to 1066) ...................................................................................................... 12
2.1.1. dinosaurs to first invasion ............................................................................................................. 12
2.1.2. Roman occupation......................................................................................................................... 12
2.1.3. arrival of the Angles, Saxons, and Jutes......................................................................................... 13
2.1.4. Anglo-Saxon consolidation (6th-8th centuries) ............................................................................... 13
2.1.5. the coming of the Vikings: 9th century ........................................................................................... 13
2.2. Medieval Britain (1066-1485)............................................................................................................. 14
2.2.1. William the Conqueror (1028-1087).............................................................................................. 15
2.2.2. from William’s legacy to 14th century ............................................................................................ 15
2.2.3. literature in the 14th century ......................................................................................................... 17
2.2.4. Richard III ....................................................................................................................................... 17
2.3. Tudors and Stuarts 1485-1688 ........................................................................................................... 17
2.3.1. Henry VII 1475-1509 ...................................................................................................................... 18
2.3.2. Henry VIII ....................................................................................................................................... 18
2.3.3. Mary I (1553-1558) ........................................................................................................................ 19
2.4. Elizabeth I (1559-1603) ...................................................................................................................... 19
2.4.1. 1st part of Elizabeth’s reign: unstable ........................................................................................... 19
2.4.2. 2nd part of Elizabeth’s reign: the Golden Age ................................................................................ 19
..................................................................................................................................................................... 19
2.4.3. James I (1603-1642)....................................................................................................................... 19
2.5. 17th century = tumultuous period in British history ............................................................................ 20
2.5.1. 2.1.5. Oliver Cromwell ................................................................................................................... 20
2.5.2. Charles II (1660-1685) en James II (1685-1688) ............................................................................ 20
2.5.3. Colonial expansion in the 17th century .......................................................................................... 21
2.6. Terms .................................................................................................................................................. 21
3. UK History Part 2 ................................................................................................................................. 24
3.1. Rise of Power 1688-1815 .................................................................................................................... 24
3.2. 18th century Britain............................................................................................................................ 24
3.2.1. general information ....................................................................................................................... 24
3.2.2. politics in the 18th century ............................................................................................................. 24
3.3. British expansion ................................................................................................................................ 25
3.3.1. early 18th century........................................................................................................................... 25
3.3.2. middle 18th century ....................................................................................................................... 25
3.3.3. bye bye America ............................................................................................................................ 25
2
,Edwina Smits
3.3.4. the Georgian Age ........................................................................................................................... 25
3.3.5. industrial revolution ...................................................................................................................... 25
3.3.6. the Napoleonic Wars ..................................................................................................................... 26
3.4. industry and Empire 1815-1914 ......................................................................................................... 26
3.4.1. Queen Victoria 1837-1901............................................................................................................. 26
3.4.2. the Industrial Age .......................................................................................................................... 27
3.4.3. electoral reform in 19th century .................................................................................................... 27
3.4.4. the Irish famine: 1845-1850 .......................................................................................................... 27
3.4.5. the British empire in the 19th century ................................................................................................ 28
3.5. the Edwardian Age ............................................................................................................................. 28
3.6. the road to WWI ................................................................................................................................. 28
3.7. Terms .................................................................................................................................................. 29
4. UK History part 3 ................................................................................................................................. 31
4.1. Modern Times 1914 – now ................................................................................................................. 31
4.2. The Great War 1914-1918 .................................................................................................................. 31
4.2.1. battle of the Somme ...................................................................................................................... 31
4.2.2. armistice ........................................................................................................................................ 31
4.2.3. legacy of WWI................................................................................................................................ 32
4.3. WWII................................................................................................................................................... 32
4.3.1. road to WWII ................................................................................................................................. 32
4.3.2. Britain fights alone: 1939-1941 ..................................................................................................... 33
4.3.3. towards an allied victory (1943-1945) ........................................................................................... 33
4.3.4. the post-war years (1945 – ca. 1954) ............................................................................................ 34
4.3.5. Britain in late 50s ........................................................................................................................... 34
4.3.6. Meanwhile: decline & fall of the British Empire ............................................................................ 34
4.4. 60s, 70s, 80s ....................................................................................................................................... 35
4.4.1. swinging 60s .................................................................................................................................. 35
4.4.2. Britain in the 70s............................................................................................................................ 35
4.4.3. troubles in Northern Ireland (late 60s, 70s and 80s) ..................................................................... 35
4.4.4. Margaret Thatcher (Conservative PM 1979-1990) ........................................................................ 36
4.4.5. Tony Blair ....................................................................................................................................... 36
4.4.6. David Cameron .............................................................................................................................. 37
4.4.7. Brexit ............................................................................................................................................. 37
4.4.8. Elizabeth II ..................................................................................................................................... 38
4.5. Terms .................................................................................................................................................. 38
5. UK Political institutions ........................................................................................................................ 40
5.1. the basics ............................................................................................................................................ 40
5.2. Parliament .......................................................................................................................................... 40
5.2.1. House of Commons ....................................................................................................................... 41
5.2.2. electoral process and parties......................................................................................................... 42
5.2.3. procedures, rules & traditions of parliament ................................................................................ 43
5.2.4. Devolution to Scotland, Wales & Northern-Ireland (1998) ........................................................... 44
5.2.5. House of Lords ............................................................................................................................... 45
5.3. The government ................................................................................................................................. 45
5.3.1. basics ............................................................................................................................................. 45
5.3.2. important government departments & their heads...................................................................... 46
5.3.3. Civil Service .................................................................................................................................... 46
5.4. Terms .................................................................................................................................................. 47
3
, Edwina Smits
6. UK – Education (England and Wales); Higher education (UK)................................................................ 49
6.1. general ............................................................................................................................................... 49
6.2. Secondary schools .............................................................................................................................. 49
6.2.1. general information ....................................................................................................................... 49
6.2.2. Private schools ............................................................................................................................... 49
6.3. Further Education ............................................................................................................................... 50
6.4. Higher Education ................................................................................................................................ 50
6.4.1. Universities .................................................................................................................................... 50
6.5. differences in education UK vs. BE...................................................................................................... 51
6.6. terms .................................................................................................................................................. 52
7. UK – the media .................................................................................................................................... 54
7.1. General Facts ...................................................................................................................................... 54
7.2. the Press ............................................................................................................................................. 54
7.2.1. The Times ...................................................................................................................................... 54
7.2.2. The Guardian ................................................................................................................................. 54
7.2.3. The Daily Telegraph ....................................................................................................................... 55
7.3. Tabloids .............................................................................................................................................. 55
7.3.1. The Sun .......................................................................................................................................... 55
7.3.2. Daily Mirror ................................................................................................................................... 55
7.3.3. Daily Mail ....................................................................................................................................... 55
7.4. Sunday Papers .................................................................................................................................... 56
7.4.1. Quality ........................................................................................................................................... 56
7.4.2. Tabloids ......................................................................................................................................... 56
7.5. Television ............................................................................................................................................ 56
7.5.1. BBC ................................................................................................................................................ 56
7.6. BBC radio stations (national + local) .................................................................................................. 56
7.6.1. Radio 1 ........................................................................................................................................... 56
7.6.2. Radio 2 ........................................................................................................................................... 56
7.6.3. Radio 3 ........................................................................................................................................... 57
7.6.4. Radio 5 ........................................................................................................................................... 57
7.6.5. The BBC’s 2 flagship ‘terrestrial channels ...................................................................................... 57
7.6.6. ITV .................................................................................................................................................. 57
7.6.7. Channel 4 ....................................................................................................................................... 58
- Commercial TV network founded in 1982 to broadcasts more ‘high-brow’ programmes, including
documentaries, detailed news reports, and more ‘permissive’ films, plays and comedies ........................ 58
7.7. Terms .................................................................................................................................................. 58
8. US Geography & demographics ............................................................................................................ 59
8.1. geography .......................................................................................................................................... 59
8.1.1. general information ....................................................................................................................... 59
8.1.2. main geographical landmarks........................................................................................................ 59
8.1.3. five main regions ........................................................................................................................... 59
8.1.4. The American dream ..................................................................................................................... 62
8.2. demographics ..................................................................................................................................... 62
8.2.1. population.......................................................................................................................................... 62
8.3. Terms .................................................................................................................................................. 64
9. US History part 1 .................................................................................................................................. 65
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