Great Britain - a Russian version of the name of the United Kingdom.The country is located on two islands, although it shares second with Ireland.The islands are located to the northwest of the European part of the continent.
modern state
Great Britain, whose photos are presented in this article, is one of the largest states in Europe.It has a permanent seat on the UN Security Council, applies to nuclear powers.
Comprising modern state of the four countries, although a unitary device.Capital - the city of London, which is one of the largest centers of world trade and finance.The official language of the English, but the people speak many dialects.
history
inhabited by people of the modern type of the island began 30 thousand years ago.It passes waves.They lived mainly Britons and Gaels, who belonged to the culture of the Celts.
From the first century BCRome began the conquest of the land, who ruled in the southern part of the island about 400 years.At the same time the invasion of German Saxon settlers.Is their gradual assimilation with the Celts and the creation of the Kingdom of England.Some Britons settled in what is now Wales.Gaels created with the Picts Scottish kingdom.
In 1066 began the Norman invasion of England.It brought French feudalism and culture.Although over time the Norman-French population assimilated with the locals.Wales and England seized has attempted to capture Scotland.England also joined in the fight for the legacy of large land France.It unleashed a Hundred Years' War.
In the Middle Ages Wales fully joined England and Ireland was with her in the Union.In the kingdom we have spread the ideas of the Reformation, with the result that the Anglican Church was formed, headed by the monarch.
When Jacob first was formed union between England, Scotland, Ireland.Country maintains separate political entity.As a result of subsequent events occurred Glorious Revolution (1688) and Great Britain became a constitutional monarchy.
In the 18th century in the state of the industrial revolution, which had a positive effect on the growth of the empire.The mass development of the colonies, mostly in North America, and later in Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands.
Kingdom in the 19th century became the main economic and naval power in the world.It was not until the mid-20th century.
In World War I the Kingdom was an ally of Russia and France.On the Western Front to fight against the German invaders about 5 million inhabitants of the island.After the victory in the war Kingdom received former German and Ottoman colonies.This allowed the empire to grow to its largest size.It covered a fifth of the power of his land.But by 1921 the island of Ireland is actually divided into two parts - Free Ireland and Northern Ireland.
to greater unrest led the Great Depression of 1929-1932.This was followed by the Second World War.Kingdom acted as an ally of France, Russia and the United States.The fight against Germany has focused in two battles - of Britain, the Atlantic.The victory brought the British participation in the section of the post-war world, and the difficult financial situation.Help her to have loans the US and Canada.Next, the restoration and further development of the state.
history flag
Before becoming like today, the flag of Great Britain has come a long way of transformation.This symbol of state power known throughout the world, it is used in clothing design, architecture and art.Officially, it is often called the "Union Jack," that is "union."
scheme allows you to see the entire path of transformation since 1603, when Jacob came to power first.Initially, it was used in the Navy, so the name "Jack", which meant the bow flag on the ship.
flag consists of the following components:
- St. Andrew flag - blue background, white saltire;
- flag of St George - white background, the red cross;
- cross of St. Patrick - white background, red saltire.
The "Union Jack" does not reflect the symbolism of Wales, which is why occasionally there are disputes within the Union of the Kingdom.
To crosses did not occupy a dominant place in the panel, they are offset from the center in opposite directions.This made the "Union Jack" unbalanced.Placing it upside down without reason he is considered an insult.It allowed the option to signal distress.
Battle of the country
In the history of the state on its territory is relatively little battles.This is due to some remote island on the European continent.
Greatest Battle of Britain:
- victory of William the Conqueror (Normandy) of Harold (Anglo-Saxon army) 10/14/1066 city of Hastings opened the way to the Norman Conquest;
- battle near Bosworth in 1485 between the forces of Henry Tudor and Richard III (War of the Roses 1455 of 1485 associated with the right of succession);
- fight against the Spanish "Armada" in the English Channel (July 1588) ended due to the ability of Francis Drake's victory in England, which became the mistress of the seas;
- Battle of Marston Moore in the summer of 1644, when Oliver Cromwell's troops defeated the forces of Charles the First;
- Battle of Britain (July-October 1940) is the largest air battles, in which the Wehrmacht had lost 3,000 pilots, and the Royal Air Force pilots in 1800 and more than 20,000 civilians in the island;
- Battle of the Atlantic (September 1939-June 1944.) Is the most prolonged battle, which depended on the supply of food to the islands and the supply of weapons to allied forces;victory over German troops turned to the Allied death of 50 thousand sailors.
greatest battle in the history of Britain were not confined to the island.The largest of them occurred on the water and in the air.
Battle in the interests of the empire
becoming a powerful nation in the world, Great Britain pursued a colonial policy.In order to keep under his rule vast areas, it used mercenary troops, the bulk of whom were foreign legionnaires.Manage British officers.
Battles in the colonies:
- 1781 - the surrender of British forces at Yorktown in favor of the Franco-American enemy decided the outcome of the American Revolutionary War.
- 1842 was marked by a horrific event for the Kingdom, when virtually without a fight, was destroyed by a detachment of Elphinstone, released from Kabul women and children (16 thousand people), from which one person survived.
- 1858 - the siege and capture of Delhi by the British troops and their allies as a result of the suppression of the Sepoy Rebellion.
- 1860 - a decisive defeat of Chinese troops from the Anglo-French army in the First Opium War, which led to the Beijing agreements.
UK troops involved at the time of the Hundred Years War, and the First and Second World Wars.As a result of these confrontations took place many famous battles on land and on the water and in the air.
The countries of the Commonwealth of
United Kingdom, although it is a unitary state, yet is composed of several to some degree self-contained units.
Country Great Britain:
- England;
- Wales;
- Scotland;
- Northern Ireland.
In addition, there is the so-called Commonwealth of Nations, which includes more than 50 states.In addition to the UK and include its former dominions, colonies and protectorates.The largest of these are Australia, Bangladesh, Canada, India, Nigeria, Pakistan and others.
largest city
Of course, the biggest and most important economic, political, financial, cultural plan is London.Besides him, there are other great cities of Britain:
- Birmingham;
- Liverpool
- Manchester;
- Glasgow;
- Cardiff;
- Edinburgh;
- Belfast.
great artists
Great Britain, people in the cultural sphere are known far beyond the island:
- Agatha Christie - writer, author of detective stories;
- JK Rowling - writer;
- Sir Sean Connery - the actor;
- John Lennon - musician;
- William Shakespeare - a playwright;
- Jane Austen - the writer;
- Vivienne Westwood - Designer;
- Sir Paul McCartney - musician and activist;
- HG Wells - writer;
- Joe Cocker - musician.
This is not a complete list of the representatives of the United Kingdom, who conquered the world with their creativity.
great monarch of the kingdom
During the existence of the state the most famous monarchs of England were:
- William the Conqueror;
- Richard the Lionheart;
- Henry VIII;
- Elizabeth I;
- Victoria;
- Georg sixth;
- Elizabeth II.
Great Britain extended its domination over the world.The modern Commonwealth of Nations still recognizes his Queen Elizabeth II.
ruling family of the Kingdom of
modern monarch is a representative of the Windsor dynasty.By Elizabeth II came to power in 1952.She has three sons, a daughter, eight grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
history of Great Britain for many of his contemporaries already inconceivable without the royal family.The Queen herself has become a real symbol of the state.
great politician Kingdom
State has long existed as a parliamentary monarchy.Royal power is limited by a bicameral parliament.Most of the power does not belong to the royal family and the head of government (prime minister).
Great Britain, which presented a photo in the material, in its history, brought up many famous politicians.The most influential representatives of government:
- Winston Churchill;
- Margaret Thatcher;
- David Cameron;
- William Wilberforce;
- Tony Blair;
- Catherine Ashton;
- Oliver Cromwell;
- William Gladson;
- Neville Chamberlain;
- Benjamin Disraeli.
Holidays Great Britain
list of major events and festivals throughout the year:
January 1 - New Year (holiday).Magnificently celebrated more in Scotland than in England and Wales.There is a tradition first guest, on which is preferable to the house after 24.00 came a young man with dark hair.Adopted was bringing bread, a pinch of salt, coal, which serve as a symbol of food, wealth, warmth.In Scotland, for the festive table decided to cook the famous haggis.
January 12 - a festival of Celtic culture.It takes it to Glasgow, its duration is 19 days.Performing artists from different countries.
January 25 - Robert Burns Day.National holiday in Scotland, where he was born the famous poet.Spend a holiday dinner special scenario.During the term of sound poems, songs.From the wardrobe gets the costumes and all the dancing folk dances.
January 27 - celebrated the holiday in Scotland Aphellio, which symbolizes the Viking landing on the shores of Great Britain in the 9th century.Create a model Viking ship, all dressed in period costumes and sneaked through the city the ship to sea.Viking boat on the water burned, throwing it 900 flaming torches.
March 1 - St David's Day.Festival takes place in Wales as a cultural and patriotic festival.
March 17 - St. Patrick's Day, Irish festival, which takes place in a costume parade, accompanied by brass bands.On this day, everything is green, including beer and clothing.
April 14 - Floral annual London Marathon, which is part of the charity with lots of street entertainment and performances.
April 21 - the birthday of Elizabeth II.
May 1 - Festival of whiskey in the United Kingdom.
May 4 - May Day, festivals and street processions.
May 25 - Spring Day in the UK (a national holiday).On this day, the streets are covered with flowers, held costumed processions.
June 1 - the Wimbledon tennis tournament.
October 31 - Halloween.
December 25 - Christmas.
December 26 - Boxing Day.It is dedicated to St. Stephen.In the churches at that time they were printed boxes with donations, and in the homes of the servants to go home for dinner with his family.
There are many holidays that do not have fixed dates.Good Friday is a public holiday - is the Friday before Easter Sunday.This is followed by the Catholic Easter.
Holidays UK are closely connected with the history of the island.They allow you to delve into the culture of the British, their sides with the unusual.
