Historicalevolution
Romanperiod
Earlycivilization
TherewerehumanactivitiesveryearlyontheBritishIsles,Aboutthe13thcenturyBC,IberianscamefromtheEuropeancontinenttosettleinthesoutheasternpartofGreatBritain.
Afterabout700BC,CeltslivinginwesternEuropecontinuedtomoveintotheBritishIsles.OneofthemwascalledtheBritons,andthenameBritainmightbederivedfromthis.TheCeltsareknowntouseirontools,ploughsaretechnologicallyadvanced,andcurrencyhasbeenused.ThedevelopmentofproductiveforcespromptedthegradualdifferentiationofCelticsociety.
RomanInvasion
In54BC,CaesarledtheRomanlegionstoinvadeBritaintwice,andtheywerebothrepelledbytheBritish.In43AD,theRomanEmperorClaudiusIledanarmytoinvadeBritain.AfterconqueringBritain,itbecameaprovinceoftheRomanEmpire.By409,theRomangarrisonwasforcedtowithdrawfromBritain,andRomanruleoverBritaincametoanend.
Medievalperiod
Anglo-Saxon
Atthebeginningofthe5thcentury,aftertheevacuationoftheRomans,theylivednearthemouthoftheElbeinGermanyandDenmarkTheAnglo-SaxonsinthesouthandtheJutesfromtheLowerRhineandotherGermanictribesconqueredBritain.TheAnglescalledBritain"Angland"(homonymousEngland,theoriginofthenameofEngland),whichmeansthelandoftheAnglopeople.OldEnglishinheritedtheirlanguage.
Bythebeginningofthe7thcentury,theinvadershadestablished7powerfulnations:thisperiodisknownasthe"SevenKingdomsEra".WhentheAnglo-Saxonsinvaded,itwasatribalorganization.Duringtheinvasion,theoriginalclanorganizationdisintegrated.Withthedevelopmentofproductiveforces,thelandgraduallybecameprivateproperty,andnobles,largelandowners,dependentfarmersandslavesappeared.Thevillagecommunitybecameaformoftransitionfromthelandownershipoftheclancommunetothefeudallandownership,anditisgenerallyregardedasthebeginningofthefeudalizationprocessofBritishsociety.Attheendofthe6thcentury,ChristianitywasintroducedtoBritain.TheAmericansrefertotheBritishandtheBritishasAnglo-Saxons.
Danishinvasion
Sincetheendofthe8thcentury,ScandinavianswithDanesasthemainbodyhaverepeatedlyinvadedBritain.
In879,KingAlfredandtheDanesenteredintoatreatytoplacethenortheasternpartofEnglandunderthejurisdictionofDenmark,whichiscalledthe"DenmarkDistrict".Atthebeginningofthe10thcentury,thesuccessorofKingAlfredgraduallyregainedtheDanisharea.Atthebeginningofthe11thcentury,theDanesmadeacomeback.DuringtheDanishoccupation,theprocessofBritishfeudalizationaccelerated.
NormanConquest
EdwardtheConfessorofEnglandhadnoheirafterhisdeath.William,DukeofNormandy,France,invadedin1066andenteredLondoninOctoberofthesameyear.,CrownedasKingWilliamIofEngland,knownas"WilliamtheConqueror"inhistory.
ThepowerfulkingshipestablishedbyWilliamafterhisconquestplayedapositiveroleinconsolidatingthefeudalorder.JohnwasforcedtoaccepttheMagnaCartainJune1215andcompromisewiththefeudallord.TheMagnaCartaisessentiallyafeudaldocumentthatprotectstheinterestsoffeudallords;butitalsohasprogressiveprovisionslikeprotectingcitizens’freedomoftrade.ButJohnsoondeniedthecharter,andcivilwarscontinuedbetweenthemonarchsandhissubjects.
Watt.TaylorUprising
In1380,KingRichardIIcollectedmoneyfromtheBritishandFrenchHundredYearsWarandincreasedthepolltax,whichledtotheoutbreakoftheuprisinginMay1381.TheleaderwasthemasonWalterTaylor,Called"WattTaylorUprising".Althoughtheuprisingfailed,itshooktheBritishfeudalserfdomsystem.Attheendofthe14thcentury,theBritishserfdomactuallydisintegrated.Inthe15thcentury,mostserfsgainedpersonalfreedomandbecameself-cultivatingfarmers.Intermsoftheirlegalstatus,theyweredividedintofreeholdfarmersandpublicaccountholders.Monetaryrenthasbecomethemainformoflandrent,andthefeudalmainclasshasalsochanged.Newaristocratshaveemergedfromwealthypeasants,land-owningmerchants,andsmallandmediumaristocrats,whoadoptcapitalistmanagementmethods.Theruleoftheoldaristocracywasincrisis,andthefeudalchivalrysystemwasgraduallydisintegrating.AftertheRoseWarof1455-1485,thepoweroftheoldaristocracywasgreatlyweakened,creatingfavorableconditionsforthedevelopmentofcapitalistrelations,andHenryVII,whowassupportedbythenewaristocracyandthebourgeoisieAscendedthethroneandbegantheruleoftheTudordynasty.
TheHundredYears'WarbetweenBritainandFrance
ThewarbetweenBritainandFrancebetween1337and1453forterritorialexpansionandthestruggleforthethronewasthelongestwarintheworld,intermittentlyItlastedfor116years.Atthattime,itwastheeraoftheBlackDeath.Underthedoubleblowofwarandepidemic,theeconomiesofBritainandFranceweregreatlytraumatized,andthepeoplewerenotliving.EnglandlostalmostallofitsFrenchterritory,butitalsogaverisetonationalisminEngland.Attheendofthewar,Britainhadembarkedonaroadofcentralization.Afterwards,Englandimplementedthe"ContinentalBalanceofPower"policyontheEuropeancontinentandtransferredtooverseasdevelopment.,Tobecometheworld'slargestempire.
PrimitiveCapitalAccumulation
TheenclosuremovementisoneoftheimportantmeansoftheprimitiveaccumulationofcapitalinBritain.EnglandmergedwithWalesin1536.Fromthe15thto16thcenturies,thewoolweavingindustrybecamethe"nationalindustry"ofBritain,andthedemandforwoolincreasedexponentially.Thelandlordschangedtheirfarmsintopastures,andalsoconcentratedsmallrealestatesintolargetractsbyenclosingfieldsoroccupyingcommonlands.Asaresult,alargenumberofself-employedfarmerslosttheirlandandwentbankrupt,becominghomeless.Thekingpromulgatedaseriesofbloodylegislationfrom1530,forcingvagrantstobeemployedbynewaristocratsandcapitalists.Overseaslootingandtradearealsoimportantwaysofprimitiveaccumulation.Afterthe16thcentury,theUnitedKingdomorganizedmanytradingcompaniestocarryoutpiratelooting.Pierofficials,customsofficers,navalofficersandsoldiers,andevenhigh-rankinglocalofficialsallcolludedwithpirates.ThepirateJ.Hawkinstraffickedblackpeopletogetrich,andF.DrakelootedtheSpanishAmericancoloniesunderthepatronageofElizabethI,andfrom1577to1580,hecarriedoutavoyagearoundtheworldthatshockedEurope.In1588,BritaindefeatedSpain'sinvinciblefleetandtookthefirststepinseizingworldmaritimehegemony.
Despotism
In1603,QueenElizabethdiedwithoutanheir.KingJamesVIofScotlandinheritedtheBritishthrone,calledJamesI,andbegantheruleoftheStuartdynasty(1603-1649,1660-1714).Fromthesecondhalfofthe16thcenturytothefirsthalfofthe17thcentury,thecapitalisteconomydevelopedrapidly,andtheincreasinglypowerfulbourgeoisieandnewaristocracybecameincreasinglyunabletotoleratetheautocraticruleofthefeudalmonarchy.However,JamesIandCharlesIignoredthesechangesandinsistedon"sovereignpower",whichintensifiedthecontradiction.InNovember1641,theparliamentpresentedthe"LetterofProtest"totheking;inJanuarythefollowingyear,thekingattemptedtoarresttheleaderoftheoppositionintheparliamentandfledthecapital.InAugust,hedeclaredwarontheparliamentinNottingham.
CromwellledacavalryteamcomposedmainlyofPuritanhomesteadersandhandicraftsmen.TheNewModelArmydefeatedtheroyalistarmyattheBattleofNasbyinJune1645.Thefollowingyear,thekingwascaptured.Attheendof1647,KingCharlesfled.InFebruary1648,theroyalpartytooktheopportunitytoprovokeacivilwar.Underthejointattackoftheindependentsandegalitarians,theroyalpartywasdefeatedandthesecondcivilwarended.InDecember1648,CromwellclearedthepresbyteryfromParliament;onJanuary30,1649,CharlesIwasbeheaded.InApril1653,Cromwelldissipatedtheremnantparliament,andestablishedtheNationalProtectorateGovernmentinDecembertoimplementamilitarydictatorship.
InFebruary1660,theStuartdynastywasrestored.The"GloriousRevolution"thatbrokeoutfrom1688to1689.The"BillofRights"itannouncedrestrictskingshipandexpandsparliamentarypowers,layingthefoundationfortheBritishconstitutionalmonarchy.Sincethen,theBritishparliamentarymonarchyhasgraduallyformedanddeveloped.1707mergedwithScotland.
Renaissance
ComparedtocontinentalEurope,theBritishRenaissanceoccurredlater.However,aftertheTudordynastyandQueenElizabeth,theestablishmentofBritainasanation-state,thevigorousdevelopmentofindustryandcommerce,theever-expandingconnectionwithworldculture,andbreakingthroughtheshacklesoftheHolySee,allofthesehavemadetheBritishRenaissancecometothetop..Attheendofthe16thcenturyandthebeginningofthe17thcentury,the"threegiants"thatemergedinBritain:Shakespeare,BaconandHarveywerethemostoutstandingrepresentativesinthefieldsofart,humanitiesandscienceduringthisperiod.Duringthisperiod,Britishart,humanities,andsciencepenetratedandblendedwitheachother.Whilestrengtheningthelinksbetweendifferentfields,theyalsocontinuedtoenrichanddeepentheirrespectivegardens.
IndustrialRevolution
TheUnitedKingdomwastheworld’sfirstindustrializedcountry.Itwasthefirsttocompletemanyscientificdiscoveriesandinventions,suchassteamengine,penicillin,deoxyribonucleicacid(DNA),DollyandJetenginesandsoon.London'sfinancialmarketattractsmanycompaniesfromallovertheworldtotakeadvantageoftheUK'sbusinessopportunities.Formorethantwohundredyears,variousschoolsandcollegesintheUKhavedevelopedalongwiththecountry’sworld-renownedtechnological,industrialandfinancialrevolution.However,theworld’sexcellenteducationhistoryisevenlonger,datingbacktothe12thcenturywhenOxfordUniversity(1185)andCambridgeUniversity(1209)wereestablished.
ColonialExpansion
TheBritishcolonyexpandedviolentlyinthe19thcentury.Irelandwasmergedin1801,andtheofficialnameoftheUnitedKingdombecametheUnitedKingdomofGreatBritainandIreland.TheaggressionagainstAsiacontinuestoexpand.TheBritishEmpirereferstoagreatempirecomposedoftheBritishmainlandanditsdominions,colonies,territories,trustees,andprotectors.Itisthelargestcountryinhistoryandthelargestglobalcolonialempire.Theempirereacheditspeakintheearly19thcentury,withapopulationofabout400to500million,accountingforaquarteroftheworld'spopulationatthattime;theterritorywasabout33.67millionsquarekilometers,accountingforaquarteroftheworld'stotallandarea.AfterthekingdomofSpaininthe16thcentury,theempirewascalledthe"empirethatneversetsinthesun."
Inthemid-19thcentury,BritainlaunchedtwoOpiumWarstoinvadeChina,forciblyoccupiedHongKongIsland,andparticipatedinthesuppressionoftheTaipingRevolutioninChina;suppressedtheIndianNationalUprisingfrom1857to1859andstrengtheneditsruleoverIndia.In1876,theConservativeB.DisraelicabinetcrownedQueenVictoria,makingittheQueenofIndia.Sincethen,BritainhasbeencalledtheBritishEmpireortheBritishEmpire(Indiabecameindependentin1947,andtheBritishmonarchlostthetitleofemperor).Inaddition,ithasexpandeditsaggressioninIran,Myanmar,SouthAfrica,Egypt,EastAfrica,NewZealand,Australiaandotherplaces,andgraduallyinfiltratedSouthAmerica,becomingthelargestinvestorthere.In1867,CanadabecamethefirstautonomousterritoryoftheUnitedKingdom.
WorldWar
Afterthe1870s,Britaingraduallylostitsindustrialmonopoly.TheemergingUnitedStatesgraduallycaughtupwithandsurpassedtheUnitedKingdom,leadingtoanunprecedentedintensificationofcontradictions.Atthebeginningofthe20thcentury,GermanybecameaBritishcompetitor.Facingtheseveresituation,theBritishgovernmentactivelyexpandeditsarmaments,especiallythenavy.
InordertodealwithGermany,theUnitedKingdomgaveupthe"gloriousisolation"foreignpolicypursuedinthe19thcentury.After1907,the"ThreePowersAgreement"ofBritain,France,andRussiawasactuallyformed.InAugust1914,theFirstWorldWarbrokeout.In1917,BritainfinallydefeatedGermany's"unrestrictedsubmarinewar"andmaintaineditsdominanceofthesea.Inthewar,theBritishempirekilledmorethan500,000peopleinbattle.ThedefeatoftheAlliedPowersheadedbyGermanyendedintheGreatWar,whichwasalsoamajorvictoryfortheUnitedStates.
InSeptember1939,GermanyattackedPoland.WorldWarIIbrokeoutandBritaindeclaredwaronGermany.InApril1940,Churchillformedawartimecoalitioncabinet.AfterChurchillcametopower,heimmediatelyorganizedDunkirktoretreat,broughtthenationaleconomyintowartimeorbit,andrapidlyexpandedarmaments.Inthe"BritishAirWar"launchedbyGermanyfromJulytoSeptember1940,theBritishAirForceeffectivelyattackedtheenemy.BritishandAmericantroopslandedinNormandy,FranceinJune1944,andGermanysurrenderedonMay8,1945.
Post-warperiod
Afterthewar,BritainparticipatedintheformulationandacceptanceoftheMarshallPlanin1947,receivedalotofaidfromtheUnitedStates,andtheeconomygraduallyrecovered.Atthesametime,theLaborPartygovernmentalsoimplementedsomemeasurestoimprovetheconditionsoftheworkingpeople:AftertheSecondWorldWar,BritainwasgovernedbytheLaborPartyandtheConservativePartyinturn.Economicdevelopmentisslow.JoinedtheEuropeanCommunityinJanuary1973.Afterthe1979election,theConservativePartycametopower,andMargaretThatcherbecamethefirstfemaleprimeministerinBritishhistory.Re-electedin1982and1987.TheThatchergovernmentadoptedapolicyofprivatizingstate-ownedenterprises,andhasmadegreatachievementsinrevitalizingtheeconomy.BegintopromotetheprivatizationofsomecompaniesinordertorevitalizetheBritisheconomy.
Afterdecolonizationinthe20thcentury,theBritishoverseasterritoriesgraduallybecameindependent.MostofthemformedapeaceorganizationwithBritainafterindependence-theCommonwealthofnations.
OnSeptember18,2014,the4millionpermanentresidentsofScotlandheldareferendumtodecidewhetherScotlandwillbecomeanindependentsovereignstate.Thereferendumhasbeensettled,ScotlandwillremainintheUK,andtheunityandintegrityoftheUKwillbemaintained.
OnJune24,2016,theresultoftheBrexitreferendumwasfinalized,andtheUnitedKingdomwillleavetheEuropeanUnion.OnOctober28,theUnitedKingdomwaselectedasamemberoftheUnitedNationsHumanRightsCouncilforatermfrom2017to2019.
OnFebruary8,2017,theLowerHouseoftheBritishParliamentvotedtoformallypassthe"Brexit"billsubmittedbythegovernment,authorizingthePrimeMinistertoinitiatethe"Brexit"process.OnMarch16,QueenElizabethIIoftheUnitedKingdomapprovedthe"Brexit"billandauthorizedBritishPrimeMinisterTheresaMaytoofficiallyinitiatetheBrexitprocedure.
OnMarch20,2017,theUnitedKingdomwillformallysubmititsBrexitapplicationtotheEuropeanUniononMarch29,launchingArticle50oftheLisbonTreatytostartBrexitnegotiations.
OnDecember8,2017,theUnitedKingdomandtheEuropeanUnionreachedahistoricBrexitagreement.
OnJune26,2018,QueenElizabethIIapprovedthemostimportantBrexitbillofBritishPrimeMinisterTheresaMay.
OnJanuary23,2020,QueenElizabethIIoftheUnitedKingdomsignedandapprovedthebillsrelatedtothe"Brexit"agreementpreviouslypassedbytheBritishParliament.OnJanuary24,theEuropeanCouncilandthePresidentoftheEuropeanCommissionsignedtheBritish"Brexit"agreement.OnJanuary30,theEuropeanUnionformallyapprovedBrexit.OnJanuary31,theUKofficially"Brexit",endingits47-yearEUmembership.OnDecember24,theEuropeanCommissionannouncedthataftermanyroundsofintensenegotiations,theEUandtheUnitedKingdomfinallyreachedanagreementonaseriesofcooperationrelationsincludingtradethatday,clearingthewayfortheUnitedKingdomtoendthe“Brexit”transitionperiodin2020accordingtotheoriginalplan.Obstacles.
Naturalenvironment
Regionallocation
TheUnitedKingdomisanislandcountrylocatedinWesternEurope.Irelandisafederalislandnation.
BritainissurroundedbytheNorthSea,theEnglishChannel,theCelticSea,theIrishSeaandtheAtlanticOcean.ItfacestheNorthSeaintheeastandfacesBelgium,theNetherlands,Germany,Denmark,andNorway;itbordersIrelandtothewestandfacestheUnitedStatesandCanadaacrosstheAtlanticOcean;itcrossestheAtlanticOceantothenorthandreachesIceland;andtravels33kilometersacrosstheEnglishChanneltothesouthisFrance.Thelandareais244,100squarekilometers(includinginlandwaters).Amongthem,Englandis130,400squarekilometers,Scotlandis78,800squarekilometers,Walesis20,800squarekilometers,andNorthernIrelandis14,100squarekilometers.
Topography
TherearemanylowmountainplateausinthenorthwestofEngland,andtheplainsinthesoutheast.TheThamesisthelargestriverinthecountry.TheSevernRiveristhelongestriverintheUK,withalengthof338kilometers.ItoriginatedinthemiddleofWales.TheriverissemicircularandflowsthroughtheMidwestofEnglandandflowsintotheBristolChannel.TheThamesisthelargestriverintheUK,withadrainageareaof11,400squarekilometers,amulti-yearaverageflowof60.0cubicmeterspersecond,andamulti-yearaveragerunoffof1.89billioncubicmeters.Thegeographicalpositionofthebasinis2°08'westlongitudeto0°43'eastlongitude,and51°00'to52°3'northlatitude.
Climaticcharacteristics
Britainhasatemperateoceanicclimate.TheUnitedKingdomiscontrolledbytheprevailingwesterlywind,anditismildandhumidthroughouttheyear,withlittlechangeinthefourseasons.Thevegetationisatemperatedeciduousbroad-leavedforestzone.Usuallythehighesttemperaturedoesnotexceed32℃,thelowesttemperatureisnotlowerthan-10℃,theaveragetemperatureis4～7℃inJanuaryand13～17℃inJuly.Theaverageannualrainfallisabout1,000mm.Theannualprecipitationinthenorthernandwesternmountainousareasexceeds2,000mm,whilethecentralandeasternpartsarelessthan800mm.ThedriestmonthsarefromFebruarytoMarch,andthewettestfromOctobertoJanuaryofthefollowingyear.TheUnitedKingdomisaffectedbywesterlywindsandtheoceanallyearround,andtheclimateismildandhumidthroughouttheyear,suitableforplantgrowth.AlthoughtheclimateinBritainismild,theweatherischangeable.Inaday,itissunnyandrainy.
Naturalresources
Waterresources
Thamesscenery(9photos)
TheaverageannualrunoffvolumeofBritishriversItisabout159billioncubicmeters,andthepercapitaoccupationisabout2,700cubicmeters.ThedegreeofindustrializationintheUKisveryhigh.Thedevelopmentandutilizationofwaterresourcesismainlytoimprovethedomesticwaterconsumptionofurbanandruralpeople,andtodevelopindustry,inlandnavigation,aquacultureandwatertourism.ThetotalannualwaterconsumptionintheUKis11.511billioncubicmeters,ofwhichpublicwateraccountsfor47.3%,irrigationwateraccountsfor0.3%,andotherindustriesaccountfor52.4%.Thepercapitadailydomesticwaterconsumptioninurbanandruralareasis322liters.Attachesgreatimportancetosewagetreatment.Since1973,sewagetreatmenthasbecomeapartoftheentirewatersupplysystem,andthetreatmentofwasteandsewagehasreachedaveryhighlevel.Britainistherepresentativeofprivatizationandmarketizationofurbanwaterindustryintheworld.Three-quartersofthefreshwaterintheUKiscollectedfromlakes,reservoirsandriversinthemountains.Aboutaquarterofthisisgroundwater.Thequalityofdrinkingwaterisveryhigh.However,fromthesummerof1995tothespringof1997,EnglandandWalesexperiencedthedriestperiodintwoyearsofhistory,andwaterisnolongeraresourcethatcanbearbitrarilyused.Theleakageofthewatersupplypipeisanotherproblem.Relativelyspeaking,ScotlandandNorthernIrelandstillhaveabundantdomesticfreshwaterandindustrialwaterresources.Inordertopreventtheshortageofwaterresourcesinthefuture,thegovernmentpromulgatedaten-pointplaninMay1997,whichprivatewaterindustrycompanieshaveagreedtoabideby.
PlantResources
In2011,theUKforestcoveredanareaof3.08millionhectares,accountingfor12.6%ofthelocalarea.
Animalresources
TheUKhasabundantanimalresources.In2007,theBritishgovernmentbegantoimplementawildlifeprotectionplan.Asof2007,thereare1,149endangeredwildanimalsintheUK,andhedgehogs,harvestingRats,Atlanticsalmonandsparrowswereincludedforthefirsttime.TheBritishgovernment’swildlifeprotectionplaniscalledtheBiodiversityActionPlan,whichcontainsalistofmammals,birds,insects,invertebrates,fish,marinelifeandfungithatneedtobeprotected.InSeptember2006,550hedgehogsweresenttotheWildlifeHospitalnearEldsbury,thecapitalofBuckinghamshireinsouth-centralEngland,forsupervision.
MineralResources
ThemainmineralresourcesintheUKarecoal,iron,oilandnaturalgas.Thetotalreservesofhardcoalare170billiontons.Theironreservesareabout3.8billiontons.TherearetinminesontheCornwallPeninsulainthesouthwest.ThereisalargeamountofrocksaltinCheshireandDurham.Staffordshirehashigh-qualityclay.WhiteclayisproducedinCornwall.DolomitecanbeminedontheeastslopeofthePennineMountains.TherearequartzminesneartheSilderleyHillsinsouthwestLancashire.TheoilreservesintheNorthSeashelfoftheUnitedKingdomarebetween1billionand4billiontons.Thenaturalgasreservesareabout860-2,585billioncubicmeters.
Administrativedivisions
Divisions
TheUnitedKingdomisdividedintofourparts:England,Wales,ScotlandandNorthernIreland.Englandisdividedinto43counties.Scotlandhas32districts,including3specialjurisdictions.Walesconsistsof22districts.NorthernIrelandconsistsof26districts.
England | UrbanCounty | GreaterManchester Merseyside SouthYorkshire Tynewell WestMidlands WestYorkshire | 45countiesinthehistoryofEnglandwereabolishedin1974andchangedto6metropolitancountiesand39non-urbancountiesCounty(non-metropolitancounty)(Greater-Londonisaseparateadministrativeunit) |
non-metropolitancounty | |||
p> | Evan Bedfordshire Berkshire BuckinghamCounty Cambridgeshire Cheshire ClevelandCounty Cornwall EburyAsiaCounty Derbyshire DevonCounty Dorset Durham DongsarSexCounty Essex Gloucestershire Hampshire HerefordWorcester Hertfordshire Humbersideshire IsleofWight Kent LancashireCounty Leicestershire Lincolnshire Norfolk NorthYorkshire NorthamptonCounty NorthumberlandCounty Nottinghamshire Oxfordshire Shropshire SaMerset Staffordshire Suffolk Surrey Warwickshire WestSussex Wiltshire | ||
Wales | Kluyd Defender Gwent Guinet MiddleGlamorgan Powys SouthGlamorgan WestGlamorgan | The13countiesinWelshhistorywereabolishedin1974andchangedto8newcounties | |
Scotland | Jurisdiction | FrontierRegion CentralRegion DumfriesandGallowayDistrict FifeDistrict GrampianDistrict HighDistrict LothianDistrict StrathclydeDistrict TaysideDistrict | The33countiesinScottishhistorywereabolishedin1975andchangedto9jurisdictionsand3islands p> |
Islandarea | OrkneyIslands ShetlandIslands WesternIslands | ||
NorthernIreland | County | AntrimCounty p>ArmaCounty DawnCounty FermanaCounty Londonderry Tyrone | NorthernIrelandisdividedinto6counties |
Capital
TheBritishcapital,London,islocatedontheplainsinsoutheastEngland,acrosstheThames,88kilometersfromtheThamesestuary.Asearlyas3000yearsago,theLondonareawaswheretheBritishlived.In54BC,theRomanEmpireinvadedGreatBritain.In43BC,LondonwasthemainmilitarystationoftheRomansandbuiltthefirstwoodenbridgeacrosstheThames.AtthattimeLondonwascalled"Londinum".WiththeriseofBritishcapitalism,thescaleofLondonexpandedrapidly.In1500,thepopulationofLondonwasonly50,000.In1600,thepopulationincreasedto200,000,andto700,000in1700.Inthe18thand19thcenturies,Londonhadbecometheworld'slargestfinancialandtradecenter.In1900,thepopulationofLondonincreasedto2million.Inthe1960s,thepopulationofLondonreachedmorethan8million.In2001,thepopulationofLondonwas7.188million.ThepopulationofLondonin2011was8.2million.ThepopulationofLondonin2018was8.908million.ThehottestmonthisJuly,andthetemperatureisusually16to24°C;thecoldestmonthisJanuary,andthetemperatureisusually5to9°C.
Nationalsymbol
Countryname
TheUnitedKingdomofGreatBritainandNorthernIreland,themainbodyisEngland,soitiscustomarilycalledtheUnitedKingdom(theUnitedKingdomwasoriginallytheabbreviationoftheKingdomofEngland),ItistheUnitedKingdomcomposedofEngland,Scotland,WalesandNorthernIreland.TheBritishEmpire(laterrenamedtheCommonwealth)isknownastheempirethatneversets.TheBritishIslesrefertoEngland,ScotlandandWales.SinceNorthernIrelandislocatedontheislandofIreland,manyotherislandsaretoosmalltobeincluded.
Nationalflag
Britishflag(2sheets)
TheBritishflag(English:UnionJack)ishorizontalandrectangular,andtheratiooflengthtowidthis2:1,knownasthe"RiceFlag",consistsofadarkbluebackgroundandredandwhite"Rice"characters.TheredcrosswithawhiteborderintheflagrepresentsthepatronsaintGeorgeofEngland,thewhitecrossrepresentsthepatronsaintofScotlandAndrew,andtheredcrossrepresentsthepatronsaintofIrelandPatrick.Thisflagwasproducedin1801.ItisformedbytheoverlapoftheformerEngland'sredpositivetenflagonawhitebackground,Scotland'swhitecrossflagonabluebackground,andNorthernIreland'sredcrossflagonawhitebackground,forminga"rice"character.TheWelshflagisnotintegratedintotheBritishflag.Welshhasagreenandwhitebaseandaredfiredragon.TheNationalEmblem
TheBritishNationalEmblemistheCrownEmblem.Thecenterpatternisashieldemblem.Theupperleftandlowerrightcornersoftheshieldarethreegoldenlionsonaredbackground,symbolizingEngland;theupperrightcornerisaredlionstandingontheupperhalfofagoldbase,symbolizingScotland;thelowerleftcornerisabluebackgroundwithgoldTheyellowharpsymbolizesNorthernIreland.BothsidesofthecoatofarmsaresupportedbyalionwearingacrownandrepresentingEnglandandaunicornrepresentingScotland.SurroundingthecoatofarmsistheGarterMedal.ThereisasayinginFrenchthatmeans"Itisshamefultohaveevilthoughts";thelowerhangingribbonreads"ThereisGodinheaven,andIhavetheright."Thetopofthecoatofarmsisagoldandsilverhelmetwithjewels,animperialcrownandalionwearingacrown.
NationalAnthem
"GodSaveTheQueen"(GodSaveTheQueen),usuallyonlythefirstparagraphissung.Ifthereignisamalemonarch,thenationalanthemischangedto"GodSaveTheKing"."GodBlesstheKing"isthenationalanthemandroyalhymnoftheCommonwealthcountries.Theauthorisananonymoussongwriter,andthecomposerisHenryCarre.
Themeaningofthelyrics:Godblessthequeen,wishheralonglife,andGodblessthequeen.ChangShengli,MuRongguang;Fupopular,happyheart;governingthecountry,WangYunchang;Godblessthequeen!
NationalStone
DiamondshavealwaysbeenregardedasthecrownofgemsbytheBritishwhoemphasizedgraceandtemperament.Amongallgemstones,becausediamondshavethehighesthardness,Britishmenliketousediamondstorepresenttheirsteadfastnessandcourage;whilewomenarewillingtousediamondsasametaphorfortheirholinessandnobility.TheBritishhavelongregardeddiamondsasaloveaffairbetweenmenandwomen.ThiscustomwasquicklyadoptedbytheWesternworldandspreadtotheEast.WiththeexpansionoftheUnitedKingdom,thecolonistsdidnotforgettoattributethediamondsfromallovertheworldtotheirown.Britainhasacollectionoftherarestandmostpreciousdiamondsintheworld.
NationalFlower
Rose.IntheWaroftheRoses,theLancasterroyalfamilywasrepresentedbyredroses,andtheYorkroyalfamilywasrepresentedbywhiteroses.ThepoweroftheYorkroyalfamilywasdefeatedbytheLancasterroyalfamily,butthetwosidesreconciledthroughmarriageafterthewar.Therefore,therepresentativesofthetworoyalfamilies,thesetwokindsofrosesmergedintoone,andbecamearedrosewithwhitestamens.Asaresult,thewhiteheartandredrosebecameasymbolofEnglandandgraduallybecameasymbolofEngland.
Population
Asof2016,thetotalpopulationoftheUKis65.58million.TheofficiallanguageisEnglish.WelshisalsousedinnorthernWales,andGaelicisstillusedinpartsoftheNorthwestHighlandsofScotlandandNorthernIreland.ResidentsmostlybelieveinProtestantChristianity,mainlydividedintotheChurchofEngland(alsoknownastheAnglicanChurch,whosemembersaccountforabout60%ofBritishadults)andtheChurchofScotland(alsoknownasthePresbyterianChurch,with590,000adultmembers).TherearealsolargerreligiouscommunitiessuchastheCatholicChurchandIslam,Hinduism,Sikhism,JudaismandBuddhism.
Politics
Government
TheUKgovernmentisaparliamentaryconstitutionalmonarchy.Thekingistheheadofstate,thesupremesheriff,thecommander-in-chiefofthearmedforces,andthe"supremeleader"oftheAnglicanChurch.Formally,hehasthepowertoappointandremovetheprimeminister,ministers,seniorjudges,militaryofficers,governorsofvariousterritories,diplomats,bishops,andtheBritishSaints.Seniorclergyoftheguild,etc.,andhavethepowertoconvene,suspend,dissolvetheassembly,approvelaws,declarewarandotherpowers,buthaverealpowerinthecabinet.Parliamentisthehighestjudicialandlegislativebody,composedoftheking,theupperhouseandthelowerhouse.
TheConstitution
TheBritishConstitutionisnotanindependentdocument,butiscomposedofstatutorylaws,customarylaws,andconventions.TherearemainlyMagnaCarta(1215),Habeascorpus(1679),BillofRights(1689),ParliamentaryLaw(1911,1949),andsuccessiveamendmentstotheElectoralLaw,MunicipalAutonomyLaw,andCountyCouncilLaw.Thegovernmentisaconstitutionalmonarchy.Themonarchistheheadofstate,thesupremesheriff,thecommander-in-chiefofthearmedforces,andthe"supremeleader"oftheAnglicanAnglicanChurch.Formally,hehasthepowertoappointandremovetheprimeminister,ministers,seniorjudges,militaryofficers,governorsofvariousterritories,diplomats,bishops,andtheUnitedKingdom.TheseniorclergyoftheAnglicanChurchalsohavethepowertoconvene,suspendanddissolveparliaments,approvelaws,anddeclarewarandpeace,buttheyhaverealpowerinthecabinet.Scotlandhasitsownindependentlegalsystem.
Judicial
AlljudgesintheUKadoptanappointmentsystem.TheLordChancellor,Judges’HouseofLords,andCourtofAppealJudgesarerecommendedbythePrimeMinisterandappointedbytheKingofEngland.ThereisnoMinistryofJusticeintheUK,andjusticeshavethepowertoappointandremovejudicialofficers.Thejudgemustbeabarristerofthe"lawassociation"andhaveacertainnumberofyearsofjudicialpractice.Onceajudgeisappointed,hecannotgenerallyberemovedfromofficewithouthisconsent.JudgesoftheSupremeCourthavetenure.Districtcourtjudgescanretireafter72yearsofage.Judgesarewellpaid.
Politicalparties
TheBritishpoliticalpartysystemhasbeenanimportantpartofBritishconstitutionalgovernmentsincethe18thcentury.
ThemainpoliticalpartiesintheUKare:
(1)ConservativeParty:ThelargestpartyinParliament.LeaderBorisJohnson,electedinJuly2019.ThepredecessoroftheConservativePartywastheToryPartyestablishedin1679.Itwasrenameditscurrentnamein1833.From1979to1997,hewasinpower4timesfor18consecutiveyears.AftertheBritishelectioninMay2010,theConservativePartyregaineditsrulingstatusandformedacoalitiongovernmentwiththeLiberalDemocraticParty.Supportersgenerallycomefromthecorporateworldandtheaffluentclass.Advocatingafreemarketeconomy,strictlycontrollingthemoneysupply,reducingpublicexpenditure,reducinginflation,restrictingtradeunionrights,andstrengthening"law"and"order".
(2)LaborParty:Thesecondlargestpartyintheparliament.Establishedin1900,theoriginalnamewastheLaborRepresentativeCommittee,andin1906itchangedtoitscurrentname.From1997to2010,hewasinpowerfor13consecutiveyears.Lostinthe2010and2015generalelectionsbecametheoppositionparty.InSeptember2015,JeremyCorbynwaselectedthenewleader.Inrecentyears,theLaborPartyhastendedtopaymoreattentiontotheinterestsofthemiddleclass,andtoacertainextentisalienatedfromtradeunions.Advocatemaintainingstablemacroeconomicgrowthandestablishingamodernwelfaresystem.Diplomatically,headvocatesactiveparticipationininternationalcooperation,regardsrelationswiththeUnitedStatesandtheEuropeanUnionasthetwomajordiplomaticpillars,supportstheintegrationoftheEuropeanUnion,andopposesBritain’sseparationfromtheEuropeanUnion.
OtherpoliticalpartiesintheUnitedKingdominclude:theScottishNationalParty,theLiberalDemocratParty,theWelshNationalParty(PlaidCymru),theGreenParty,andsomeNorthernIrelandpartiessuchas:UlsterUnionistParty,DemocraticUnionistParty,SocialDemocraticandLabourParty,SinnFein,etc.
Dignitaries
QueenElizabethII(QueenElizabethll).Thefullnameis"TrustGodHun,QueenElizabethIIoftheUnitedKingdomofGreatBritainandNorthernIrelandandotherterritoriesandterritories,theheadoftheCommonwealth,andtheprotectorofChristianity."
PrimeMinisterBorisJohnson,borninJune1964,graduatedfromOxfordUniversity.In2001,hewaselectedasamemberofthelowerhouseofparliament.ElectedMayorofGreaterLondoninMay2008andre-electedin2012.Hewasre-electedasamemberofParliamentin2015.FromJuly2016toJuly2018,heservedasMinisterofForeignAffairs.InauguratedasPrimeMinisterinJuly2019andre-electedinDecember.
Economy
Overview
London(4photos)
TheUnitedKingdomasanimportanttradingentity,economicpowerandThefinancialcenteristhefifthlargesteconomicsystemintheworldandoneoftheworld'srichestcountrieswiththemostdevelopedeconomyandthehigheststandardofliving.Inthepastthreedecades,thegovernmenthassubstantiallyreducedstate-ownedassetsandsloweddownthedevelopmentofsocialwelfareprograms.Inthe18thcentury,theBritishnativewheatbegantoloseouttothecheapwheatinNorthAmerica.TheygaveuplargequantitiesofwheatandimportedalargeamountofgrainproductsfromtheAmericas.Theygraduallyshiftedtothedairyindustry,whichwasrelativelyconcentrated,highlymechanized,andveryefficient:1%oflabor.Thepopulationcanmeetapproximately60%offoodneeds.InthethreemonthstoFebruary2015,thenumberofunemployedpeopleintheUKdroppedby76,000to1.84million.ThenumberofpeopleapplyingforunemploymentbenefitsinMarchalsofellby20,700to772,400.TheunemploymentratehasdroppedtoitslowestlevelsinceJuly2008.
InNovember2020,theUK'sgrossdomesticproduct(GDP)fellby2.6%month-on-month,endingthesix-month-on-monthgrowthtrend.
Industry
ThemainindustriesintheUKare:mining,metallurgy,chemicals,machinery,electronics,electronicinstruments,automobiles,aviation,food,beverages,tobacco,textiles,paper,printing,Publishing,construction,etc.Biopharmaceuticals,aerospaceanddefensearethefocusofBritishindustry'sresearchanddevelopment,andtheyarealsothemostinnovativeandcompetitiveindustriesintheUK.Likemanydevelopedcountries,withthecontinuousdevelopmentoftheserviceindustry,theBritishmanufacturingindustrybegantoshrinkinthe1980s,andthetwoeconomicrecessionsinthe1980sandearly1990saggravatedthissituation.AmongtheBritishmanufacturingindustries,thetextileindustryisthemostsluggish,butelectronicandopticalequipment,man-madefibersandchemicalproducts,especiallythepharmaceuticalindustry,stillmaintainstrongstrength.
Serviceindustry
Theserviceindustry,includingfinancialinsurance,retail,tourismandbusinessservices,isthepillarindustryoftheBritisheconomy.AsofAugust2014,theoutputvalueoftheBritishserviceindustryaccountedforaboutdomesticThree-quartersoftheGDP.In2012,theUK'stradeinservicestotaled305.85billionpounds,orapproximately486.3billionUSdollars.
AsofAugust2014,theUnitedKingdom’stourismrevenueranksfifthintheworld,secondonlytotheUnitedStates,Spain,FranceandItaly.ItisoneofthemostimportanteconomicsectorsintheUnitedKingdom.9.1%oftheemployedpopulation.In2012,therewere31.08millionvisitorsfromtheUK,withrevenueof18.6billionpounds,orabout29.5billionUSdollars.Americantouristsrankfirstamongoverseastourists,followedbyFrance,Germany,Ireland,Spain,theNetherlands,ItalyandPoland.Londonisamust-visitplaceforforeigntourists.Themaintouristareasare:London,Edinburgh,Cardiff,Brighton,Greenwich,Stratford,OxfordandCambridge.Themaintouristattractionsare:operahouses,museums,artgalleries,ancientbuildings,themeparksandshops.
Agriculture,animalhusbandryandfishery
TheBritishagriculture,animalhusbandryandfisherymainlyincludeanimalhusbandry,grain,horticulture,andfishery,whichcanmeetnearly2/3ofthetotaldomesticfooddemand.However,agricultureaccountsforlessthan1%oftheUK’sgrossdomesticproductandemploysabout450,000people,whichislessthan2%ofthetotalemployment,whichislowerthantheaveragelevelof5%inEUcountriesandlowerthanothermajorindustrialcountries.Agriculturallandaccountsfor77%ofthecountry'slandarea,mostofwhicharepasturesandpastures,andonly1/4areusedforfarming.Theaverageagriculturalpopulationowns70hectaresofland,whichisfourtimestheEUaverage.BritainwasonceoneofthelargestfishingnationsintheEuropeanUnion,withacatchthataccountsfor20%oftheEU's,whichmeetstwo-thirdsofdomesticdemand.
Finance
TheUKisthelargestnetexporteroffinancialservices,withover40%ofexportsgoingtotheEuropeanUnion.TheUKstartsanewfinancialyearonApril1everyyear.Governmentbudgetexpendituresincludepublicexpenditures(centralgovernmentandlocalgovernmentexpenditures),debtinterestpaymentsandfinancialadjustments.Fiscalbudgetrevenueincludesthreeitems:directtax,indirecttaxandnationalinsurancetaxrevenue.
Londonisaworld-renownedfinancialcenterwithamodernfinancialservicesystem.Itisengagedinmultinationalbanklending,internationalbondissuance,fundinvestmentandotherbusinesses.Itisalsotheworld’slargestforeignexchangemarket,thelargestgoldspottradingmarket,andthelargestderivativeItalsohasthelargestnumberofbranchesorofficesofforeignbanksintheworld’sthirdlargestinsurancemarket,animportantshiploanmarket,andanon-preciousmetaltradingcenter.TheCityofLondonemploysnearly400,000people,andmorethan550multinationalbanksandmorethan170internationalsecuritiescompanieshaveestablishedbranchesorofficesinLondon.
TheBankofEngland:Establishedin1694,itbecamethecentralbankoftheUnitedKingdomin1946,thefirstcentralbankintheworld.
HSBCHoldings:the20thlargestcompanyintheworld.
RoyalBankofScotland:The36thlargestcompanyintheworld.
ScotlandBankofHalifax:The45thlargestcompanyintheworld.
BarclaysBank:The70thlargestcompanyintheworld.
XiangDongkanjoinstheAsianInfrastructureInvestmentBank
TheUnitedKingdom(2015)submittedtoChinaonMarch12asafoundingmemberofitsintentiontojointheAsianInfrastructureInvestmentBank(HereinafterreferredtoastheAIIB)confirmationletter,formallyapplytojointheAIIB.The(China)MinistryofFinancestatedthattheUKisexpectedtobecomeafoundingmemberoftheintentionnextmonth(April2015).WhentheUnitedStatesandJapan"coldlyrejected"theAIIB,theparticipationoftheUnitedKingdomgavetheinstitutionmoreofaninternationalfinancialinstitutioncolor.
TheUnitedKingdomwillbecomethe28thmemberstate.
Foreigninvestment
TheUKhasalwaysbeenanimportantexporterofinternationalcapital.Thisfeaturebecamemoreprominentwiththeremovalofforeignexchangecontrolsin1979andthediscoveryoftheNorthSeaoilfield.Inthefirsthalfofthe1980s,theamountofBritishforeigninvestmentwascomparabletothatoftheUnitedStatesandJapan,butwiththeeconomicrecessionintheearly1990s,Britishforeigninvestmentalsofellsharplyandthenbegantorisesharply.TheUK'sforeigndirectinvestmentranksfirstamongEUcountries.In2003,theBritishTradeBureauwasrenamedthe"TradeandInvestmentBureau",underwhichtheBritishTradePartnersBureauandtheInvestmentBureauwereestablished.
Investmentpromotion
TheBritishgovernmentencouragestheattractionofforeigninvestment.ForeigninvestmentprojectsintheUKaremainlycomputersoftware,informationtechnology,Internet,e-commerce,electronicsandcommunications,medicineandbiotechnology,managementindustry,automobiles,foodandbeverages,etc.Investmentformsincludeacquisitions,mergersofexistingenterprises,expansionofproductionscale,establishmentofscientificresearchbasesormultinationalcompanies,etc.TheUnitedStatesisthelargestinvestorinBritain,andChina'sinvestmentinBritainhasgraduallyincreased.AmongthecountriesthatinvestedintheUKfrom2011to2012,Chinajumpedfromseventhtothird,withaninvestmentincreaseof55%.Inordertosupportthegrowthofthistrend,theBritishgovernmenthassetupUKTrade&Investment(UKTrade&Investment)officesthroughoutChina.TheUKTradeandInvestmentAgencyisanagencyestablishedbytheBritishgovernmenttoprovidefull-serviceservicesforBritishcompaniesengagedintradeandforeigncompaniesinvestingintheUK.TheUKTradeandInvestmentAgencywasformerlyknownastheUKInternationalTradeAgency.ItwaschangedtothepresentinOctober2003.name.Accordingtothelateststatisticsin2013,UKTIhas235professionalserviceteamsandexpertsworldwideand1,265overseasstaff.TheBritishTradeAreaInvestmentAgencyhasofficesintheBritishEmbassyinBeijing,andtheBritishConsulatesinShanghai,Guangzhou,andChongqing.TheycanprovidealargenumberofprofessionalfreeservicesforChinesecompaniesinvestingintheUK.
ForeignTrade
TheUKhastraderelationswithmorethan80countriesandregionsintheworld,andthemaintradepartnersaretheEuropeanUnion,theUnitedStatesandJapan.Tradeinserviceshasbeeninsurplussince1966,withasurplusofUS$83.6billionin2008.Themainimportedproductsare:food,fuel,rawmaterials,clothing,footwear,electronicmachineryandequipment,automobiles,etc.Themainexportproductsare:petroleumandrelatedproducts,chemicalproducts(includingpharmaceuticalproducts),tobacco,beverages,machineryandequipment,etc.TheEuropeanUnionisBritain'slargesttradingpartner.AccordingtodatareleasedbytheUKNationalBureauofStatistics,theUK'sforeigntradedeficitingoodsandservicesreached3.3billionpounds(about5.31billionUSdollars)inJuly2014.
Culture
Language
TheUnitedKingdomhasnoofficiallanguageinname.Infact,Englishisthemainlanguage.ThereareotherofficiallanguagesoutsideofEngland.Forexample,WelshisalsousedinnorthernWales,andGaelicisstillusedinpartsoftheNorthwestHighlandsofScotlandandNorthernIreland.PeoplefromallovertheworldwhohaveimmigratedtotheUKalsospeaktheirnativelanguages,suchasBengali,Chinese,Hindi,PunjabiandUrdu.TheUKhasthemostHindispeakersoutsideofIndia.
Religion
IntheUnitedKingdom,everyoneenjoysreligiousfreedom.Therefore,variousreligiousbeliefsareflourishinginvariouscentralareasoftheUnitedKingdom.Therearetwo"official"churchesintheUK:theChurchofEngland(TheAnglicanChurch)andtheChurchofScotland(ThePresbyterianChurch).Inaddition,variousreligionsandcountlessdenominationscanfindtheirrepresentativesintheUK.ResidentsmostlybelieveinProtestantChristianity,mainlydividedintotheChurchofEngland(alsoknownastheAnglicanChurch,whosemembersaccountforabout60%ofBritishadults)andtheChurchofScotland(alsoknownasthePresbyterianChurch,with590,000adultmembers).TherearealsolargerreligiouscommunitiessuchastheCatholicChurchandIslam,Hinduism,Sikhism,JudaismandBuddhism.
AccordingtoasurveyconductedbytheBritishHumanitiesAssociationin2011:2/3ofBritonsdonotrecognizethemselvesasbelievers.
AccordingtotheBritish"Guardian"reportonSeptember4,2017,asurveyshowedthatthenumberofyoungChristiansintheAnglicanChurchisfallingsharply,andonly15%ofBritishadultsconsiderthemselvestobeAnglicans,53%ofadultshavenoreligiousbeliefs,arecordhigh.
Sports
Rugby
In1895,someleague-stylerugbyclubsinnorthernEnglanddecidedtoturntheirathletestoprofessionalplayers,soTherehasbeenasituationwheretheUnitedRugbyandtheUnionRugbywillfightagainsteachother.Britishclubshaveachievedgoodresultsinthe"HeinekenCup"-alsoknownasthe"EuropeanCup".ThecompetitionbetweentheEnglishRugbyClassicandtheCelticLeagueisfierce,soticketsaresoldouteveryweek.TheRoyalBankofScotlandSixNationsChampionshipSixisheldfromJanuarytoFebruaryeveryyear.TheRugbyWorldCupheldeveryfouryearsisthebiggesteventinrugby.The2007championshipwaswonbytheSouthAfricanteam.
Football
TheUnitedKingdomisthebirthplaceofmodernfootball.MajorfootballmatchesincludetheEnglishPremierLeagueandtheScottishPremierLeague.In1848,the"CambridgeRules",thefirstwrittenruleofmodernfootball,wasborn.OnDecember1,1863,agroupofCambridgearistocratsvotedandfinallyledtothebirthofmodernfootballrules.ModernfootballimmediatelyoriginatedonthelawnofCambridgeUniversity.FootballiscalledfootballinBritishEnglishandsoccerinAmericanEnglish.ItisoneofthemostfavoriteentertainmentactivitiesofBritishpeople.TherearemanyfootballclubsintheUKwithhundredsofyearsofhistory.
Cricket
Cricket,alsoknownaswoodenball,iscalledthe"gentleman'sgame".Twoteamsof11attackanddefendalternately.Ofateamsport.ItsmodernformoriginatedintheUnitedKingdomandprevailedintheUnitedKingdom,Australia,NewZealand,India,SriLankaandothercountries.Thecricketseasonismainlyinthespringandsummer,whichisjustcomplementarytotheautumnandwinterfootballgames.Theoriginofcricketcanbetracedbacktothebeginningofthe13thcentury.Theearliestrulesofthegamebeganinthe18thcenturyandgraduallybecameoneofthemainformsofmen'ssports.Thegametimeisverylong.Acrickettestmatchis6hoursormoreperdayandlastsupto5days.Thereisalsoabreakforlunchandtea.Thecricketterminologyisnumerousandtherulesofthegamearecomplicated,whichtroublescricketlaymen,butforthefans,thesportisfullofpassionandfun.
Filmandtelevision
Britishfilmworksincludethe007series,"TheEnglishPatient","FourWeddingsandOneFuneral","HarryPotter"and"TombRaider",etc..TheUKproducesmorethan90filmseachyear,withanetoutputvalueof800millionpounds.ThecontinuedprosperityofdomesticandforeignfilmproductionprojectsdependsontheexcellenttechnologypossessedbytheUnitedKingdom.ThestimulusoffundsandtaxeshasattractedmanydomesticandforeignfilmmakerstoproducefilmsintheUK.IndustryexpertsattributethesuccessoftheBritishfilmindustrytothefollowing:therearemanytalentedactors;skilledandprofessionaltechniciansandproductionteams;topfilmstudios,post-production,visualeffectsandsoundequipment;andeasyaccesstoPermissionforshootingonmultipleoccasions.The"HarryPotter"seriesarewell-knowninBritishfilms.The2013Britishfilmsincludeworkssuchas"TwelveYearsasaSlave"and"Gravity".
Festivals
TheScienceFestivalbeganin1883andisheldonceayear.
ScienceWeekbeganin1994andisheldeveryMarch.
OnNewYear’sEveintheUnitedKingdom,peopleoftenbringpastriesandwinetovisit.Theydon’tknockonthedoorandwalkstraightintotheirrelativesandfriends’homes."NewYear'sEveBall"isanotherkindofcelebration.
Food
Britishpeoplegenerallyprefercookingmethods:braising,grilling,fryinganddeep-frying.Thereareuniquewaysofcookingmeat,seafood,andgame;thereisaspecialpreferenceforbeef,suchasROASTEDBEEF,whichnotonlyincludesseasonalvegetablesandbakedpotatoes,butalsoaddstothesteak.Alittlemustardsauce;Ilikecreamandwineascondiments;Ilikefreshspicessuchasmeatballsandcinnamonasspices.
Britishpeopleareveryparticularaboutbreakfast.Britishrestaurantsserveawidevarietyofmeals,includingjuice,fruit,eggs,meat,porridge,bread,jamandcoffee.Nowadays,thepopularhightea(HIGHTEA)alsocomesfromtheUnitedKingdom.Themorewell-knownonesaretheVictorianstyle(VICTORIANSTYLE),whichincludesallkindsofsnacks,spongecakes,fruittarts(TARTE)andsandwiches.DinnerisalsothemostimportantpartofdailylifeforBritishpeople.Theyusuallychoosealatemealtime,andtheyeatanddrinkwhilechattingtopromotethefriendshipbetweenthediners,andadinnerisforthemSaiditmighttakeseveralhours.
Grilledsteak
ThisisamasterpieceofBritishcuisine.Itismadebyroastingalargepieceofrawbeefwithoilintheoven.Likesteak,whenyouorderthisdish,thewaiterwillaskyouwhetheryoulikeitraworcooked.Thecookedbeefcanbedippedinwesternmustardsauce,andtheYorkshirepuddingisalsofamousasasidedish.
FishandFrenchfries
Thisisthe"McDonald's"intheUK,whichisacheapandconvenientfood.Friedfishismostlyplaiceorcod,whichiseatenwithsaltorvinegar(manyBritishpeopleuseboth)togetherwithFrenchfries,andisverypopularamongordinarypeople.
VictoriaSpongeCake
Britishsocietyhasalong-standingtradition-afternoontea.Victoriaspongecakeisaclassicmust-haveforBritishafternoontea.ItisnamedafterQueenVictoria'sfavoritewayofeatingspongecake(alayerofcreamandalayerofjam).
Bitterbeer
BitterbeeristhemostrepresentativebeerinBritain.Itischaracterizedbyitslowalcoholcontent.Itissuppliedatthecellartemperatureandcanbefermentedinjustafewdays.Inthe20thcentury,inordertoenjoygreaterdiscounts,manybarsbecamefranchisestoresforspecificwineryproducts.Withitsfastproductioncycle,bitterbeerhasundoubtedlybecomeamagicformulaforbreweryoperatorstoimprovebeersupplyefficiency.
EtonMax
EtonMaxisadessertmadefromstrawberries,creamandmeringue.ItoriginatedfromthearistocraticschoolEtoninWindsor.study.Onetheoryisthatin1796,EatonCollegeanditsoldrivalWinchestermetinacricketmatchforthefirsttime,andthedessertEatonMaxappearedonthetableatthattime.Anotherversionisin1920.OnthecampusopendayofEtonCollege,aLabradordogsatontheblanketoftheowner'spicnicandflattenedtheowner'sstrawberrycreammeringuetocreateEatonMax.DessertEatonMaxhasbecomesynonymouswithsummerinEngland.
Military
NationalDefense
TheestablishmentoftheBritishArmywasaboutthemid-17thcentury.ThequeenisthenominalsupremecommanderoftheBritisharmy.Thehighestmilitarydecision-makingbodyisthe"NationalDefenseandOverseasPolicyCommittee".ThePrimeMinisterservesasthechairman.ThemembersincludetheMinisterofNationalDefense,theMinisterofForeignAffairs,theMinisteroftheInterior,andtheMinisterofFinance.Whennecessary,theChiefofStaffofNationalDefenseandtheChiefsofStaffoftheArmedForceswillattendthemeetingasnonvotingdelegates.TheMinistryofNationalDefenseisthenationaldefenseexecutiveagency,whichisnotonlytheadministrativedepartmentofthegovernment,butalsothehighestmilitarycommand.TheUnitedKingdomisthefoundingcountryandmainmemberoftheNATOGroup.Itisalsooneofthefivenuclearpowersandhasanindependentnuclearpower.
ThecoreoftheBritishnationalstrategyistoactivelyparticipateinworldaffairsandmaintaintheUK’sinternationalstatus;relyonanduseNATO’scollectivedefenseforcestoprotectthesecurityofEuropeandtheUK,andtoexpandtheUK’sinfluenceinEurope;StrengthentieswiththeCommonwealthcountriesandprotecttheirextensiveoverseasinterests.
Britishforceshavebasesaroundtheworld,suchasNorthernIreland,Cyprus,Germany,Gibraltar,Brunei,andtheFalklandIslands.
OnJune25,2018,thedefenseministersoftheEuropeanUnion9includingFrance,Germany,andtheUnitedKingdomsignedthe"EuropeanInterventionInitiative"letterofintentinLuxembourg,promisingtoformaEuropeanjointmilitaryinterventionforce.
MilitaryPower
TheBritishmilitaryindustryisdeveloped,andthemodernlevelofweaponsandequipmentranksamongtheworld'sadvanced.Themilitaryindustryhasaconsiderablescale,acompleterangeoftypes,andastrongtechnicalforce.Ithastheabilitytoindependentlydevelopvariouslarge-scaleweaponsandequipment,includingstrategicnuclearweapons,andsomeofitstechnologiesandequipmentrankfirst-classintheworld.Britainisamajorexporterofweaponsintheworld.Themainexportcategoriesincludemilitaryaircraft,tacticalmissiles,combatshipsandmilitaryelectronicequipment.
TheRoyalNavyiscomposedofsurfacenavalforces,navalaviation,marines,andsubmarineforces,withfourmajorfleets.Ithas121surfaceships.OnJuly4,2014,thelargestactive-dutyaircraftcarrier"QueenElizabeth"inthehistoryoftheBritishNavywasofficiallylaunched.
TheBritishArmyisoftendeployedoverseastoparticipateingroundcombatforces,multinationalcoalitionforces,orrelatedoperationsofUnitedNationspeacekeepingforces.
TheRoyalAirForceistheairforcearmoftheBritishArmy.ItwasfoundedonApril1,1918.Sincethen,ithasplayedanimportantroleinBritishmilitaryhistoryandhasplayedanimportantroleintheSecondWorldWarandtheIraqWar.Playthekeyrole.TheBritishAirForcehasmorethan450aircraftand200,000standingsoldiers.
Militaryexpenditure
TheUnitedKingdomhasthethirdlargestmilitaryexpenditureintheworld.Thedefensebudgetforthe2010-2011fiscalyearisapproximately36.9billionpounds(approximatelyUS$59billion).ThegovernmentestimatesthattheMinistryofDefensewillfaceabudgetdeficitof38billionpounds(US$60.8billion)inthenext10years.
Arms
Army:TheBritishArmyhas40battalions,andthetotalnumberofpersonnelremainsat117,000.Thearmydeploysquickly,movesflexibly,andhasstrongcombateffectivenessandresilience.
AirForce:TheUnitedKingdomisdominatedbytornadoairsuperiorityfighters,withabout300aircraft,groundattackaircraftincluding50Jaguars,60Falconverticaltake-offandlandingfighters,andEagleattackfighters150.,TheBritishNavyhas40Falconverticaltakeoffandlandingfighters,atotalofmorethan600,andGermanyandWestjointlydevelopedthe"EuropeanJointFighter"EFABritainwillintroduceabout250.
Navy:Withaircraftcarrierasthecore,destroyerescort,nuclearsubmarineorsubmarine,itiscalledtheglobalpresencenavy(OceanNavy)(theabovedataisin2004).
Transportation
Overview
Britishtransportationinfrastructureisrelativelycomplete.Land,railway,waterandairtransportationarealldeveloped.Londonhasaverydevelopedsubwaynetwork.TheAnglo-Frenchsubmarinetunnelwasopenedin1994,connectingtherailsystembetweentheUKandtheEuropeancontinent.AftertheCamerongovernmentcametopower,itlaunchedahigh-speedrailplan.TheBritishgovernmentplanstoinvest32billionpoundstobuildahigh-speedrailnetworkconnectingLondonandBirminghamtoNorthEngland.Constructionisexpectedtostartin2017andbecompletedin2026.
Railway
Theprivatizationwascompletedin1997.Atthebeginningofthe21stcentury,thetotallengthoftheBritishrailwaywas16,600kilometers.In2006,thetotalrailwaypassengervolumewas46.497billionperson-kilometers;thetotalfreightvolumewas22.1billionton-kilometers.TheNationalRailwayandtheLondonUndergroundrespectivelybear49%and44%oftherailwaysystem'straffic,andtherestisbornebythelightrail.
In2012,theBritishgovernmentapprovedtheBritishHighSpeedRailwayNo.2,theHS2project,tobuildtheLondon-Birminghamhigh-speedrailway,theBirmingham-Leedshigh-speedrailway,andtheBirmingham-Manchesterhigh-speedrailway.
Highways
ThetotallengthofBritishhighwaysis397,000kilometers,ofwhich3701.5kilometersarehighways,whichbear21%ofthetraffic;47,300kilometersareA-classhighways,whichbear45%ofthetraffic.Traffic.AsoftheendofJune2019,thetotalnumberofregisteredmotorvehicleswas38.7million,and728,000newmotorvehicleswereaddedinthesecondquarterof2019.
Watertransportation
TheUKinlandwaterwayhasatotalof3,200kilometers,ofwhich620kilometersareusedforfreight.TheThamesisthebusiestinlandwatercanal,followedbytheForthRiver.Seatransportundertakes95%offoreigntradetransportation.In2007,therewere474merchantshipsover1,000tonsintheUK,withagrosstonnageof11.724milliontons.In2007,thetotalthroughputofBritishportswas583milliontons,withexportsof218milliontonsandimportsof365milliontons.TherearemanylargeandsmallportsintheUK,ofwhich100areimportantcommercialports,and52portshaveanannualthroughputofmorethan1milliontons.Portswithathroughputofmorethan10milliontonsare:Grimsby-Immingham,London,Tees-Hartpool,Foss,Milford-Haven,Southampton,Liverpool,Salonworth,thePhilippinesLikesto,Dover,etc.Throughthedevelopmentofshippingfinanceandmaritimeservices,theUKhasmaintaineditsstatusasaglobalshippingpricingcenterandmanagementcenter.LondonistheheadquartersofinternationalshippingorganizationssuchastheInternationalMaritimeOrganizationandtheInternationalShippingFederation.
Airfreight
AllairlinesandmostairportsintheUKareprivatecompanies.In2007,thereweremorethan50airlineswith952aircraftinservice,carrying24.1millionpassengers,passengermileageof314billionkilometers,andfreighttransportationvolumeof54.181billiontons.BritishAirways(BritishAirways)isoneoftheworld'slargestairlines,withmorethan300aircraft,anditsroutescoverabout220citiesinmorethan90countriesandregions.Thereare449airportsintheUK,35ofwhichhaveanannualpassengerflowofmorethan100,000.ThelargestairportintheUKisLondonHeathrowAirport,whichisalsothelargestinEuropeandoneofthelargestandbusiestintheworld,with80.9millionpassengersin2019;GatwickAirportisthesecondlargestairportintheUK,with46.6millionpassengersin2019.OnDecember11,2015,theBritishgovernmentpostponeditsdecisiononwhethertobuildanewrunwayatHeathrowAirport.TheconstructionofathirdrunwaywillalsoconnecttheUKto40newdestinations.Butthisassessmentreportsaidthatthenewrunwayshouldreducetheenvironmentandnoise.
Society
Technology
TheUKisoneoftheworld’simportantresearchanddevelopmentbasesforhigh-techandhighvalue-addedindustries,andscientificresearchinvolvesmanyscientificfields.AsofAugust2014,theUnitedKingdomhas1%oftheworld’spopulationand5%oftheworld’sscientificresearchwork,with9%publishedacademicpapersand12%citations,secondonlytotheUnitedStates.Thenumberofinternationalawardwinnersaccountsforabout10%oftheworld.Thereare78NobelPrizewinnersinscience,rankingsecondintheworld.Stronginbiotechnology,aviationandnationaldefense.
Education
England,WalesandScotlandimplementacompulsoryeducationsystemfor5-16yearsold,andNorthernIrelandimplementsacompulsoryeducationsystemfor4-16yearsold.Compulsoryeducationisinchargeoflocalgovernments,whilehighereducationisinchargeofthecentralgovernment.
Britishattachesgreatimportancetotheimprovementofeducationandscientificresearch,andcontinuestoincreaseinvestmentineducation.Studentsinpublicschoolsinprimaryandsecondaryschoolsareexemptfrompayingtuition,accountingformorethan90%ofthetotalnumberofstudents.Privateschoolshavebetterteachersandteachingequipment,butthefeesarehigh.Mostofthestudentsarechildrenofwealthyfamilies,accountingforabout7%ofthetotalnumberofstudents.TheEnglishblindnessrateisonly1%.
About40%ofmiddleschoolgraduatescanreceivehighereducation.Therearemorethan110universitiesandcollegesofhighereducationinthecountry.Well-knowninstitutionsofhigherlearningincludeOxfordUniversity,CambridgeUniversity,ImperialCollegeLondon,LondonSchoolofEconomics,UniversityofStAndrews,UniversityCollegeLondon,UniversityofWarwick,UniversityofManchester,UniversityofEdinburghandCardiffUniversity.Therearecurrentlymorethan300,000overseasstudentsstudyinginBritishcollegesanduniversities.
Britishisoneoftheworld'simportantresearchanddevelopmentbasesforhigh-techandhighvalue-addedindustries,anditsscientificresearchinvolvesalmostallscientificfields.With1%oftheworld’spopulation,5%oftheworld’sscientificresearchisengagedin,9%ofpublishedacademicpapersand12%ofcitations,secondonlytotheUnitedStates.Thenumberofinternationalawardwinnersaccountsforabout10%oftheworld,andmorethan90NobelPrizewinnershaveemergedsofar,rankingsecondintheworld.Ithasstrongcompetitivenessinbiotechnology,aviationandnationaldefense.In2017,theBritishgovernment'sR&Dinvestmentaccountedfor1.69%ofGDP.Compulsoryeducationsystemfor5-16yearsold.
Medical
TheBritishNationalHealthService(NHS)wasestablishedin1948bythethenLaborPartygovernmentandhascontinuedtoprovidefreemedicalservicestoallpeople.
AccordingtostatisticsfromtheWorldHealthOrganization,in2011,thetotalmedicalandhealthexpenditureintheUKaccountedfor9.4%ofGDP.Accordingtopurchasingpowerparity,thepercapitamedicalandhealthexpenditurewas3364USdollars.From2006to2013,therewereanaverageof28doctors,89nursingandmidwiferystaff,6dentists,and7pharmacistsper10,000people.From2006to2012,therewereanaverageof29hospitalbedsper10,000people.
Newsmedia
AsofAugust2014,thereareabout1,350newspapers,7,000weeklymagazinesandmagazinesintheUK:"DailyExpress","DailyMail","DailyMirror"TheDailyStar,TheSun,TheFinancialTimes,TheDailyTelegraph,TheGuardian,TheIndependent,TheTimes,WorldNews,SundayExpress,SundayMirror,SundayMail"ThePeople'sDaily","TheSundayTelegraph","TheObserver","TheSundayTimes","TheEconomist"andsoon.InthesixmonthsbeforeMarch2004,theBritishDailyhadaweeklycirculationof12.7millioncopiesandaSundaycirculationof14millioncopies.
ThenewsagenciesmainlyincludeReuters,NewsAssociationandAFXNewsCo.,Ltd.Thereare5televisionstationscoveringthewholecountrythroughterrestrialtransmission,namelytheBritishBroadcastingCorporation(BBC),thethirdchannelBritishindependenttelevision(ITV),thefourthchannel(Channel4),thefifthchannel(FIVE)andspecificallyfortheWelshregionAnduseS4CinWelsh.Inaddition,therearesatelliteTVandcableTV,suchasSkyTV.
Diplomacy
ForeignPolicy
Britishlandscape(20photos)
TheUnitedKingdomisapermanentmemberoftheUnitedNationsSecurityCouncilItisoneofseveralnuclearpowersintheworld,andanimportantmemberstateof120internationalorganizationssuchastheEuropeanUnion,NATO,theCommonwealth,andtheWesternEuropeanUnion.AdvocatestrengtheningrelationswiththeUnitedStatesandrealizingcommoninterests.Attachimportancetothedevelopmentofrelationswithotherbigcountries,andstrivetoimproverelationswithChina,Russia,Indiaandotherbigcountries.StrivetomaintaintraditionaltieswithCommonwealthcountries,maintainandexpandinfluenceindevelopingcountries.Activelyparticipateinglobalaffairs,maintainastrongnationaldefenseforce,andemphasizefreetrade.Strengtheninternationalcooperationonissuessuchasenvironmentalprotection,humanrights,andsustainabledevelopment.Puthumanrightsissuesatthecoreofitsforeignpolicy.ForeignRelations
RelationswithEurope
InJanuary1960,inordertofightagainsttheEuropeanCommunity,theUnitedKingdomandAustria,Denmark,Norway,andPortugal,Switzerland,andSwedenformallysignedthe"EuropeanFreeTradeAssociationTreaty."Duetotheuneveneconomiclevelsofthememberstatesandtheimplementationoflooseintergovernmentalcooperation,itisdifficultforthealliancetocompetewiththeEuropeanCommunity.In1961and1967,BritainappliedtojointheEuropeanCommunitytwice,butwasnotapproved.Attheendof1972,Britainwithdrewfromthealliance.In1973,theUnitedKingdomjoinedtheEuropeanCommunity.However,thedifferencesanddifferencesbetweentheUnitedKingdomandtheEuropeancountrieshavenotbeentrulyresolved,andtheUnitedKingdom'sattitudetowardstheEuropeanCommunityisstillfullofuncertainty,whichhaslaidhiddendangersforthesubsequentoutbreakofcontradictionsbetweenthetwosides.TheEuropeandebtcrisisthatbrokeoutin2009rewrittentheexternalenvironmentandinternalstructureoftheUK-EUrelationship,notonlyrapidlyfermentingBritain'ssuspicionofEurope,butalsospeedingupthepaceofBrexit.OnJune23,2016,theUnitedKingdomheldareferendum,and52%ofvoterschose"Brexit".OnJanuary31,2020,theUnitedKingdomofficiallywithdrewfromtheEuropeanUnion.
RelationshipwiththeUnitedStates
BeforethefoundingoftheUnitedStates,theUnitedStateswasaBritishcolony,andtheAmericanWarofIndependencebrokeoutbetweentheUnitedStates,andBritainandtheUnitedStatesareinawarrelationship;
DuringWorldWarII,BritainandtheUnitedStatesformedanalliance.AfterWorldWarII,theyarebothNATOmembers,andthetwocountriesareinaNATOalliance.
RelationshipwithIreland
IrelandandtheUnitedKingdomsignedalandmarkmutualexemptionagreementforshort-termvisasbetweenthetwocountriesonOctober6,2014,allowingTouristsandbusinesspeoplefromnon-EUcountriessuchasChina,India,andRussiacanuseonevisatotravelthroughthetwoislandcountrieswithouthindrance.
RelationswithFrance
InNovember2010,theBritishandFrenchgovernmentssignedamilitarycooperationagreement,agreeingtocreateajointforce,shareaircraftcarriers,andDevelopnewnucleartestfacilities.
RelationshipwithChina
InJanuary1950,theBritishgovernmentannouncedtherecognitionofthePeople’sRepublicofChina.
OnJune17,1954,ChinaandBritainreachedanagreementonmutualagency.
OnMarch13,1972,thetwocountriessignedajointcommuniquéonthepromotionofdiplomaticrelationsattheambassadoriallevel.
InSeptember1982,BritishPrimeMinisterThatchervisitedChinaasthefirstincumbentBritishPrimeMinister.
InDecember1984,Mrs.ThatchervisitedChinaagain,andthetwocountriessignedtheSino-BritishJointDeclarationonHongKong.
InOctober1986,QueenElizabethIIofEnglandpaidastatevisittoChina.ThisisthefirstvisittoChinabyaBritishheadofstateinhistory.
OnJuly1,1997,ChinaandBritainsuccessfullycompletedthehandoverofHongKong'sreturnofpower.
In1998,theheadsofgovernmentofthetwocountriessuccessfullyexchangedvisitsandestablishedacomprehensivepartnership.
InOctober1999,PresidentJiangZeminpaidastatevisittotheUnitedKingdom.ThiswasthefirstvisitbyaChinesePresidenttotheUnitedKingdom.
OnthemorningofNovember9,2010,BritishPrimeMinisterCameronarrivedinBeijingandbeganhisofficialvisittoChina.
FromJune16to19,2014,LiKeqiangpaidanofficialvisittotheUK.
Specialties
ScotchWhiskey
BritishScotchwhiskyhasalonghistory.ThespecialwaterqualityoftheScottishHighlandsandtheextremelystrictbrewingprocessmakeThewhiskeyproducedthereisknownas"liquidgold".
TeddyBear
TeddyBearhasaroundandplumpfigureandlimbs,fluffyandgentleangorawool,simplematerialsandEmbroiderythread,honestexpression,and100%handsewingandstuffingoperations.
Silverware
Britishsilverwareisverygorgeous,well-madeandcomplicated,andispopularwithtouristsfromallovertheworld,especiallysilverChristmastablewareInadditiontobeingbeautiful,therearemanyvarieties,fromcandleholderstoknivesandforkstoplates.TheproductionofthistypeofsilverwareisalsoatraditionalBritishcraftsmanship.
Leatherproducts
Britishleatherproductshavealonghistory.Therefinementandimprovementofthepastdynastiesformacontemporarystyle.Britishleatherproductsalwayswanttoshowasteadyandrefinedgentlemantemperament.
WedgewoodCeramics
Britishartceramicshasstrongdemand.TheUnitedKingdomistheearliestcountryinEuropetoproduceceramics,andceramicsaremorecommonlyusedintheUnitedKingdom.Inadditiontoitsownlargeexportofceramics,Britainalsoimportsalargenumberofceramics.BonemagnetsarethemostfamousintheUK.Thetoptenfamousmagnetsintheworld(bonemagnets)areallintheUK,focusingonthedurabilityoftheproducts.WidowwoodPorcelainhasundergonedifferentendurancetests,includingtheworldrecordsetinSeptember1988.FourWidowwoodcoffeecupswerecarriedbya50-tonearth-carryingtruck,whichshowstheirfirmness.
Sherry
SherryisthetransliterationofEnglishSherry,anditisalsotranslatedintoXieLi,XieLiandsoon.ThiskindofwineiscalledGretzwineinSpain.BecausetheBritishloveitverymuch,itiscalledSherry(princemeaning)byitssimilarEnglishtransliteration.Manycountriesintheworldhaveimitatedsherry.
Britishblacktea
BritishblackteahasbecomeanimportantbeveragefortheBritish.Inthepast,aristocraticafternoonteawasalwaysveryparticular.Inalargecourtyard,itwasalwaysdifficulttogatherfamilymemberstodrinkblackteaontime,sotheyshooktheirexquisitebellsandusedthesoundofbells.Tellthefamilythatit'stimeforafternoontea.
Tourism
Attractions
Edinburgh | PulteneyThreeArchBridge | BathRomanBaths | HolyroodPalace | RoyalCrescentBuilding | GreenwichPark |
EdinburghCastle | ScotchWhiskyCenter | MaritimeMuseum | MillenniumGiantEgg | VictoriaandAlbertMuseum | King’sCollege |
St.Mary’sChurch | LondonHouseofParliament | ElizabethTower | Thames | BuckinghamPalace | BritishMuseum |
MadameTussauds | HolmesMuseum | GreenwichObservatory | HydePark | HamptonPalace | KensingtonPalace |
TowerofLondon | St.Paul’sCathedral | TowerBridge | SwordBridge | WindsorCastle | WestminsterAbbey |
UniversityofCambridge | LegolandWindsor | EtonCollege | LondonEye | Shakespeare’sGlobeTheatre | Stonehenge |
HistoricSites
NumerouscastlesandcountryhousesaretestimoniestothelonghistorythatBritishlandandpropertyareownedbyaristocraticfamilies.Alargenumberofpreciousancientbuildingshavebeenwellpreserved,includingtheBlenheimPalaceoftheDukeofMarlborough,whichisstillinuse,theChatsworthPalaceoftheDukeofDevonshire(CZATSWORTH),andtheLongleyoftheMarquisofBathLONGLEATHOUSE,theseprivateestatesandresidencesbuiltbytheprincesandnoblesintheTudor,Hanover,WindsorandotherhistoricalperiodsaretypicalrepresentativesofBritishhistoricalarchitecture.Manyprivateestatesandmansionsscatteredinthetownsandvillages,aswellasancientcitywalls,watchtowers,uniquebuildingsandothermonumentalbuildingshavebeenactivelyprotectedasBritishhistoricalheritage.Includingancientminingtowers,millsandfactoriesduringtheIndustrialRevolution,ironbridgesandotherbridgesbuiltbyThomasTelford,theForthBridge,amasterpieceofsteelarchitecture,andthebeautifullyshapedClifftownSuspensionBridge,etc.Wait.ThepainterGaoHeqiusesChineseinkpaintingtoexpresstheScottishStoweOldStone,whichreflectstheintegrationofChineselandscapebrushandinklanguagewithforeignscenery.
Gardens
Britishphotos(16photos)
InEnglish,traditionalgardensarecalledGardenorPark.Fromthe14thand15thcenturiestothemid-19thcentury,thecontentandscopeofWesterngardenshavegreatlyexpanded.Gardendesignhasexpandedfromthedesignofthemainprivatecourtyardinhistorytotheequalemphasisonparksandprivategardens.Thefunctionofthegardenisnolongerjustanextensionoffamilylife,butisresponsibleforimprovingtheurbanenvironmentandprovidingaplaceforcitizenstorest,communicateandenjoy.TheNationalTrustoftheUnitedKingdomandtheNationalTrustofScotlandtakecareofapproximately240gardensintheUKanddevelopthemforthepublic.英国遗产保护组织也是部分英国最重要的风景胜地的监护人，其照管的园林中包括肯特郡唐豪斯的查尔斯·达尔文园林、埃塞克斯郡的奥德雷庄园由多才多艺的布朗设计的十八世纪景观园林、以及位于肯特郡的沃尔姆尔城堡，由朋尼洛普·霍布霍斯设计的伊丽莎白女王皇太后园林等等。除此之外，还有设计师伊莎贝尔·冯·格罗内尼根为伦敦南部埃尔珊姆宫（Eltham）设计的南护城河园林、奥斯本庄园中由鲁伯特·高尔比设计的带围墙的花果园林和怀特岛维多利亚女王的家庭园林等。
英国的各大城市，特别是伦敦，都以其美丽动人、受到良好保护的公园而声名远扬。包括海德公园、圣詹姆士公园和格林公园在内的伦敦皇家园林代表了欧洲园林艺术的最高水平，不仅如此，在大伦敦随处都可以看到造型优美、看护得当的园林供公众娱乐和休闲使用。位于伦敦西南部基尤的皇家植物园收集了大量现存和被保护的树木、种子和植物，植物园本身就是一本植物王国的百科全书，同时也成为全球植物学研究的科学中心。在康沃尔，千年委员会提供了四千万英镑的资金，用以将一个废弃的粘土坑转化成为一个全新的、在全世界绝无仅有的园林，即众所周知的伊甸项目。
英格兰有7个国家公园，威尔士有3个国家公园，每个国家公园内都保存有大面积的天然美景，其中大部分都属于私人所有。1688年的光荣革命确立了君主立宪政体，18世纪60年代至19世纪30年代成为世界上第一个完成工业革命的国家，国力迅速壮大。18世纪至20世纪初期英国统治的领土跨越全球七大洲，是当时世界上最强大的国家和第一大殖民帝国，其殖民地面积等于本土的111倍，号称日不落帝国。在两次世界大战中都取得了胜利，但国力严重受损。到20世纪下半叶大英帝国解体，资本主义世界霸权的地位被美国取代。不过，现在英国仍是一个在世界范围内有巨大影响力的大国。
名人
大卫·贝克汉姆 | 史蒂夫·麦克马纳曼 | 阿兰·希勒 | 里奥·费迪南德 | 大卫·希曼 | 史蒂文·杰拉德 | 加雷斯·贝尔 |
保罗·加斯科因 | 加里·莱因克尔 | 韦恩·鲁尼 | 保罗·斯科尔斯 | 瑞恩·吉格斯 | 弗兰克·兰帕德 | 约翰·特里 |
泰迪·谢林汉姆 | 凯文·基冈 | 迈克尔·欧文 | 戈登·班克斯 | 博比·查尔顿 | 哈里·凯恩 | 彼特·希尔顿 |
本尼迪克特·康伯巴奇 | 汤姆·希德勒斯顿 | 查理·卓别林 | 詹姆斯·麦卡沃伊 | 克里斯蒂安·贝尔 |
保罗·麦卡特尼 | 凯拉·奈特利 | 凯特·温斯莱特 | 伊万·麦格雷戈 | 杰森·斯坦森 |
乔治·哈里森 | 林戈·斯塔尔 | 凯特·贝金赛尔 | 丹尼尔·克雷格 | 海伦娜·卡特 |
费雯丽 | 凯瑟琳·泽塔琼斯 | 丹尼尔·雷德克里夫 | 布莱恩·考克斯 | 伊恩·麦凯伦 |
奥黛丽·赫本 | 裘德·洛 | 汤姆·费尔顿 | 杰里米·布雷特 | 雷德利·斯科特 |
肖恩·康纳利 | 克里斯托弗·诺兰 | 艾玛·沃特森 | 蒂姆·罗斯 | 詹森·艾萨克 |
罗杰·摩尔 | 安东尼·霍普金斯 | 鲁伯特·格林特 | 加里·奥德曼 | 保罗·贝塔尼 |
休·格兰特 | 奥兰多·布鲁姆 | 马修·麦克菲迪恩 | 拉尔夫·范恩斯 | 科林·费尔斯 |
披头士乐队 | 罗比·威廉姆斯 | 西城男孩 | 滚石乐队 | 单向组合 |
皇后乐队 | 酷玩乐队 | 詹姆斯·布朗特 | 阿黛尔·阿德金斯 | 菲姬 |
丽安娜·刘易斯 | 原子少女猫 | 辣妹 | 艾尔顿·约翰 | Mika |
JessieJ | - | - | - | - |
艾萨克·牛顿 | 罗伯特·达尔文 | 詹姆斯·麦克斯韦 | 威廉·莎士比亚 | 弗兰西斯·培根 |
珀西·雪莱 | 斯蒂芬·霍金 | 柯南·道尔 | 艾米莉·勃朗特 | 詹姆斯·瓦特 |
阿加莎·克里斯蒂 | 亚当·斯密 | 奥利弗·克伦威尔 | 迈克尔·法拉第 | 爱德华·詹纳 |
乔治·伯纳 | 罗伯特·沃波尔 | 夏洛蒂·勃朗特 | 奥斯卡·王尔德 | 丹尼尔·笛福 |
查尔斯·狄更斯 | 劳合·乔治 | 约翰·列侬 | 亚历山大·麦昆 | 威廉·皮特（父子） |
理查一世 | 威灵顿公爵 | 维多利亚女王 |
阿尔弗雷德大帝 | 伊丽莎白一世 | 温斯顿·丘吉尔 |
亚瑟王 | 托尼·布莱尔 | 玛格丽特·希尔达·撒切尔 |