英语国家概况 Chapter_2.pptVIP

Chapter 2 The Origins of a Nation I. Early Settlers(5000BC—55BC) 1. The Iberians The first known settlers of Britain were the Iberians, short, dark, and long headed, coming from the Iberian peninsula, now Spain. Stonehenge in Wiltshire, constructed before 2000 BC, has religious and political significance. It was used to play some religious rites by the ancient people. 英国南部的巨石阵由一根根巨形石柱排列成几个完整的同心圆，外围是直径约90米的环形土岗和沟，沟中的土挖出后堆成土岗。土岗内侧由56个等距离的坑构成一个圆形。坑内灰土夹杂着人的骨灰。石阵中心是30根石柱，上架横梁彼此以榫头和榫眼连接，构成圆形。石柱高4米，宽2米，厚1米，重25吨。这一圆形中间有一个拱门，两根立柱各重50吨，横梁重10吨。拱门位于巨石阵中心，正对着夏至日出的方向。据测定，巨石阵建于4000多年前（CCTV报道）。关于巨石阵的用途，众说纷纭，比较一致的看法是巨石阵用于对日月运行的观测,它代表着一年有八个节气的历法。 2. The Beaker Folk(宽口陶器人) They took their name from their bell- shaped drinking vessels with which they were buried. 3. The Celts A taller and fairer race, from central Europe, now France, and Germany, came in 3 waves: the Gaels, the Brythons, and the Belgae. They were practiced farmers. The importance of the Celts: the Celts II. Roman Invasion (55BC-410AD) 1. British recorded history begins with the Roman invasion. 2. It was not a total occupation; the control was only effective in England: 3. the Roman impact: The impact was surprisingly limited; its impact was on construction, not on the language or culture of the people. a. reasons for these: The Romans were rulers; they treated the Celts as slaves. So, never did they intermarry. b. impacts: A lot of towns were built, including London (-caster or –chester derived from the Latin word castra for camp); walls built to keep away Picts A lot of roads were built, some of which are still in use. Baths and amphitheatres and villas were built. After the withdrawal of the Romans, the country once occupied by the Romans was again divided into small kingdoms. a. King Arthur and his knights?of?round?table: all would have equal importance— indicating the early form