Britain was once the most powerful country in the world, creating a glorious colonial era known as the "Sun Never Sets Empire". However, after two world wars and the independence of the colonies, Britain's national strength fell sharply and it ceased to be a world hegemon. At present, the UK is a highly developed capitalist market economy, and London, UK, is also one of the most important financial centers in the world, with the world's largest foreign exchange market and Europe's largest stock market. In addition, it is one of the four largest economies in Europe, with extremely high standards of living and a good social security system for its citizens. With a gross domestic product (GDP) of $3.07 trillion in 2022, the UK ranks fifth in the world, behind the US, China, Japan and Germany. In terms of per capita GDP, the UK is $45,300, which is much higher than the world average and is a high-income country.
Map of the United Kingdom, source: Internet
1. Introduction to the UK
"United Kingdom", full name "United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland". The United Kingdom is located in the British Isles northwest of continental Europe and is surrounded by the North Sea, English Channel, Celtic Sea, Irish Sea and Atlantic Ocean. The land area is 244,100 square kilometers (including inland waters). In 2020, the population of the United Kingdom was 67.081 million. The United Kingdom is divided into four parts: England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, with the capital being London. England has 130,400 square kilometers, Scotland 78,800 square kilometers, Wales 20,800 square kilometers and Northern Ireland 14,100 square kilometers.
In the 13th century, the Magna Carta and the English Parliament were born. In 1688, the Glorious Revolution established a constitutional monarchy, and later became the first country in the world to complete the Industrial Revolution, and its national strength grew rapidly. From the 18th century to the early 20th century, the territory ruled by Britain spanned seven continents around the world, and it was the most powerful country and the largest colonial empire in the world at that time, with a colonial area equal to 111 times that of the mainland. Although victorious in both world wars, the national strength was seriously damaged.
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Second, the historical development process of Britain
English history dates back to the 11th century BC, when different tribes and kingdoms ruled in the English region until 1066, when William, Duke of Normandy, conquered England and established the Normandy dynasty.
In the centuries that followed, Britain experienced many major events, including the Crusades, the launching of colonial wars, the Reformation and revolutions. In the 16th century, during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, England became a maritime power in Europe.
In the mid-17th century, during the English Civil War, Parliament sent troops to overthrow King Charles I, brutally executing him, and establishing a constitutional monarchy. Soon after, William III and Mary II overthrew the old Stuart dynasty, established the Glüxburg-Nassau dynasty, and introduced constitutional reforms and the balance of power.
In the mid-19th century, the Industrial Revolution broke out in Britain, making Britain one of the world's largest manufacturing and trading nations. This period also saw the peak of British expansion in colonial areas, including India, Africa, and Australia. At the beginning of the 20th century, Britain experienced two world wars and gradually lost its dominance in the colonies.
By the second half of the 20th century, the British Empire disintegrated and the capitalist superpower status was replaced by the United States. The United Kingdom is the head of state of the Commonwealth, a member of the G7, a founding member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, and one of the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council.
At present, the UK is a modern democracy whose political, cultural and economic influence remains very important.
3. Key figures in British history
1. William Shakespeare: One of the most outstanding playwrights in the history of English literature, his works are hailed as treasures of Western culture.
William shakespeare. Image source: Web
2. Elizabeth I: One of the longest-lived queens in English history, she ascended the throne in 1558 and ruled England and Wales for nearly 45 years, known as the "Age of Elizabeth".
3. William I: One of the most important monarchs in British history. He defeated the Saxons at the Battle of Hastings in 1066, became the English monarch, and established the Normandy dynasty.
4. Henry VIII: One of the most controversial monarchs in British history. He sparked the English Reformation because he wanted a divorce and personally led the establishment of a new church, with a total of six wives.
5. Winston Churchill: One of the most prominent politicians in British history, he served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom during World War II. His leadership and oratorical skills made an important contribution to Britain's victory in the war.
6. Isaac Newton: One of Britain's foremost scientists. He proposed classical mechanics, described theories such as universal gravity and the three laws of motion, and had a profound impact on modern physics.
Other important figures in British history include Charles Dickens, Queen Elizabeth II, Princess Diana, Adam Smith and others.
4. Britain's world-renowned characteristic culture
1. Shakespeare's Plays: William Shakespeare is one of the world's greatest dramatists, and his work is known worldwide. His plays include Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet, King Lear, and many more, which are considered classics of human literature.
Photo of "Hamlet", source: Internet
Buckingham Palace in the UK, source: Internet
2. Pirate Movies and Literature: Pirate stories are part of British culture and have been passed down since the 18th century. Pirate legends are still popular even in modern films, such as the Pirates of the Caribbean film series. Pirate stories have produced a romantic image such as a black beard, an eye patch, gold earrings, etc.
Pirates of the Caribbean stills. Image source: Web
3. British music: The UK has a rich and colorful music culture, with a status in pop music, rock music, classical music and other aspects. British rock bands such as The Beatles, Queen, The Rolling Stones and others enjoy great fame around the world. In addition, orchestras and choirs such as the London Symphony Orchestra are an important part of British musical literature.
4. British TV and film: British documentary production is very popular in the world, such as the BBC's nature documentary "Blue Planet", the TV series "Sherlock" for a global audience, and the "Ancestors" series of films. British actors and production staff graduated in Hollywood films with mediation status.
5. British afternoon tea: British afternoon tea culture is considered to be a unique cultural feature of Britain, this traditional time is to enjoy tea at home or in the restaurant at about 4 o'clock every day, plus pastries, biscuits and other snacks.
6. Royal culture: Britain is presumably the only country with an active monarchy. The Queen and Royal Family of the United Kingdom have been attracting global attention, appearing at major events and celebrations that have sparked endless reverie about British history and culture.
V. Political and economic scandals in the UK
1. Political scandal: During the 2016 Brexit referendum, former London mayor and Conservative Reece Johnson was accused of fabricating facts and misleading the public during the campaign. In addition, in the 2019 UK general election, the Conservative Party was investigated for allegedly violating electoral regulations, which raised questions about British democracy and government.
2. Economic scandal: In 2018, Kwik Fit, the UK's largest car repair chain, was fined £900,000 (about 1.13 million yuan) for allegedly defrauding consumers during the car repair process. In addition, in the early 2010s, a series of financial scandals broke out in the British banking industry, including Barclays Bank manipulating interest rates, HSBC money laundering, and high interest rates on credit cards, which seriously damaged the reputation of the British financial industry.
3. Private scandal: In 1997, after Princess Diana, a member of the British royal family, divorced her ex-husband Prince Charles, Ms. Diana was suspected of having an affair with military officer James Hewitt, an incident that attracted widespread attention and controversy.
4. "Wayne Rooney" peach scandal: In 2019, the captain of the English football team, Wayne Rooney, was also exposed for "having an affair" with a prostitute in a pub.
6. British specialties
1. English Tea (Afternoon Tea): English Tea is a traditional British snack, including a variety of small cakes, sandwiches and refreshments.
2 Fish and Chips: This is one of the most famous foods in the UK and is available in restaurants and fish shops across the country. Traditional fish and chips are made with cod and potatoes.
3. English Ale: One of the world's famous beers in the British wine, it is known for its refreshing, low carbonation, weak bitterness and slightly sweet taste.
4. English Butterscotch (Fudge): English Butterscotch is a fudge made with sugar, milk, and butter that is loved by lovers of sweets.
Other British specialties include Meat Pies, Spaghetti Bnese, Marmite, Comaroons and more
7. Curious facts about Britain
1. Nonsense: In 16th-century England, the law stipulated that only adult males could lodge complaints with the government. In order to circumvent this restriction, women prepare a bag of onions and go to the parliamentarian's office to "cry their noses", saying that they were beaten by their husbands, because onions have a nose-smoking effect, and parliamentarians will think that they are really crying, and sympathy is born.
2. Throwing shoes: In parliament, it is common to see members throwing their shoes at the podium. This is because in the past, in closed meetings, parliamentarians were not allowed to express their anger by demonstrating or other means, but could only pat the table with their hands more politely, and later changed this method to throwing their shoes. A famous example is when Conservative MP Leo Abse smashed his shoe at then-Prime Minister Harold Wilson at a meeting in 1967.
3. Investigate enchantments: In a town and village, there is a custom called "enchantment", which means that if your family has something extraordinary, such as producing good fruits, you may be jealous of others and get into trouble. Therefore, the villagers would ask someone who specialized in investigating the enchantment situation to solve the problem, which was common until the 17th century.
4. Bind the Ghost King: It is said that a mystic named John Darrell claimed that he was able to ward off evil spirits and once dispelled the forces of darkness. But the local parish did not believe this and arrested him for interrogation. During the questioning process, in order to prove his magical skills, Darrell chose to summon the evil spirit they called "Ghost King" at the time, and bound it with 6 chains for about 1 hour, and the Ghost King actually calmed down.
5. "Drinking at five": In 18th-century England, people loved a traditional custom called "Five O'Clock Tea". Because in the afternoon at this time, the working day is over, and the rest time has just begun, just the time to enjoy a cup of tea. On this basis, "drinking at five" has also become a new custom.
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