The European Union:
description
Transcript of The European Union:
The European Union:
Concept began with Winston Churchill after WWII
1992 – Officially began 2000 – Euro € became official currency of
the EU Today there are 27 countries in the EU
The United Kingdom
Nations Included: England, Wales,
Scotland & No. Ireland
Capital: London (Urban area population of 9.8 million ) Population of UK: 60.9m
Great Britain (Britain) is made up of England, Scotland and Wales, whereas the UK is Britain as well as Northern Ireland.
Money: British Pound 1 = $1.66
Member of the E.U. but do NOT use the Euro
Government: Constitutional Monarchy- Queen Elizabeth II is Figure-Head leader
Parliament:
Has 2 houses:
House of Lords
House of Commons
LEADER:
David Cameron – Prime Minister
Elected 2010
Religion:
Church of England
(Anglican)
Catholic
Other Christian
Denominations
Muslim &
Jewish
Climate: Mostly Marine West Coast
Languages:
-English w/ many
dialects
-Welch
-Scottish
-Gaelic
-Many other foreign languages
Natural Resources:
Coal, oil, natural gas Tin, limestone Iron ore, salt Potatoes, fish
Flag of the United Kingdom:
Cross of
St. Charles
(English)
Cross of
St. Andrews
(Scottish)
Cross of
St. Patrick (Irish)
Stonehenge: located south of London on a large plain A large circle of huge
stones
Built in 3 stages b/t 3000-1000 BC
Temple for Druids? Sun dial? Calendar stone?
Don’t know the actual reason!
Stratford upon Avon: Birthplace of William Shakespeare Royal Shakespearian
Theatre built here in 1952
Wm. Shakespeare: 1565-1616
Considered the greatest dramatist in the world
Wrote 37 plays
154 sonnets
Other poems
Thatched Roofs: Cottages in Stratford are built with thatched roofs from local grass
Anne Hathaway’s Home - Shakespeare’s wife
Crusades:
A series of military campaigns to regain Jerusalem from the Islamic people
Took place b/t 1095-1291
Basically a failure that caused long lasting hatred and shattered lives
Oxford University:
Oldest institution of higher learning in the English-speaking world
1st classes began in 1117
Located north of London
Buckingham Palace
Official residence of the British kings and queens
600 rooms filled
with beautiful art
Home of QEII
Changing of the guard atBuckingham Palace
Big Ben:
Named after Sir Benjamin Hall in 1859
Ben is the bell not the tower
Bell is 13.5 tons Can be heard all over
London Located by Parliament
on Thames River
Trafalgar Square
Located in central London
Celebrates the British naval commander, Sir. Horatio Nelson – He defeated Napolean.
Cleopatra’s Needle
Obelisk taken to London from Egypt by the Romans
Located along the Thames River bank
Once belonged to Cleopatra
St. Paul’s Cathedral:
Once a Catholic Church
but changed by Henry VIII
Now Church of England
Plagued by
numerous fires
Sculptures,
Paintings, etc
Princess Diana was married here to Prince Charles
Tower Bridge:
Located over Thames River in London
Windsor Castle:
Royal Palace Located 22 mi south of
London Overlooks the Thames
River
“Keep” or round part is most likely where the knights of the round table met during King Arthur’s time (Camelot)
Tower of London:
Located on the north bank of the Thames River
Built 1078 Once royal
Residence Later a prison Today it is where
the crown jewels
are kept
Westminster Cathedral
Most famous of all England’s churches
Built in 1245
Style is French Gothic
Where Princess Diana’s funeral was held
Sports
Soccer cricket
Rugby
Chunnel
32 mile long tunnel b/t England and France
3 tubes (tunnels) 2 for trains going each direction and 1 for service
Takes about 35 minutes to go under the ocean floor!