The history of Great Britain is long and very exciting. The Celts1 crossed over from Europe to the British Isles centuries before the Roman invasion2.The Roman province in this areacovered3 most of the territory of present Wales and England. The Romans influenced 4the way of living, language and culture greatly.In the 5th centure the Angles and the Saxons (two Germanic tribes)5settled6 in Britain and occupied a very vast7 territory. They were pagans8. Christianity9 came to Britain from Rome in 597. Angeles and Saxons conquered10 against Celts during the 5th and 6th centuries A.D. These Germanic conquerors gave England its name — «Angle» land.In the 11th century Normans invaded11 Britain. This invasion had a great influence on the life of Britain. For example, a feudal system was imposed12 — Lords, barons who were French-speaking Normans and the peasants13 (the English-speaking Saxons). So the English class system was built. At this time Middle English as a language dominated in England.During the 16th century the English monarch became very powerful. The Tudor dynasty (1485—1603) established14 a system of government. Parliament was split15 into two Houses and compeletely depended on the monarch. But during the 17th century it was established the supremacy16 of the parliament over the monarchy in Britain. The conflict had happend and the Civil War17 began. Parliament won the war, the king was executed18and Oliver Cromwell became the leader. But after his death this system of government was forgotten and the son of the king was returned to the throne.In the 18th century the Industrial Revolution19 started. Many of people who had lived in the rural areas20 moved to towns. The population of London became about a million. In the next century Britain governed one of the biggest world’s Empire. It was made up21 of Canada, Ireland, India, Australia and large parts of Africa. They had internal 22 self-government, but recognized the authority23 of the British government. Britain had a great economic power. The English spread their culture around the world.The 20th century was not stable. There were a lot of struggles for the rights: women, the working class. They became more powerful and stronger.Of course, I have told you the main facts about the past of the country. There were a lot of interesting events in Briatan and you can read about them in special literature.Vocabulary:Celts — кельтыthe Roman invasion — римское нашествие, завоеваниеcovered — покрывать/ занимать influenced — влиять/ воздействоватьthe Angles and the Saxons (two Germanic tribes) — Англы и Саксы (два племени)settle — осесть vast — обширныйpagans — язычникиChristianity — христианствоconquer- завоевыватьinvade — вторглись/ напали/ захватилиimpose — навязыватьpeasants — крестьянеestablish — установитьto be split — быть расколотым the supremacy — верховенствоCivil War — гражданская войнаto be executed — быть казненнымthe Industrial Revolution — индустриальная (промышленная) революцияrural areas — сельская местностьto be made up — состояла изinternal — внутреннийrecognized the authority — признавать авторитет/ верховенство/ подчинялись власти
Англия стала объединением некогда враждующих графств в 927 году и берёт своё название от англов, одного изгерманских племён, которые обосновались там в V и VI столетиях. Столица Англии — Лондон, крупнейший город Великобритании и Европейского союза.
