BRITISH CULTURE

Intercit
y train
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OVERVIE
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 A. THE
UNITED
KINGDOM
ENGLAND SCOTLAND WALES

NORTHEN
GREAT BRITAIN THE UK
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CONTENT

• HISTORY
• BELIEFS AND VALUES
• THE MONARCHY
• A CHANGING FAMILY
 HISTORICAL TIMELINE
• 1500 BC - 43 Iron Age Celtic culture
AD
 Arrived from Europe from 8th century B.C
 intermingled with people who were already there
 introduced pottery, farming and iron tools
• 43 AD - 410 Roman influence was confined to the towns,
AD whereas the countryside largely remains unchanged

the Anglo Saxons arrived in England (5th); the

• 410 - 1066 Vikings came to Scotland (8th)
a great effect on the countryside: Introduced new
farming methods + Founded thousands of self –
sufficient villages – form of the basis of the English
society for the next thousand or so years.
 HISTORICAL TIMELINE
Norman invasions in the medieval period
• 1066 - 1154  Small– scale
 No Norman village or Norman area of settlement
 Norman soldiers were given the ownership of
land and of the people living on it
King  A strict feudal system in England:

Lesser lords French-speaking Normans

Barons The beginning of

the English class system

Peasants English-speaking Saxons

 The Wars of the Roses
The Bubonic Plague (the Black Death)
The strength of the great barons had
been greatly weakened
The shortage of labor
The increasing importance of trade in
the towns
Weaken the traditional ties between the
feudal lords and peasants
LANCASTER YORK
A system of government departments
was established
Rejection of the Roman Church by Henry
VIII
This rejection accorded with a new spirit
of patriotic confidence in England as an
“island nation”
 Exploration of Americas => England was
closer to the geographical center of western
civilization instead of being on the edge of
it
 Conflicts
 The Stuart Monarchs raised money
without parliament’s agreement
 The rise of Puritanism against
Anglicanism
- Puritans regarded many Anglican
practices and Anglican hierarchical
structure as immoral
Conflicts => Civil War

 Restoration and Revolution, the beginning of

Empire
 This century was marked
by cultural change
Britain expanded its
empire in
 The Americas
 West African coast
 India

The German Georges rule Britain

 Expansion of the British Empire => the
white man’s burden
Great changes in social structure
Reforms in politics and human rights

Peace and prosperity, the

growth of Empire
carnage without a cause
•1918 - The after effects of World
1939 War I, the General Strike
BELIEFS AND VALUES

• CONSERVATISM
• BEING DIFFERENT
• THE LOVE OF NATURE
• THE LOVE OF ANIMALS
• FORMALITY AND INFORMALITY
CONSERVATISM

• like symbols of tradition and stability

• value continuity over modernity for its own sake: old house; reluctant to
change their system of currency
the two most popular books for children’s writers were noticeably
‘unmodern’
BEING DIFFERENT

• particularly and stubbornly conservative about anything which is perceived as a

token of ‘Britishness’.
• their conservatism can combine with their individualism; they are rather proud of
being different
• driving on the left-hand side of the road
• not being like everyone else is a good reason not to change
• Systems of measurement: feet, miles, pounds, ounces, F, pints, gallons
• Governments sometimes promote this pride in being different
THE LOVE OF NATURE & ANIMALS
• have an idealized vision of the countryside
Countryside:
• poor facilities, lack of educational opportunities, unemployment and poverty.
• peace and quiet, beauty, good health and no crime
• Large areas of the country are official ‘national parks’ where almost no
building is allowed
• Maps can be bought which mark in great detail the routes of the public
footpaths in the country
• Gardening is one of the most popular hobbies in the country

 is another aspect of British conservatism  The countryside

represents stability.
THE LOVE OF NATURE & ANIMALS
• Nearly half of the households in Britain keep at least one domestic pet.
• animal graveyards are popuplar in Britain.
• pay quite a large sum of money to give their pets a decent burial
• Wildlife programs  the most popular kind of television documentary.
• ‘bird tables’ in gardens
• ‘bird tables’ in their gardens

 is part of the British love of nature.

FORMALITY AND INFORMALITY

• Formal on public role Informal on private role

rigid rules no rules
Suit at work jean at weekend
• difference between formalities and formality: being friendly in Britain often
involves showing that you are not bothering with the formalities

• the general amount of informality has been increasing

• the traditional reserve has also been breaking down
THE MONARCHY
THE APPEARANCE
In written law, the Queen has absolute power to:
Choose the Prime Minister
Dismiss ministers and governments
Dissolve Parliament
Refuse to agree to legislation
passed by Parliament
Dismiss the governments of
other countries of which she is
monarch
Embody the law in the courts
Can do nothing that is legally wrong
32
 In reality: Different THE REALITY
Can’t stop the Gov.
 Can’t choose anyone she likes to be P.M going ahead with
any of its politics
 P.M decides the other government ministers
 P.M requests a dissolution of Gov.
 The Royal assent to a bill passed by Parliament is automatic

When she opens Parliament each year,

the speech she makes has been written
for her
• she makes no secret of the fact
• She reads word for word 33

• She might ask the Gov. minister to

The Queen has almost no power at all
change the wording
 THE ROLE OF THE MONARCH

• acts as a focus for national

Symbol of
identity, unity and pride; government
• gives a sense of stability and
continuity;
• officially recognises success
A final
and excellence; check on a Ceremonial
• supports the ideal of voluntary Gov duties
service.