Introduction.

Britain is an Island and their geography has a massive impact on how they see the rest of the world. The sea has shaped them from being invaded to mastering the art of seafaring, from fish and chips to cups of tea. It makes them quite xenophobic. But living on an island makes them explore the world and rule the waves.

1). The Roman Invasion

Task 1. Pick out the sentences in which the following phrasal verbs are used:

Give up - отказаться

Keep in check – контролировать, держать в узде

Task 2. Watch this subpart of the film and fill in the gaps.

In 43 AD 1) … …… invaded. They crossed 2) … ……. and landed on the Southern coast of England. It was a massive 3) …….. ….. . But it was no 4) …. …. . Indigenous people (коренное население), the Picts* and the Celts put up 5). …… ………. . Celtic leaders like Boadicea rallied their people 6) ……. the Romans. But the revolts (восстания) were crushed, the Romans conquered England and Wales and they ruled Britannia for 7) … ….. . The Romans required (Римлянам требовалось) more troops (войск) to keep control of this province than in any other of the Empire. This shows the tough, tenacious (упорный, несговорчивый) attitude of the Celts and their determination not to give up their 8) ……. . To keep the Celts 9) .. ….. the Romans covered Britain with 10) …. …………. to house their occupation forces and connected them up with 11) ….. . Roads helped to transform Britain into a vibrant economy.

Goods could be transported from A to B. But the greatest change the Romans brought was a 12)…… …….. (единая валюта). Previously each individual tribe (племя) had their own coinage. Roman coins made 13) ….. a lot easier. Local projects got connected to the vast imperial trading system (Marcel, Constantinople*, even Alexandria* ). Romans connected Britain to a 14) ….. ….. . The British got a taste for foreign food, and British goods went to the four corners of the Roman Empire. Romans gave Britain 15) … … ….. , they gave a common language, 16) ….. . For the first time different tribes could communicate. Latin phrases status quo; post mortem; vice versa are still used today. Romans gave to the province the name Britannia* and to the British - a sense of national identity.

Task 3. Enumerate the most important effects of the Roman rule in Britain.

Task 4. Explain the Latin phrases mentioned in the film.

Cultural Commentary

*Picts – the term ‘Picts’ – first mentioned by a Roman author in AD 297- signifies ‘painted people’. In Roman times it was used to describe people living north of the Antonine wall (a wall in Strathclyde built in the early 140s AD). On the basis of archeological and place name evidence (археологические и топонимические данные) it has been suggested that Picts were a pre-Celtic people. (‘The history today companion to British History’ edited by Juliet Gardiner & Neil Wenborn : Collins& Brown Limited, London, 1995 – p. 598)

*Constantinople – The Roman Emperor Constantine built a new capital city et Constantinople (now Istanbul) modeled on Rome with its seven hills, from which to administer the eastern empire. (Parker, Philip ‘Eyewitness Companions World History’: Dorling Kindersley Limited, London 2010 –p.140 )

*Alexandria – Alexander the Great encouraged the foundation of Greek cities in newly conquered lands, including most notably Alexandria in Egypt. These became the focus for the diffusion of Greek culture, known as Hellenism, throughout the East. (Parker, Philip ‘Eyewitness Companions World History’: Dorling Kindersley Limited, London 2010 –p. 127)

*Britannia is an ancient term for Roman Britain and also a female personification of the island. The personification of the martial Britannia was used as an emblem of British imperial power and unity. She featured on all modern British coinage series until the redesign in 2008.

The National Armada memorial in Plymouth depicting Britannia