Unit 1

Text 1 The Middle Ages English Historiography

With the disintegration of the Western Roman Empire in the 5^th century AD, the traditions of classical education and literary culture, of which historiography was part, were disrupted. Literacy became one of the professional skills of the clergy, which carried on the task of preserving and expanding a learned, religious culture. Many monasteries kept chronicles or annals, often the anonymous work of generations of monks, which simply recorded whatever the author knew of events, year by year, without any attempt at artistic or intellectual elaboration.

The achievements of past historians, however, preserved in monastic libraries, kept alive the idea of a more ambitious standard, and early medieval writers struggled to meet it. The Ecclesiastical History of the English People (731) by Bede the Venerable, an English monk, achieved the integration of secular and ecclesiastical history, natural and supernatural events, in a forceful and intelligent narrative.

The revived vigor of intellectual and literary life in the High Middle Ages is reflected in the historical works of the English monk William of Malmesbury. Although most of the later medieval historians were clerics and wrote in Latin, the traditions of secular historiography were also revived by chroniclers who wrote in the vernacular languages.

Vocabulary Notes

to be disrupted – бути зруйнованим

anonymous – анонімний, тут: безіменний

artistic or intellectual elaboration – художній чи інтелектуальний розвиток

the integration of secular and ecclesiastical history – поєднання світської та духовної історії

a forceful and intelligent narrative – переконлива та ґрунтовна оповідь

a revived vigor – відроджена могутність

a vernacular language – рідна (народна, національна) мова

Answer the questions

1. When were the traditions of classical education and literary culture disrupted?

2. Why did monasteries keep chronicles and annals?

3. How can you describe the historical works of English monks?

Text 2 The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

The British Isles is a geographical term refers to the great number of islands that surround and include Great Britain and Ireland.

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is a political term and the nation’s official name. Most people call the country the United Kingdom, the UK, Great Britain, or simply Britain. The United Kingdom is really four countries: England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland or Ulster. Many years ago these were separate countries, each with its own language and government, but now they are united and English is spoken everywhere. Each country of the United Kingdom is divided into counties:

England: 46 counties. Capital: London.

Scotland: 33 counties. Capital: Edinburgh.

Wales: 13 counties. Capital: Cardiff.

Northern Ireland or Ulster: 6 counties. Capital: Belfast.

Great Britain is the largest island in Europe. It is in the north-west of Europe and is separated from the Continent by the North Sea, the English Channel and the Strait of Dover. This narrow stretch of water (at its narrowest part – only twenty-one miles across) has helped to shape the character and history of the British people. It has helped to protect GB from invasions, and has given the people a feeling of security. Since 1066 no enemy has crossed the channel and invaded the country. Between Great Britain and Ireland lies the Irish Sea. The smaller islands of the British Isles are the Isle of Wight (England), Anglesey (Wales) and the island groups of the Hebrides, Orkneys and Shetlands (Scotland).

The most famous English river is the Thames. The Severn is the longest river in the United Kingdom. It is 240 miles long. Other important rivers are the Trent, Mersey, Tyne, Tees, Firth and Clyde.

Lakes can be found in the north of England (Lake District), in Scotland and in Ulster. The most beautiful lakes are Loch Lomond and Loch Katrine in Scotland. The most famous lakes of the Lake District are Windermere and Derwentwater.

British mountains are low; the highest in Scotland, is Ben Nevis (4,406ft/1,343m) followed by Snowdon in Wales (1084m).

Complete with prepositions and adverbs:

1. England is made … 46 counties.

2. Great Britain is separated … France … the English Channel.

c) The name British Isles, refers … a great number of islands.

4. Ben Nevis is low compared … Mont Blanc.

5. Scotland is … the north … Great Britain.

f) In the past, England, Scotland and Wales were countries … different languages.

Fill in the missing words:

a) Great Britain is the largest island of the ...Isles.

b) England is a country in the south of Great Britain. Wales is in the ... and Scotland is in the... .

c) The English Channel separates Great Britain from ... .

d) The capital of England is London, the capital of Scotland is ...and the capital of ... is Cardiff.

e) Ulster is in the north-eastern part of... .

f) The Thames flows... London.

g) Ben Nevis, which is 4,406 ft high, is in ... .

Text 3. Conversational Topic

Pre-text exercises