- •Lecture 11 the general outline, including geography
- •11.1. General description: what comes to mind first?
- •11.2. Contributions to civilization.
- •11.3. Contributions to culture.
- •11.4. The American "melting pot of nations".
- •Lecture 12 the discovery of america, and the puritan experiment
- •12.1. The earlier history of America's discovery.
- •12.2. The British colonization of the new continent.
- •12.3. The beginning of Puritan America.
- •12.4. The theocratic experiment.
- •Lecture 13 american enlightenment
- •13.1. The beginning of the Enlightenment.
- •13.2. Thomas Jefferson, the author of the Declaration of Independence.
- •13.3. The American Revolution.
- •13.4. The War of Independence and after.
- •Lecture 14 the usa in the first half of the XIX century
- •14.1. The historical outline.
- •14.2. The Civil War in the usa (1861—1865).
- •14.3. The war and its outcome.
- •14.4. Abraham Lincoln, 16th President of the usa.
- •Lecture 15 the reconstruction and after
- •15.2. More development.
- •15.3. Geography and a bit of economy.
- •15.4. Manufacturing of today.
- •Lecture 16 the usa in the XX century
- •16.1. The First World War.
- •16.2 The Great Depression and World War II.
- •16.3. After of the war: international politics.
- •16.4. After of the war: domestic affairs.
- •Lecture 17 the usa after 1950
- •17.1. The civil rights movement: 1950s — 1960s.
- •17.2. The Kennedy Administration and the Vietnam War.
- •17.3. The space programs.
- •17.4. From Reagan to Bush, Jr.
- •Lecture 18 ppolitical system. Parties. Leadership
- •18.1 The us political system.
- •18.2. Main political parties
- •18.3. Main political leaders.
- •18.4. Modern us policy.
- •Lecture 19 social issues, and education and science
- •19.1. Social issues.
- •19.2. Secondary education.
- •19.4. Notes on the development of American science.
- •Lecture 20 mass culture and the concept of americanization
- •20.1. America’s Global Role (political and economic influence)
- •20.2 America’s Global Role.
- •20.3 America’s mass culture.
- •20.4 The usa in the XXI century.
- •20.4.4.
- •Lecture 21 a tour of the english-speaking countries
- •21.1. Sightseeing in the United Kingdom.
- •21.2. Sightseeing in the usa.
- •21.3. The Republic of Ireland and Canada.
- •21.4. Australia and New Zealand.
20.4.4.
Obama
Lecture 21 a tour of the english-speaking countries
21.1. Sightseeing in the United Kingdom.
21.1.1. For many decades Britain has remained a tourist Mecca for people around the world. And the attractions Britain suggests have been diverse. Stonehenge is an archaeological site located about 8 miles (13 km) northwest of Salisbury, in Wiltshire, England. Built in prehistoric times around 3100 BC, it is a monumental circular setting of large standing stones surrounded by an earthwork. The precise purposes of Stonehenge still remain a mystery. This most remarkable monument of Britain’s prehistory is considered to be the centre of religious, political and economic power of the early country’s inhabitants.
21.1.2. One of the major tourist attractions, Melrose Abbey, is considered one of Scotland’s most beautiful sights. Its fascinating history provides the visitor with a sense of romance. The Abbey was founded by King David I around 1136. The church was eventually burned by the English and the place got almost deserted in 1385. The former splendour was rebuilt over a period of about 100 years, and one person instrumental in the reconstruction was King Robert the Bruce. When Bruce was dying he requested that his heart be taken into battle, as he was unable to go on crusade. His wish was granted and his heart now lies in an unopened lead casket in Melrose Abbey. Throughout its working life Melrose Abbey was a favourite of the royalty. Today, Melrose Abbey, under the care of Historic Scotland, comprises the almost complete ruins of the Abbey Church.
21.1.3. Wales is famous for its spectacular mountain scenery and wonderfully preserved medieval castles. The Northern part of Wales is the most scenic, containing the Snowdonia National Park. The park contains over 800 square miles of mountains, forests, lakes and waterfalls. The highest mountain in England and Wales, Snowdon, lies in the park, although Snowdon is only about 3500 feet high and one can easily walk to the summit.
21.1.4. The Giant's Causeway is a World Heritage site, National Nature Reserve and Northern Ireland’s premier tourist attraction. The sight presents a great lot of basalt columns on the edge of the Antrim plateau some 25 miles (40 km) northeast of Londonderry. There are approximately 40,000 of these stone pillars, each typically with five to seven irregular sides, jutting out of the cliff faces as if they were steps creeping into the sea. Formed 50 to 60 million years ago, the Giant's Causeway resulted from successive flows of lava inching toward the coast and cooling when they contacted the sea. The pressure between the columns sculpted them into polygonal shapes that vary from 38 to 51 cm in diameter and measure up to 25 m in height. First documented in 1693, the formation has been intensively studied by geologists. The site is protected not only for its beauty but also because its cliffs, seashores, marshes, and grasslands are home to some 50 species of birds, as well as to more than 200 species of plants. Humans settled around the Giant's Causeway in the 19th century, but now the site is uninhabited.