Mogilev

Mogilev is a more than 700-year-old city. According to the Mogilev chronicle, the Mogilev castle was built in 1267.

There are several legends explaining the origin of the city’s name. One of them is connected with Duke Lev Danilovich Mogij (the Mighty Lion) over whose grave a burial mound was made later nicknamed Mogilev (or the Lion’s tomb). In the course of its history the city was repeatedly attacked and besieged, even burnt to the ground not once. Invaders ruined and robbed it. Mogilev survived a number of conquests – the Sweden during the Northern War in 1700 – 1721 and the Napoleon ones during the Patriotic War of 1812, and the last one – the fascist Germany occupation of 1941-1945. The city remembers the heroic defense of 1941 and the courageous struggle of the partisan movement during the Great Patriotic War. In June 1944 the city was freed from German invaders.

Mogilev became the center of the province after the reunification with Russia in 1772. During the First World War the Supreme Commander-in-Chief Headquarters were based in Mogilev. Soviet power was established here in November 1917. Mogilev has been the center of the region since 1938.

Mogilev is one of the largest industrial centers of Belarus and the region. It produces more than 50% of the total industrial output of the whole region. There are industrial enterprises producing chemical fibers, passenger elevators, wheeled prime movers, electric engines, fabrics, shoes and other consumer goods. Mogilev is a large transport center. Railway, automobile, river and pipeline transportation is well developed here.

Mogilev is the scientific and cultural center of the region. It has 3 state Universities, the Mogilev branch of Belarusian Academy of Music, the branch of Belarusian Institute of Law, some colleges and vocational training schools.

There are also some museums and theatres.

The English Language in the world

It is only in the course of the last hundred years that English is become a world language. In Shakespeare's time it was a provincial language of secondary importance with only 6 million native speakers. Nowadays English has-become the world's most important language in politics, science, trade and cultural relations. It is the official language of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, of the United States of America, of Australia and New Zealand. English is used as one of the official languages in Canada, the Republic of South Africa and the Irish Republic. It is also spoken as a second l-ge by many people in India, Pakistan, numerous countries in Africa. Around 375 mln people speak English as their first language and another 375 mln speak it as a second language.

Even more widely English is studied and used as a foreign language – around 750 mln people. In this respect it acquired an international status. It is used for communication across frontiers, listening to broadcasts, reading books and newspapers, in commerce and travel. Half of the world’s scientific literature is in English. English is associated with technological and economic development of the great manufacturing countries. It is the language of automation and computer technology, international aviation, shipping and sport. It is the major of diplomacy.