| Who are the British? | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Before Roman times, (A.D. 43. London), there was no Britain. 'Britain' had no political meaning, and no single cultural identity. Through history the island has consisted of multiple cultural groups and identities. Many of these groups came from across the seas, and did not contact their neighbours. It was often harder to reach than their neighbours in Ireland or continental Europe, who they could meet by ship.
1. Before Rome: the 'Celts'.The Very First peoples We get our first accounts of Britain from the many Romans, foe example Julius Ceaser who invaded in 55 and 54 BC. Most people call the Britons before the Romans the Celts. The Celts came from Europe and settled in Britain. Their culture goes back to about 1200 BC. The Celts were famous for their art-work and jewellery. They were pre-Christian and are therfore known as 'pagans', and their priests were known as Druids. There are still practising Druids in Britain. 2. Britain and the RomansAlmost everyone in Britannia was legally and culturally 'Roman'.The Roman conquest started in AD 43. However, Rome only ever conquered half the island, Scotland remained beyond Roman government, although the nearby presence of the empire had major effects.'By AD 300, almost everyone in 'Britannia' was Roman, legally and culturally, even though their families had lived in Britain before the Romans, and were still mostly speaking 'Celtic' dialects. The Roman army was small compared to the whole population. 3. The Dark AgesThe end of Roman power (c.410 AD) saw a return to cultural trends reaching back to before the Iron Age, creating small kingdoms which would develop, under pressure from the Saxons, the Germans, into the Welsh and Cornish regions. By the sixth century, most of Britannia was taken over by 'Germanic' kingdoms from what is now Germany,Holland and Denmark. The first to come were the Saxons followed by the Jutes and Angles who all settled and married and inter-married with each other. This was Anglo-Saxon England; the replacement of ‘the Celts' by ‘the Germans'.The Celts fled to the distant corners of Britain-Scotland, Wales, Ireland and Cornwall. They took with them their own language, Gaelic and their own culture. Customs which we can still see today in dance, music, art and the Gaelic language which is still spoken. Celtic language and culture is particularly strong in the Islands and the highlands of Scotland. Islands such as Skye, and the highland areas, the northern areas of Scotland such as Bonar. Those Angles, who remained in England, married with the Saxons and became the Anglo-Saxons, the original English people. (Angle-land=England). Conclusion Britain has always had invaders and been home to multiple peoples. The adoption of 'Celtic' cultural traits in the Iron Age, Roman civilization, and the development of Anglo-Saxon England which was the adoption of another new political culture; that of the 'Germanic barbarians'. 4. Modern Timeshttp://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/index.htmBritish people live in the UK. They are people who live in England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland. British people can also either be English, Scottish, Welsh or Irish.The British are said to be reserved in manners, dress and speech. They are famous for their politeness, self-discipline and especially for their sense of humour. British people have a strong sense of humour which sometimes can be hard for foreigners to understand.Britain is a country of mixed cultures. London has the largest non-white population of any European city and over 250 languages are spoken there. Therefore not all British people are White or Christians. What is the population of Britain?Do you mean Great Britain or the United Kingdom? Many people confuse the two. Great Britain (Britain) is made up of England, Scotland and Wales, where as the UK is Britain AND Northern Ireland.
The population is very unequally distributed over the four parts of the UK:
June 2003:Area Size (sq km) England 49,856,000 130,281 Northern Ireland 1,703,000 13,576 Scotland 5,057,000 77,925 Wales 2,938,000 20,732 United Kingdom 59,554,000 242,514 You can see that England has the highest population density and Scotland the lowest. This is mainly due to many parts of Scotland being unsuitable for people to live. Nearly 84 per cent of the total population of the United Kingdom lives in England. The most populated areas of England are the major cities and towns of London and the South East, South, Manchester and Liverpool, the West Midlands, and around Newcastle. London has the highest population density with 4,699 people per square kilometre, and the South West the lowest (210 people per square kilometre).England is by far the most densely populated part of the UK.England's population density is more than 3 times the European average England is also one of the most densely populated countries in the world. What are the National identities of the people living in Britain? Many people thing that 'English' is the same as 'British'. It is not! People who are English live in the country of England. British people are people who live in Great Britain (Britain) which is made up of different countries. Not all British people are the same. There are often distinct differences between people living in each of the three countries in Britain. This is because different groups of people tend to develop their own customs and way of life. England is only one of the three nations in Britain (Scotland, England and Wales). The Scots and the Welsh are British too. They sometimes get angry when they are referred to 'English'. After all, they now have their own parliaments, so why should they take their identity from England? They have their own identity. Most white people born in Great Britain do not regard themselves as 'British' and prefer to state their identity as English, Scottish or Welsh. People born in England are called English or British and can say that they live in England, Britain and/or the UK.Slang terms sometimes used for the English include "Sassenachs" (from the Scots Gaelic), "Limeys" (in reference to the citrus fruits carried aboard English sailing vessels to prevent scurvy) and "Pom / Pommy" (used in Australian English and New Zealand English) People born in Scotland are called Scottish or British and can say that they live in Scotland, Britain and/or the UK. People born in Wales are called Welsh or British and can say that they live in Wales, Britain and/or the UK.Are the people in Britain from different cultures?"We celebrate the diversity in our country, get strength from the cultures and the races that go to make up Britain today." Prime Minister Tony Blair, 2 October 2001 If you walk down a street in Britain, especially in the bigger cities you will usually see people with different hair, skin and eye colours. They may have white, brown or black skin and blonde, brown, black,or red hair, with blue, black, brown or green eyes. Many of the people you will see will be British people but they all look different because the people of Britain are a mixed race.Not all British people are Christian or WhiteHow Britain became a mixed race society Britain is, and has always been a mixed race society. Early in our history we were invaded by Roman, Saxon, Viking and Norman armies and later Africans were brought to Britain by force in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries as slaves or servants. Over the years, thousands of people have arrived in Britain as refugees from France, Ireland, Russia, and other countries, escaping from persecution or famine in their own countries.There are British people whose parents first came to Britain in the 1950s and 1960s from the Caribbean, India, Pakistan, Hong Kong and other places. Their homes are mainly in the big English cities like London, Birmingham and Manchester.About 8% of the population of Britain today are people from other cultures and ethnicities. That is 4.6 million people. According to a BBC Report in September 2005, immigration made up more than half of Britain's population growth from 1991 to 2001. New CulturesPeople moving to Britain have brought their own cultures and try to keep two cultures alive. An excellent example of this is the Notting Hill Carnival which is celebrates the Caribbean Culture, and is now a very big part of the British life today. 2-300 different languages are spoken in London every day. People from minority ethnic groups were more likely to live in England than in the rest of the United Kingdom. They made up 9 per cent of the population of England in 2001 compared with 2 per cent of the population of both Wales and Scotland and 1 per cent of the population of Northern Ireland. Nearly half (45 per cent) of the total minority ethnic population live in London. Timeline: Immigration 19th Century
Social Class System in BritainIs Multiculturalism and a changing economy gradually eroding the British class system? No! What is Class?Sociologists define social class as the grouping of people by occupations. Doctors and lawyers and university teachers are given more status than unskilled labourers. The different positions represent different levels of power, influence and money. The British society is often considered to be divided into three main groups of classes - the Upper Class, the Middle Class, and the Lower or Working Class. This is known as the Class system The Different Class Systems The Middle Classes are the majority of the population of Britain today. They include industrialists, professionals, businesspeople and shop owners. The working class people are mostly agricultural, mine and factory workers. You can tell a person's staus or which class people belong to by the way they speak (accent), their clothes, their interests, the way that they educate their children, or even the type of food they eat. Taxi drivers or cabbies, are usually very talkative and friendly and are also known for their charitable work. There is currently a campaign to stop domestic violence, that is violence directed at women in the home. They are taking action to help reduce this problem. Taking Action-Public AttitudesWhich objects or activities can be harmful (dangerous) to the environment?Which do you personally think is the biggest environmental problem? .The British have a tradition of expressing their opinions in order to affect change. If they do not like something they will often form pressure groups to prevent or change a course of action. Young people are particularly active when it comes to the matter of environmental problems or green issues. Environmental action groups such as Green peace and Friends of the Earth are well known to young people. Universities throughout Britain are covered with posters which give information about national and international environmental and political problems.Does this sound like Japan? Can local people change their local neighbourhood? What about the building of new mansion blocks, can the local residents do anything to prevent it?Are there any green issues in Japan?Look at… http://www.foe.co.uk/ Friends of the Earth. What are some British Customs?TimeBritish people place considerable value on punctuality. If you agree to meet friends at three o'clock, you can bet that they'll be there just after three. Since Britains are so time conscious, the pace of life may seem very rushed. In Britain, people make great effort to arrive on time. It is often considered impolite to arrive even a few minutes late. If you are unable to keep an appointment, it is expected that you call the person you are meeting. Some general tips follow. You should arrive: * At the exact time specified – for dinner, lunch, or appointments with professors, doctors, and other professionals. If you are invited to someone's house for dinner at half past seven, they will not expect you to be there on the dot. It is considered good manners to arrive ten to fifteen minutes "late". An invitation might state "7.30 for 8", in which case you should arrive no later than 7.50. However, if an invitation says "sharp", you must arrive in plenty of time. Invitations“Drop in anytime” and “come see me soon” are idioms often used in social settings but seldom meant to be taken literally-although it depends on the people. It is wise to telephone before visiting someone at home. If you receive a written invitation to an event that says “RSVP,” you should respond to let the person who sent the invitation know whether or not you plan to attend. Never accept an invitation unless you really plan to go. You may refuse by saying, “Thank you for inviting me, but I will not be able to come.” If, after accepting, you are unable to attend, be sure to tell those expecting you as far in advance as possible that you will not be there. Although it is not necessarily expected that you give a gift to your host, it is considered polite to do so, especially if you have been invited for a meal. Flowers, chocolate, or a small gift are all appropriate. A thank-you note or telephone call after the visit is also considered polite and is an appropriate means to express your appreciation for the invitation. Dress
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