- •1. Early Britain. Ancient population.
- •2. The Roman invasion.
- •4. The raids of the Danes and their role in the unification of the country.
- •5. The Norman invasion. The main principles of feudalism.
- •6. Early British education. The first universities. A medieval town.
- •7. England in the 14-15th centuries (the 100 Years’ War, the Peasants’ Revolt, the War of the Roses).
- •8. The policy of the new monarchs: Henry VII, Henry VIII, Elizabeth I.
- •9. Gaining power and expansion during the Tudor period.
- •10. British government and society in the 16th century.
- •11. British economy and the problems of the poor in the 16th century.
- •12. The Crown and Parliament during the Stuart period.
- •13. Republican and restoration Britain.
- •14. The 17th century British society.
- •15. Changes in political life in Britain in the 18th century.
- •16. Life of the British in town and in the country in the 18th century.
- •17. Industrial revolution in Britain and the war with Napoleon.
- •18. Reforms in Britain in the first half of the 19th century.
- •19. Britain’s international and home policy in the first half of the 19th century.
- •20. The years of self-confidence in Britain: industrial power, towns and the rise of the middle class.
- •22. Social and economic changes in Britain between 1876 and 1914.
- •21. The years of self-confidence: population, politics, the British Empire and life in Ireland.
- •23. Britain the World War I.
- •24. The after-effects of World War I for Britain.
- •25. Great Britain in World War II.
- •26. Britain after World War II. The Suez Canal conflict.
- •27. Attitude to the British towards the monarchy in the 20th century and Thatcher’s government.
- •32. Seas and coastline of the uk. Climate.
- •33. Britain in 1957-1979. Harold Macmillan.
- •Harold Wilson and Edward Heath
- •34. Tony Blair. Brown as Prime Minister.
- •Foreign policy. Brown remains committed to the Iraq War, but said in a speech in May 2007 that he would "learn the lessons" from the mistakes made in Iraq.
- •36. Legislative branch of government. Constitution. Passing a bill. Function of the monarch in the Parliament.
- •39. Migration in the uk.
- •37. Elections and parties. Local government. European Union.
- •38. Population of the uk. Population density and distribution.
- •40. Ethnic and geographic identity. Being British. Family and class.
- •41. The place of Britain in the world economy. Chief industries.
- •42. Agriculture. Transport and communication. Overseas trade.
- •43.Compulsory schooling. Educational reforms. Exams.
- •44. Post 16 education. Higher education.
- •45.British culture. Arts.
- •46. British culture. Science and technology. Religion. Religious, political, social and everyday contacts.
- •47. British culture. Sport. Food. National costume. Naming conventions.
- •48.British press.
- •Magazines
- •49. British radio and television. Television
- •50. Places to see in London.
11. British economy and the problems of the poor in the 16th century.
At the end of the 15’th century much of the countryside was still untouched. There were great forests and much of unused land. There were still wild animals. Only a few of towns had more than 3000 people. Most towns were no more than large villages and people who lived on them worked on their fields and farms.
In the 16’th century the population increased, the unused land was cleared for sheep. England was beginning to face great social and economic problems. The prices of food and other goods rose. The wages fell to half.
Another problem was the sudden increase in population. Twice the number of people needed twice the amount of food. Great masses of population became poor. The countryside population divided into 2 parts. The people, who did best in this situation, were the yeoman farmers. They worked as farmers during the week, but were gentlemen on Sundays. They were able to increase prices of the food they produced, because there was not enough food in the markets.
The most developed at that time was wool industry and wool trading. Wool could be sold for a good price. Many landlords found that they could make more money from breeding sheep than from growing crops. That is why they fenced off land that had always belonged to the whole village. The process was known as enclosures.
As a result many peasants lost the land. It made them leave villages and go to different towns. That is why by the end of the 16’th century many towns had absorbed a large part of unemployed. Most people worked hard and died young. Poor children started work at the age of six or seven.
Crime was increasing. In order to control this problem the Parliament passed a law forbidding people to move from one place to another. In 1601 Parliament passed the first “Poor Law”. This law made local people responsible for poor people. They had to provide them with food, housing and some work. The farmers who worked for the merchants got very little pay for their work.
The production of cloth, the most important of England’s products, reached its greatest importance during the 16’th century. Clothmakers bought raw wool and gave it to spinners. The spinners were mostly women and children. After the spinners the wool was passed to the weavers. The farmers made cloth when they were not working in the fields.
The large enterprises of that period had no machines and everything was done by hand. Such enterprises were called manufactures or factories.
Everything in the factory belonged to the owner. The hired workmen worked at factories from morning till night.
In the 16’th century people learned to burn coal in stoves instead of wood. By using coal instead of wood fires, people were able to produce greatly improved steel. Improved steel was used to make knives, forks, clocks and other goods. Birmingham, by using coal fires to make steel, grew in the 16’th century from a village into an important industrial city.
Literacy increased greatly during the 16’th century. By the beginning of the 16’th century about half the population of England could read and write.