The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ( the uk )

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ( the UK )

• England
• Scotland
• Wales
• Northern Ireland

G r e a t B r i t a i n

• composed by 5.500 islands
• area - 244, 820 sq. km
• population – 57 mln. People
• Official language – English ( Scottish, Welsh, Irish – other languages )
• Political system – constitutional monachy
• Capital – London
• The largest cities – London, Birmingham, Glasgow, Liverpool, Sheffield, Edinburgh, Bristol, Leeds
• The largest ports – London, Liverpool, Belfast, Southampton, Glasgow, Cardiff
• The chief rivers – the Severn, the Thames the Spey, the Tweed, the Clyde
• The highest peeks – Ben Nevis ( 1343 m), Snowdon ( 1000 m )

The Union Jack

• This is the popular name given to
• the flag of the UK. Usually it is
• called the Union Flag and consists
• of several flags.
• It all began in 1603 when Scotland
• was joined to England and Wales.
• Later in 1801 the Irish Flag was
• added.
• In this way the British people got
• the Union Flag, which is red, white
• and blue. King James ( 1566-1625)
• ordered the British Flag to be flown
• on the main mast of all British ships,
• it was flown on the bowsprit or the
• Jack Star ( “jack” is the old word for
• sailor).

British Royal Coat of Arms

• There are two animals on it. One of them
• is the lion. The “ king of beast” has been
• used as a symbol of national strength and
• of the British monarchy for many centuries.
• The other one is the unicorn. The unicorn
• is a mythical animal that looks like a horse
• with a long straight horn growing from its
• forehead, and is a symbol of purity.

The English Channel

Queens and Kings of the UK

• The House of Normandy
• William I1066 – 1087 William II1087 -1100 Henry I1100 – 1135 Stephen1135 - 1154
• The House of Plantagenet
• Henry II1154 – 1189 Richard I1189 – 1199 John1199 – 1216 Henry III1216 – 1272 Edward I1272 – 1307 Edward II1307 – 1327 Edward III1327 – 1377 Richard I1377 – 1399
• The House of Lancaster
• (Sub-division of Plantagenet)
• Henry IV1399 – 1413 Henry V1413 – 1422 Henry VI1422 – 1461
• The House of York
• (Sub-division of Plantagenet)
• Edward IV1461 - 1483 Edward V1483 - 1485
• The House of Tudor
• Henry VII1485 – 1509 Henry VIII1509 – 1547 Edward VI1547 – 1553 Mary I1553 – 1558 Elizabeth I1558 – 1603
• The House of Stuart
• James I1603 – 1625 Charles I1625 – 1649 The Commonwealth1649 – 1659 Charles II1660 – 1685 James II1685 – 1688 Mary II1689 -1694 William III1689 – 1702 Anna1702 - 1714
• The House of Hanover
• George I1714 – 1727 George II1727 – 1760 George III1760 – 1820 George IV1820 – 1830 William IV1830 – 1837 Victoria1837 – 1901
• The House of Saxe – Coburg
• Edward VII1901 – 1910
• The House of Windsor
• George V1901 – 1936 Edward VIII1936 George VI1936 – 1952 Elizabeth II1952 -