1 / 32

Introduction to the British Isles

Introduction to the British Isles. Wales. Some facts and figures. Just over 20 000 km² 200 km east to west 250 km north to south Population: 2.94 million (2001 census) 80% of the land dedicated to agriculture Highest mountain: Mt. Snowdon (1,085 m) 1,300 kilometres of coastline.

ivanbritt
Download Presentation

Introduction to the British Isles

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript


  1. Introduction to the British Isles Wales

  2. Some facts and figures • Just over 20 000 km² • 200 km east to west • 250 km north to south • Population: 2.94 million (2001 census) • 80% of the land dedicated to agriculture • Highest mountain: Mt. Snowdon (1,085 m) • 1,300 kilometres of coastline

  3. Steam Railway: Snowdonia National Park

  4. Longest place name • Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwll-llantysiliogogogoch (St. Mary’s Church in a hollow of the white hazel near to the rapid whirlpool and St. Tysill’s Church of the red cave) aka Llanfair PG

  5. The counties of Wales

  6. Important dates • 750 AD Offa’s Dyke boundary between Mercia and the Welsh kingdoms

  7. 1110 “Little England” Henry I moves Flemish settlers to a farming settlement in South Pembrokeshire

  8. 1284 Edward I annexes Wales – migration from England to Wales. Castles such as Caernarfon built to protect English Interests

  9. 1536 Act of Union with England under Henry VIII • 1770s Religious refugees flee to Wales, including French Huguenots • 1788 Welsh convicts sent to Australia • 1841 Irish flee to mainland Britain as a result of the Great Famine. Nearly 30 000 settle in Wales • 1850s Rural Welsh move to the cities: by 1900, 63% of the population concentrated in Glamorgan and Monmouthshire

  10. Who are the Welsh? • Celtic tribes from Europe came to settle the whole of the British Isles 500-100 BC, alongside the original Iron Age population. • Celtic language behind the modern Welsh language • Roman and Saxon invasions pushed the original Britons into the land area of Wales • Inward and outward migration has added new layers of population

  11. The origin of the word Wales • Variation on Anglo-Saxon word meaning foreigners. Cf. Walloon • The Welsh word for the country is Cymru (friends/comrades) cf Cumbria

  12. Symbols of Wales Y Ddraig Goch

  13. Daffodils – narcissus obvallaris

  14. Leeks

  15. St. David (1st March) • Male voice choirs • National anthem: Land of my Fathers • Rugby • Pobol Y Cwm • Food: laverbread, welsh tea cakes, bara brith • Welsh lovespoon

  16. Famous Welsh people • Henry VII • Dylan Thomas • RS Thomas • Tom Jones • Max Boyce • Catherine Zeta Jones • Anthony Hopkins

  17. Cool Cymru • 1990s – Music: Manic Street Preachers, Catatonia, Stereophonics, Super Furry Animals (Newport as the “new Seattle”) • - Films: Justin Kerrigan (Human Traffic) • - Fashion: Julien Macdonald

  18. Manic Street Preachers

  19. Welsh languageCymraeg • 20% of the population consider Welsh as their mother tongue • Concentration in the north-west • Welsh and English official languages • Welsh medium education • Welsh compulsory in schools • Welsh language radio and television • Bilingual roadsigns

  20. Industry in Wales • Early 20th century – coal, steel (south), slate (north), fishing, maritime industry • Main industries today are tourism and public services • Manufacturing: less heavy industry, more electronics, technology-related industry

  21. Economic deprivation, especially South Wales valleys (former mining areas) • 2003 – Average gross income 17 900 GBP (cf 21 600 in England, 19 500 in Scotland)

  22. Leisure activities • Visiting the pub (58% say it’s their favourite activity) • Sport (35% do sport on a regular basis) • DIY, Gardening • Music – Welsh festivals such as Eisteddfod

  23. Devolution in Wales • 1925: Plaid Cymru founded • 1979: referendum rejected by 80% • 1997: referendum 50.3% in favour (Assembly, not parliament), 49.7% against • 1999 Welsh Assembly 60 AMs (40 constistuency; 20 from party lists, using alternative party vote) • Main responsibilities: health, education, economic development, rural affairs • No power over: defence, foreign affairs, taxation, policing • Welsh Assembly elections 2003: Labour 30 AMs, PC 12, Conservatives 11

  24. Still 40 MPs at Westminster, Secretary of State for Wales a member of the cabinet • Budget of 14 billion GBP • Different policy decisions from Westminster include abolition of Key Stage 1 and 2 tests for school children (at 6-7 and 10-11); free prescription charges for under – 25s; plans to abolish prescription charges completely by 2007; appointment of Children’s Commissioner

  25. First minister – Alun Michael (1999 - 2000; resigned over sex scandal) • Rhodri Morgan (2000 - )

  26. Welsh Assembly building at Cardiff Bay; new chamber designed by Lord Richard Rogers, opened on St. David’s Day, 2006

  27. Quiz • What is the capital of Wales? • What is the Welsh flag called? • What is the population of Wales? • What percentage of the population speak Welsh? • Where is the Welsh Assembly? • What percentage of the population voted in favour of the Assembly in 1997? • How big is Wales? • Who annexed Wales to England? • Under which monarch was the Act of Union in 1536? • Which two counties home the majority of the population? • What is the population of Wales? • What percentage of Welsh land is dedicated to agriculture? • Who designed the new chamber at the Welsh Assembly? • Who is the patron saint of Wales and which date is his feast day? • What are the national emblems of Wales?

  28. Cardiff • Y Draig Goch • 2.94 million • 20% • Cardiff Bay • 50.3% • 20 000 km² • Edward I • What is the capital of Wales? • What is the Welsh flag called? • What is the population of Wales? • What percentage of the population speak Welsh? • Where is the Welsh Assembly? • What percentage of the population voted in favour of the Assembly in 1997? • How big is Wales? • Who annexed Wales to England?

  29. Henry VIII • Glamorgan and Monmouthshire • 80% • Tourism • Lord Richard Rogers • St. David – 1st March • Leeks and daffodils • Under which monarch was the Act of Union in 1536? • Which two counties home the majority of the population? • What percentage of Welsh land is dedicated to agriculture? • What is the largest industry today? • Who designed the new chamber at the Welsh Assembly? • Who is the patron saint of Wales and which date is his feast day? • What are the national emblems of Wales?

More Related