Great Britain Geography, History, and Economy Facts

Great Britain is an island located within the British Isles and it is the ninth-largest island in the world and the largest in Europe. It is located to the northwest of continental Europe and it is home to the United Kingdom, which includes Scotland, England, Wales, and Northern Ireland (not actually on the island of Great Britain). Great Britain has a total area of 88,745 square miles (229,848 sq km) and a population of about 65 million people (2016 estimate). The island of Great Britain is known for the global city of London, England, as well as smaller cities like Edinburgh, Scotland. In addition, Great Britain is known for its history, historic architecture, and natural environment. Fast Facts: Great Britain Official Name: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandCapital: LondonPopulation: 65,105,246 (2018)Official Language: English  Currency: British pound (GBP)Form of Government: Parliamentary constitutional monarchy; a commonwealth realmClimate: Temperate; moderated by prevailing southwest winds over the North Atlantic Current; more than one-half of the days are overcastTotal Area: 94,058 square miles (243,610 square kilometers)Highest Point: Ben Nevis at 4,413 feet (1,345 meters)  Lowest Point: The Fens at -13 feet (-4 meters) Over 500,000 Years of History The island of Great Britain has been inhabited by early humans for at least 500,000 years. It is believed that these humans crossed a land bridge from continental Europe at that time. Modern humans have been in Great Britain for about 30,000 years and until about 12,000 years ago, archeological evidence shows that they moved back and forth between the island and continental Europe via a land bridge. This land bridge closed and Great Britain became an island at the end of the last glaciation. A History of Invasions Throughout its modern human history, Great Britain was invaded several times. For example, in 55 BCE, the Romans invaded the region and it became a part of the Roman Empire. The island was also controlled by various tribes and was invaded several times. In 1066, the island was a part of the Norman Conquest and this began the cultural and political development of the area. Throughout the decades following the Norman Conquest, Great Britain was ruled by several different kings and queens and it was also part of several different treaties between the countries on the island. About the Name Britain The use of the name Britain dates back to the time of Aristotle, but the term Great Britain was not officially used until 1474 when a marriage proposal between Edward IV of Englands daughter Cecily and James IV of Scotland was written. Today, the term is used to specifically refer to the largest island within the United Kingdom or to the unit of England, Scotland, and Wales. What Great Britain Encapsulates Today In terms of its politics, the name Great Britain refers to England, Scotland, and Wales because they are on the United Kingdoms largest island. In addition, Great Britain also includes the outlying areas of Isle of Wight, Anglesey, the Isles of Scilly, the Hebrides, and the remote island groups of Orkney and Shetland. These outlying areas are considered part of Great Britain because they are parts of England, Scotland, or Wales. Where Is Great Britain on a Map? Great Britain is located to the northwest of continental Europe and to the east of Ireland. The North Sea and the English Channel separate it from Europe. The Channel Tunnel, the longest undersea rail tunnel in the world, connects it with continental Europe. The topography of Great Britain consists mainly of low, gently rolling hills in the eastern and southern portions of the island and hills and low mountains in the western and northern regions. The Regions Climate The climate of Great Britain is temperate and it is moderated by the Gulf Stream. The region is known for being cool and cloudy during the winter and the western parts of the island are windy and rainy because they are more influenced by the ocean. The eastern parts are drier and less windy. London, the largest city on the island, has an average January low temperature of 36 degrees (2.4 C) and a July average temperature of 73 degrees (23 C). Fauna and Animal Species Despite its large size, the island of Great Britain has a small amount of fauna. This is because it has been rapidly industrialized in recent decades and this has caused habitat destruction across the island. As a result, there are very few large mammal species in Great Britain and rodents like squirrels, mice and beaver make up 40% of the mammal species there. In terms of Great Britains flora, there is a large variety of trees and 1,500 species of wildflower. Population and Ethnic Groups Great Britain has a population of more than 65 million people (2018 estimate). The main ethnic group of Great Britain is British—particularly those who are Cornish, English, Scottish, or Welsh. The Main Cities There are several large cities on the island of Great Britain but the largest is London, the capital of England and the United Kingdom. Other large cities include Birmingham, Bristol, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Leeds, Liverpool, and Manchester. About the Economy Great Britains United Kingdom has the third-largest economy in Europe. The majority of the UKs and Great Britains economy is within the service and industrial sectors but there is also ​a  small amount of agriculture. The main industries are machine tools, electric power equipment, automation equipment, railroad equipment, shipbuilding, aircraft, motor vehicles, electronics and communications equipment, metals, chemicals, coal, petroleum, paper products, food processing, textiles, and clothing. Agricultural products include are cereals, oilseed, potatoes, vegetables cattle, sheep, poultry, and fish.

An Analysis Of The Metamorphosis By Franz Kafka - 1003 Words

The metamorphosis, written by a German author Franz Kafka. Kafka and his Metamorphosis is a masterpiece of absurdist literature, but what is the most absurd part in this whole story ? Everyones first reaction may be human turn into beetles this setting could be the most absurd sense indeed, because this kind of transformation is never going to happen in reality. However, in the history of literature, there are numerous similar ‘metamorphosis’ plot happens between human and animals or plants, the ancient Greek mythology has the story of the bulls; the ancient Roman Apuleiuss golden donkey tells the story of a man into a donkey and so on. Thereforehuman turn into beetles is not particularly absurd set, or that is not enough to†¦show more content†¦After the death of Gregory, the family relieved, have to go out to picnic. From Gregory into insects to death, only a few days time, this family is not like just lost the baby son look. We can not help to ask: this menta lity is really normal? People in real life will not become insects, but their families will also appear above the absurd mentality? Lets take a look at the subjective feelings of Greggels insects: loss of language skills, inconvenience, reduced appetite, and care for people. What is the closest thing in real life? That is sick. Krafts most prominent artistic feature is the overall absurdity and detail of the truth, the work of the central event is absurd, but the central environment of the incident is true, resulting in actual situation effect. Specifically to this text, the central event that becomes a bug is absurd, but the familys response to this event is real. When a person from the pillar into a terminally ill patient, his family will certainly be very concerned, very sympathetic. But when the patient gradually lost the ability, when the family economic burden is getting heavier, the familys boredom and complain will naturally arise. And when the patient becomes the biggest ob stacle to a new life, the family is even happy for his disappearance. We will never become a bug, but we will definitely become a patient. If the closest person would treat us like a bug, that would be more desperate. The main idea of KafkasShow MoreRelatedThe Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka Analysis of the story â€Å"The Metamorphosis†, by Franz Kafka was2200 Words   |  9 PagesThe Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka Analysis of the story â€Å"The Metamorphosis†, by Franz Kafka was written back in the early 1900’s, but reflected a more modern way of thinking and lifestyle of today. Gregor felt that he was a slave to his job, isolated from his co-workers, and misunderstood by his family. Although that is the norm in today’s society, it was not the norm back then. In the story Gregor finds himself transformed into a cockroach and his internal struggles become a permanent reality. Read MoreAnalysis Of Franz Kafka s The Metamorphosis 3979 Words   |  16 PagesAustin Day Professor Imali Abala English 357 18 February 2015 The Theme of Alienation in Franz Kafka’s The Metamorphosis The Metamorphosis written by Franz Kafka in 1915 is said to be one of the greatest literary works of all time and is seen as one of Kafka’s best and most popular works of literature. A relatively short novel; the story explains how the protagonist, Gregor Samsa wakes up one morning to find himself transformed into a vermin which completely estranges him from the world even moreRead Moreâ€Å"Analysis of Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka938 Words   |  4 Pagesâ€Å"Metamorphosis† is an absurd novella written by the careful and self-conscious writer, Franz Kafka and narrated in third person omniscient by an anonymous figure who tells the story of protagonist Gregor Samsa in a neutral tone. The story was published in 1915 and is primarily about the effects of Samsa’s transformation into a large and monstrous bug. Kafka’s use of irony, symbolism and, major themes make a strong impact. The story takes place in a room of an apartment with no definite historicalRead MoreAnalysis Of The Metamorphosis By Franz Kafka1490 Words   |  6 Pagesused in The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka, which is about a man named Gregor, who woke up one day to find out he had turned into a vermin. Following his discovery, he tried to go to work to support his family, which ended up revealing his new form. Gregor was locked in his room and slowly lost his humanity and connection to his family. Gregor eventually died alone in his room, and his family took it as a chance to restart after they realized they could support themselves without him (Kafka, The Metamorphosis)Read MoreThe Metamorphosis Franz Kafka Analysis1067 Words   |  5 Pages In the metamorphosis by Franz Kafka, there are significant actions and transformations which make the story sad, and strange with a happy ending. Explanations that are dramatic events that intensify the excitement of all these actions. Reality and reflection play an important role in this story because the events that happened could be applied and assimilated with modern society. The story is very sad and realistic, some of the things that are related in Kafkas story can be found in modern familiesRead MoreAnalysis Of The Metamorphosis By Franz Kafka920 Words   |  4 Pages And face it. No kid in high school feels as if they fit in. In correspondence to the questioning of belonging to a stereotypical teenage society, in the story, â€Å"The Metamorphosis,† by Franz Kafka, is a showing of how in a day-to-day â€Å"regular† lifestyle can result in the alienating of the metamorphosing of something not as typical in your self-styled day-to-day â€Å"regular† lifestyle. This also can be known as outsiders, people who do not belong to a particular group, signifying the argument that newcomersRead MoreAnalysis Of Franz Kafka s The Metamorphosis 1711 Words   |  7 Pagescertain theme that most readers can relate to. Franz Kafka, a renowned German-speaking fiction writer of the 20th century, uses a unique style of writing that many people bel ieve is a telling of his own life story. In his well-known short story, â€Å"The Metamorphosis†, many similarities and connections can be seen between the main character, Gregor Samsa, and the author himself, Franz Kafka. A major comparison that can be made is the fact that both Samsa and Kafka died slow, lonesome deaths after being inRead MoreAnalysis Of Franz Kafka s The Metamorphosis1873 Words   |  8 Pageswriters take their creative control to emphasize the current state of the freedom and control of the individual. Kafka’s The Metamorphosis, various World War I poems, and Brecht’s Fear and Misery of the Third Reich show the lack of individual freedom and control that people had over their lives during the destruction that occurred in the 20th century. Published in 1915, Franz Kafka wasted no time in starting his discussion about freedom and control through the life of Gregor. After he awakes and realizesRead MoreAnalysis Of Franz Kafka s Metamorphosis1985 Words   |  8 Pagestruly seen? Does one view one’s external self, or do they see a reflection of past experience? Not many have the value of altruism, but some do. Sometimes altruism can turn extremist though, to the point where it can be a negative thing. In Franz Kafka’s Metamorphosis, the main character Gregor Samsa is a workaholic that randomly one day awakens as a bug. Initially, Gregor sees himself with a condition, and then slowly tries to adapt to his bug transformation. Gregor did not put himself first when heRead MoreAnalysis Of Franz Kafka s The Metamorphosis 1087 Words   |  5 Pagesmercy were ignored. Franz Kafka’s novella is not about a dictator but it alludes to a person close to Franz that was as close to a dictator that he ever go to. Franz Kafka’s The Metamorphosis, is about a young man that wakes up one day and is a vermin and has to maneuver around his home and come to terms with his six itchy legs. It probably sounds like a load of fictitious ramblings that somehow became a classical novel. Wrong! Look a little closer and the secret message Franz Kafka wrote for his father

The Puritan Dilemma free essay sample

?â€Å"The Puritan Dilemma: The Story of John Winthrop† This book talks about the life of one of the most influential puritans John Winthrop. â€Å"The Puritan Dilemma was written by Edmund Morgan. Edmund Morgan was a History professor at Yale University from 1955 to 1986. Edmund Morgan wrote many other popular books such as â€Å"Birth of a republic, American slavery, American Freedom† and â€Å"Inventing The people, the rise of popular sovereignty in England. † This puritan dilemma was written for the intent of future history students reading and learning about John Winthrop and his influence on modern culture and religion. The Author clearly states the thesis in the beginning on the book, He talks about the â€Å"Puritan Dilemma† it is about the puritans and their struggle to keep up with their religion and the moral obligations that comes along with being a puritan, while dealing with the temptations of daily life, and staying in line with the religious laws in England. We will write a custom essay sample on The Puritan Dilemma or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Winthrop talks about liking to hunt but not finding practicality in hunting. The Puritans set out not to separate from the Church of England, but only to purify it. In the book the author uses a lot of quotations and transcripts from letters and journals written by John Winthrop. Though not all were completely clear it gave a good picture of how John Winthrop deal with things. The length of the book does a good job of helping the reader understand the importance that John Winthrop had on our young nation. The Author had as strong agenda in writing the â€Å"Puritan Dilemma† he wants his readers to see that John Winthrop was a very smart and deeply religious man and he used a mixture of the qualities to successfully set up and run government in the colonies. Winthrop was born in Suffolk, England, his father was a lawyer and owned a textile business and several properties in Suffolk. John Winthrop was deeply involved in religion from a very young age, he would often sit and listen to his father talk about religion with his friends. As a puritan John talked about dealing with all the temptations the world had to offer while staying true to his religion and not straying from god by partaking in these temptations. John Winthrop got married to a women named Mary Forth around the age of seventeen. He talks about getting married at a young age and how it affected his religion. The marriage was set up by Winthrop’s father and Mary’s father, they agreed they would marry in exchange for large amounts of land, this was common practice at the time. Mary and John had five children together only three of them survived to adult hood. Mary died in 1615 from complications during the birth of their last child. Winthrop was the Lord of the Manor at Groton, he dedicated all of his time managing the manor. Eventually John would follow in his father’s footsteps and become a lawyer. John Winthrop was devastated about the death of his first wife Mary, but he quickly remarried to a women named Thomasine Clopton. Winthrop talks about her not being as deeply religious as himself. She also died. Winthrop married a third time to a women named Margaret Tyndal. They continued to live at Groton, but john was eventually offered a job in the courts in England. John went back and forth to England his wife and eldest son John took care of the Manor while he was away. It was in England that John started to notice the corruption of the English church. The leader of the time Charles the first had married a roman catholic. Around this time colonization in the new world was starting to heat up. John considered it and talked it over with his wife and he eventually decided to go. John got involved with the Massachusetts Bay Company and eventually was elected governor. On April 8th 1630 John departed from England on the flagship Arbella. John’s wife stayed behind due to a pregnancy, she planned to come to the new world later on. Two months later the fleet arrived in Salem, Massachusetts. Many died during the first winter, John had found that Salem was not fit for a settlement for the company and set out and eventually settled on what is known today as Boston. Winthrop played a big role in leading the settlement. Winthrop was elected the governor the first three times. Eventually John set up a form of government that was in the very early stages of democracy. They also played policemen, they would enforce the laws of god and hold court for people who violated the laws of god. John Clashed with many settlers that had come to the new world to totally separate from the Church of England. One of the biggest clashes was with a women named Anne Hutchinson. The clash would be known as the Antinomian controversy. Hutchinson preached about separating from the Church of England and that religious laws were not required for salvations. Hutchinson was eventually put on trial and banished from the colony. Religious freedom has been something that people have been fighting for from the beginning of modern civilization. John Winthrop played a very important role during a time where people wanted religious freedom. This Book was very interesting in certain parts, it didn’t change my opinion at all. John Winthrop was a devout puritan and he did whatever it took the stay steadfast in his religion.