The Hundred Years’ War (1337-1453)
The Hundred Years’ War was a series of wars fought between England and France over trade, Territory, security and the throne.The Hundred Years’ War promoted the concept of English Nationalism（民族主义） and the development of the textile industry because it reduced
the export of English wool. The war raised the social position of the bourgeois（资产阶级） class. All these factors contributed to the decline of feudalism in England.
Black Death
Black Death was the modern name given to the deadly bubonic plague（黑死病）, an epidemic disease(流行病) spread by rat fleas（鼠疫跳蚤）. It was a fierce and widespread outbreak of plague(瘟疫) that ravaged（毁坏） the whole of Europe in the 14th century. It hit England first in 1349 with subsequent waves between 1360 and 1375 . The plague killed perhaps up to one-third of the British population. As a result of the plague, much land was left untended and there was a terrible shortage of labour.
The Wars of Roses
Between 1455 and 1485 a series of battles were fought between the two branches of the Plantagenet family, the House of Lancaster, symbolized by the red
rose, and the House of York, symbolized by the white rose, ended with the failure of the House of York.Fought between two branches of the Plantagenet family.1485 the Lancastrian Henry Tudor, defeated King Richard II and found the House of Tudors. From these Wars, English feudalism received its death blow（致命的打击）. The great medieval nobility was much weakened.
The English Renaissance
The English Renaissance reached its height in the first 15th century,was largely literary, and it achieved its finest expression in the so-called Elizabethan drama.
Civil war and restoration
English Civil War between 12 to 1651 is also called Puritan Revolution.(清教徒)
From 19 to 1658 England was called a Commonwealth. It was ruled first by Oliver Cromwell as the Lord Protector.
The Industrial Revolution
The Industrial Revolution refers to the mechanization of industry and the consequences in social and economic organization in Britain in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Britain was the first country to industrialize. The Industrial Revolution in Britain first began in the textile industry.
Constitutional Monarchy
It is a form of government in which head of the state is a king or a queen and the monarch’s power is limited by Parliament. In practice, the Sovereign reigns, but does not rule. In English history, constitutional monarchy was established after Glorious Revolution in 1688.Queen Elizabeth II is the current monarch of the United Kingdom.
Civil Service
The government departments are staffed by members of the Civil Service, whose duty is to assist in carrying out the administration of laws passed by Parliament. Changes of government do not involve changes in department staff. Civil servants are recruited mainly by competitive examination.
The judiciary 司法制度
The judicial branch of the British government is rather complicated in that England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland al have their own legal systems, with considerable differences in law, organization and practice. The legal system of Northern Ireland is similar to that of England and Wales, but Scotland had a distinct legal system based on Roman law, which is the legal basis for most European countries.British law consists of 2 parts, civil and criminal, with different courts at various levels to handle cases in each category.
The Metropolitan Police
The police force is responsible for the security of London, with its headquarters at New Scotland Yard. It is directly under the control of Home Secretary.
The City of London
The City of London is the business centre of London where large financial organizations are located, such as the Bank of England, the Stock Exchange and Lloyd’s (a famous insurance company).
Bank holidays
Official public holidays are also called “Bank holidays”. The term “Bank holidays” goes back to the Bank Holidays Act of 1871, which owes its name to the fact that banks are closed on the days specified.
Open University
The Open University(also commonly referred to by its initialism OU) is a distance learning and research university founded by Royal Charter in the United Kingdom. The university is funded by a combination of student fees, contract income, and allocations for teaching and research by the higher education funding bodies in each of the four countries of the UK (England, Scotland, Wales and
Northern Ireland). It is notable for having an open entry policy, i.e. students' previous academic achievements are not taken into account for entry to most undergraduate courses. The majority of the OU's undergraduate students are based in the United Kingdom and principally study off-campus, but many of its courses (both undergraduate and postgraduate) can be studied off-campus anywhere in the world.The OU was established in 1969 and the first students enrolled in January 1971. The University administration is based at Walton Hall, Milton Keynes in Buckinghamshire, but has regional centres in each of its thirteen regions around the United Kingdom. It also has offices and regional examination centres in most other European countries. The University awards undergraduate and postgraduate degrees, as well as non-degree qualifications such as diplomas and certificates, or continuing education units.