Lead-in discussion
As a multi-national country, Britain has gone through several conquests, which laid a foundation for the progress of the British people. What are the historical conquests and the significance of them in history?
Key terms
1.Stonehenge
One of the wonders of the world, which is believed to have been built from 4000 BCto 2000 BC. Now as a world heritage site, Stonehenge and all its surroundingsremain powerful witnesses to the once great civilizations of the Stone andBronze Ages.
2. Shakespeare's Globe Theatre
Atheatre in London associated with William Shakespeare. It was built in 1599 byShakespeare's playing company, the Lord Chamberlain's Men, and was destroyed byfire on June 29, 1613. Asecond Globe Theatre was rebuilt on the same site by June 1614 and closed in1642.
3.King Arthur
A legendary figure in the 5th century ADin British history. According to the legend, Arthur gatheredacompany of knights who sat together at Arthur’s castle. He created the famous“round table” at which all would have equal right to be the king, sense ofdemocracy. He united the British, and with his magical sword, Excalibur, drovethe Saxons back.
William I
A Brief History of the UK---part 1
课中图片与视频源于网络 仅供教学
Supplementary material
1. The Skill of Retelling
2.Extended reading material
William I
WilliamI was born in c. 1028 in Falaise, northern France, illegitimate son of Robert,Duke of Normandy, and he had to go through his early life putting up with thenickname William the Bastard.
So when in 1035, Duke Robert went off on pigrimage to Jerusalem, he announced thatyoung William would be the next duke. And then, while on pilgrimage, Robertdied, leaving young William as ruler of one of the most powerful dukedoms in northern Europe.
William grew up tall, strong, andpowerful---but also greedy for more power. And from 1051, he had his eyesfirmly on England. What seems to have happened in 1051 was that the Englishking, Edward the Confessor, promised that William should take over England whenEdward died. But the trouble was that just before Edward's actual death inJanuary 1066, he named his brother-in-law Harold Godwinson as his heir, puttingthe kibosh on William's chances.
Williamdecided he had reason enough to sail to England and fight for "his"kingdom. But he also knew that Harold had a good claim to be king of England,too. William felt the need of a powerful ally, one who could claim the moralhigh ground. He sent a mission off to the Pope, asking for the church's backingfor his assault on England. He got God on his side, and the moral grounddosen't get any higher than that.
In the summer of 1066, William gathered afleet of ships, an army, and supplies, and on the night of 27 September, theycrossed the Channel and landed the following morning at Pevensey. That was thebeginning of the Norman Conquest.
1.Checking for understanding
2. Critical thinking
Organizing information --- Create a flowchart similar to the one shown here and trace the evolution of the first arrivals
