The territory of Luisiana was acquired from Spain in a transaction called the Luisiana Purchase. T x F
Prohibition was repealed by Richard Nixon. T x F
... It happened in 1933. T x F
Women gained the right to vote in same year as the Prohibition started. T x F
The Constitution of the United States was written in Philadelphia. T x F
The Declaration of Independence was adopted in Washington in 1776. T x F
VOCABULARY:
predominant - převládající
boundary - hranice
copper - měď
iron ore - železná ruda
hay - seno
timber - stavební dřevo
assasinated - zavražděn
invention - vynález
found - založit
gain - získat
adopt - převzít
defeat - porazit
siege - obležení
recognize - uznat
purchase - obchod
acquisition - získaná věc
surrender - vzdát se
abolish - zrušit
tribe - kmen, rod
ban - zakázat
ushering - vedoucí (k něčemu)
escalate - stupňovat
1865
-The Confederacy surrendered, bringing an end to the Civil War. Slavery was abolished throughout the United States. President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated.
1867 America purchased Alaska from Russia.
1870-1890 The last Native American tribes were defeated by government forces and pushed onto reservations.
1898 The United States won the Spanish-American War and gained territories in the Caribbean and the Pacific. Hawaii was annexed the same year.
1920 Women gained the right to vote. The manufacture and sale of alcohol was banned, ushering in the era of Prohibition.
1933 Franklin Roosevelt became president and introduced a series of economic and social reforms known as the New Deal. Prohibition was repealed.
1941 Japan attacked US forces at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, pulling America into World War II.
1965-1973 American forces fought in the Vietnam War, which started widespread protests in the United States.
1969 American astronauts became the first people to land on the moon.
1974 In the wake of the Watergate scandal, Richard M. Nixon became the first American president to resign from office.
1867 America purchased Alaska from Russia.
1870-1890 The last Native American tribes were defeated by government forces and pushed onto reservations.
1898 The United States won the Spanish-American War and gained territories in the Caribbean and the Pacific. Hawaii was annexed the same year.
1920 Women gained the right to vote. The manufacture and sale of alcohol was banned, ushering in the era of Prohibition.
1933 Franklin Roosevelt became president and introduced a series of economic and social reforms known as the New Deal. Prohibition was repealed.
1941 Japan attacked US forces at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, pulling America into World War II.
1965-1973 American forces fought in the Vietnam War, which started widespread protests in the United States.
1969 American astronauts became the first people to land on the moon.
1974 In the wake of the Watergate scandal, Richard M. Nixon became the first American president to resign from office.
HISTORY
1565 Spain founded the first permanent European settlement in what is now the United States at Saint Augustine, Florida. However, Native Americans had lived on the continent for thousands of years.
1763 Britain gained control of eastern North America at the end of the Seven Years’ War, known in America as the French and Indian War.
1776 The Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence at Philadelphia.
1781 American forces decisively defeated the British at the Siege of Yorktown. Two years later, Britain recognized American independence in the Treaty of Paris.
1787 The Constitutional Congress met in Philadelphia and wrote the Constitution of the United States. All 13 states ratified the Constitution by 1790.
1803 The United States nearly doubled in size after President Thomas Jefferson acquired the territory of Louisiana from France in a transaction known as the Louisiana Purchase.
1848 The United States gained large amounts of territory as a result of winning the Mexican War. The new land, coupled with the acquisition of the Oregon country in 1846, extended the western border of the United States to the Pacific Ocean.
1861 Several Southern slave states seceded in January and formed the Confederate States of America. The American Civil War broke out in April.
1763 Britain gained control of eastern North America at the end of the Seven Years’ War, known in America as the French and Indian War.
1776 The Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence at Philadelphia.
1781 American forces decisively defeated the British at the Siege of Yorktown. Two years later, Britain recognized American independence in the Treaty of Paris.
1787 The Constitutional Congress met in Philadelphia and wrote the Constitution of the United States. All 13 states ratified the Constitution by 1790.
1803 The United States nearly doubled in size after President Thomas Jefferson acquired the territory of Louisiana from France in a transaction known as the Louisiana Purchase.
1848 The United States gained large amounts of territory as a result of winning the Mexican War. The new land, coupled with the acquisition of the Oregon country in 1846, extended the western border of the United States to the Pacific Ocean.
1861 Several Southern slave states seceded in January and formed the Confederate States of America. The American Civil War broke out in April.
5. Which city isn´t on the west coast?
a) Dallas
b) San José
c) Seattle
6. When was Abraham Lincoln assasinated?
a) 1861
b) 1869
c) 1865
7. Which of the american national parks is the biggest?
a) Yellowstone
b) Sapoya
c) Niagara
Complete the words:
The official name UNITED STATES OF AMERICA is ......................... from name af italian navigator Amerigo Vespucci. The nothern ............................ is formed by the Great Lakes.
When you´ve got 10¢ you can say, that you have .....................
At "Jack in the box" you can eat ........................................... or ..............................
b) San José
c) Seattle
6. When was Abraham Lincoln assasinated?
a) 1861
b) 1869
c) 1865
7. Which of the american national parks is the biggest?
a) Yellowstone
b) Sapoya
c) Niagara
Complete the words:
The official name UNITED STATES OF AMERICA is ......................... from name af italian navigator Amerigo Vespucci. The nothern ............................ is formed by the Great Lakes.
When you´ve got 10¢ you can say, that you have .....................
At "Jack in the box" you can eat ........................................... or ..............................
Climate
Washington D.C.: January 2°C = 36°F, July 27°C = 81°F
San Francisco: January 10°C = 50°F,July 15°C = 59°F
economy: Gross Domestic Product = US $ 6 738 400 000 000 (1994)
chief economical products:
agriculture: hay, potatoes, sugar beets, citrus fruit, tobacco, livestock, timber, corn, tomatoes, peanuts, apples, oranges(Florida)
farming (raising): pigs, broilers, chicken, turkey, sheep, lamb
industry: paper products, printing and publishing, plastics, textilies, clothing, furniture, leather goods, glass items, chemical products
mining: petroleum, natural gas, coal, copper, iron ore, silver, uranium
transport: 1st were waterways, then steam railways, after 1st World War - air transport
81% of passanger traffic are carrying cars, airlines are carrying more than 17% of passanger traffic, railways are carrying 0,6%
airports: 5100 public airports, 12 400 private airports, the largest and te bussiest is in Chicago - O´Hare, then JFK in New York
lifestyle:
In USA you can meet the most famous people, because Hollywood is there. Hollywood produces many films every year.
Fast food is a type of restaurant, where you can buy what you want wery quickly, you can eat it inside or you can take it with you. It´s fast and cheap. The most popular fast foods are: Mc Donalds, KFC, Burger King or Jack in the box, which is popular on the west coast and you can buy there a typical mexican food like "Tacos Ricos" or "Burito".
In general, the typical american inventions are: fast food, Hollywood, chewing gum and crocket.
San Francisco: January 10°C = 50°F,July 15°C = 59°F
economy: Gross Domestic Product = US $ 6 738 400 000 000 (1994)
chief economical products:
agriculture: hay, potatoes, sugar beets, citrus fruit, tobacco, livestock, timber, corn, tomatoes, peanuts, apples, oranges(Florida)
farming (raising): pigs, broilers, chicken, turkey, sheep, lamb
industry: paper products, printing and publishing, plastics, textilies, clothing, furniture, leather goods, glass items, chemical products
mining: petroleum, natural gas, coal, copper, iron ore, silver, uranium
transport: 1st were waterways, then steam railways, after 1st World War - air transport
81% of passanger traffic are carrying cars, airlines are carrying more than 17% of passanger traffic, railways are carrying 0,6%
airports: 5100 public airports, 12 400 private airports, the largest and te bussiest is in Chicago - O´Hare, then JFK in New York
lifestyle:
In USA you can meet the most famous people, because Hollywood is there. Hollywood produces many films every year.
Fast food is a type of restaurant, where you can buy what you want wery quickly, you can eat it inside or you can take it with you. It´s fast and cheap. The most popular fast foods are: Mc Donalds, KFC, Burger King or Jack in the box, which is popular on the west coast and you can buy there a typical mexican food like "Tacos Ricos" or "Burito".
In general, the typical american inventions are: fast food, Hollywood, chewing gum and crocket.
THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
QUIZARD:
1. The biggest airport in USA is ...
a) J.F.K.
b) La Guardia
c) O´Hara
2. The oldest skyscraper in New York is ...
a) Empire State Building
b) Twins
c) Iron Building
3. How many blacks live in Southern states?
a) 1/2
b) 1/5
c) 1/7
4. Which is the most popular religion in USA?
a) Islam
b) Roman Catholicism
c) Protestantism
1. The biggest airport in USA is ...
a) J.F.K.
b) La Guardia
c) O´Hara
2. The oldest skyscraper in New York is ...
a) Empire State Building
b) Twins
c) Iron Building
3. How many blacks live in Southern states?
a) 1/2
b) 1/5
c) 1/7
4. Which is the most popular religion in USA?
a) Islam
b) Roman Catholicism
c) Protestantism
Capital-Washington D.C.
Capital-Washington D.C.
cities:
east coast: New York, Washington D.C., Philadelphia, Baltimore, Boston, Orlando, ...
west coast: San Francisco, Los Angeles, San José, Santa Cruz, ...
area: 9 809 155 km2
population: 263 437 000 (1995); in 1980-1990 highly mobile redistribution from Nothern Central and North-East States on the South and West. Population grew by 9,8% in decade from 80.-90.
ethnic groups: 80%white; 15% black; 3% Asian and Pacific Islanders; more than 1/5 blacks lives in the Southern States (Missourri, Alabama, South Carolina, ... )
religions: 56% Protestantism; 25% Roman Catholicism; 2% Judaism; 17% Other (Islam, Hinduism, ... )
language: no official language; english is predominant; nearly 32 milion US residents aged 5 or older speak a language other than English at home. 54% can speak Spanish; other languages spoken in USA are: Chinese, Japanese, Korean, French, Italian, German, Polish, Greek and native American languages.
form of goverment: democratic federal republic; 48 contiguous states + noncontiguous states of Alaska and Hawaii and outlaying areas including Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guana, Virgin Isles
head of state: president; four-year term
currency: american dollar; coins and paper money; penny= 1¢, nickel= 5¢, dime=10¢, quarter=25¢, half-dollar=50¢; dollar=100¢
cities:
east coast: New York, Washington D.C., Philadelphia, Baltimore, Boston, Orlando, ...
west coast: San Francisco, Los Angeles, San José, Santa Cruz, ...
area: 9 809 155 km2
population: 263 437 000 (1995); in 1980-1990 highly mobile redistribution from Nothern Central and North-East States on the South and West. Population grew by 9,8% in decade from 80.-90.
ethnic groups: 80%white; 15% black; 3% Asian and Pacific Islanders; more than 1/5 blacks lives in the Southern States (Missourri, Alabama, South Carolina, ... )
religions: 56% Protestantism; 25% Roman Catholicism; 2% Judaism; 17% Other (Islam, Hinduism, ... )
language: no official language; english is predominant; nearly 32 milion US residents aged 5 or older speak a language other than English at home. 54% can speak Spanish; other languages spoken in USA are: Chinese, Japanese, Korean, French, Italian, German, Polish, Greek and native American languages.
form of goverment: democratic federal republic; 48 contiguous states + noncontiguous states of Alaska and Hawaii and outlaying areas including Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guana, Virgin Isles
head of state: president; four-year term
currency: american dollar; coins and paper money; penny= 1¢, nickel= 5¢, dime=10¢, quarter=25¢, half-dollar=50¢; dollar=100¢
THE USA
official name: THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA (derived from Italian navigator Amerigo Vespuci)
over the map: western hemisphere of the Earth; North America
The USA is bounded by Canada on the North, on the East by the Atlantic Ocean, on the South by Gulf of Mexico and on the West by Pacific ocean. The nothern boundary is formed by the Great Lakes and the St.Lawrence River; the southern boundary by Rio Grande.
the highest mountain: Mount McKinley - 6199 m above sea level (in Alaska), Rocky Mountains,
valley: Death Valley - 86 m below sea level (in California)
rivers: Ohio, Tennessee, Illinois, Mississippi, Colorado, Rio Grande, Yukon (Alaska), Missouri, ...
lakes: 5 great lakes: Erie, Huron, Michigan, Ontario, Superior
famous national parks: Niagara falls (the falls are 50 meters high)
Yellowstone park - the oldest national park in the world, the biggest in The USA, the river Yellowstone floats through it.
Sepoya national park, Munument valley
over the map: western hemisphere of the Earth; North America
The USA is bounded by Canada on the North, on the East by the Atlantic Ocean, on the South by Gulf of Mexico and on the West by Pacific ocean. The nothern boundary is formed by the Great Lakes and the St.Lawrence River; the southern boundary by Rio Grande.
the highest mountain: Mount McKinley - 6199 m above sea level (in Alaska), Rocky Mountains,
valley: Death Valley - 86 m below sea level (in California)
rivers: Ohio, Tennessee, Illinois, Mississippi, Colorado, Rio Grande, Yukon (Alaska), Missouri, ...
lakes: 5 great lakes: Erie, Huron, Michigan, Ontario, Superior
famous national parks: Niagara falls (the falls are 50 meters high)
Yellowstone park - the oldest national park in the world, the biggest in The USA, the river Yellowstone floats through it.
Sepoya national park, Munument valley
Historical events
1776 - Declaration of independence - the first state to become really democratic
1861-1865 - the war between North and South, Lincoln - abolishment of slavery
1870-1890 - struggles with native Americans > they were killed or put in reservations
1917-1918 - after WWI. USA became the world power
1941 - Japannese attack on Pearl Harbor > USA enters the WWII.
1950-1953 - Korean war
1965-1973 - Vietnam war
1972 - Watergate affair, R. Nixon - the 1st US president to resign
1991 - the war in Persian gulf
Achievements - they were first to create an atomicbomb, to build an electronical computer, to fly the supersonic and to step on the Moon
Products : the States are famous on the first place with their titanic action movies with uncredible special effects, than with wearclothes (clothes of trademarks like Nike, Adidas or Reebok are the latest fashion of young people) and all sorts of aircrafts (combat, transport or helicopters)
1861-1865 - the war between North and South, Lincoln - abolishment of slavery
1870-1890 - struggles with native Americans > they were killed or put in reservations
1917-1918 - after WWI. USA became the world power
1941 - Japannese attack on Pearl Harbor > USA enters the WWII.
1950-1953 - Korean war
1965-1973 - Vietnam war
1972 - Watergate affair, R. Nixon - the 1st US president to resign
1991 - the war in Persian gulf
Achievements - they were first to create an atomicbomb, to build an electronical computer, to fly the supersonic and to step on the Moon
Products : the States are famous on the first place with their titanic action movies with uncredible special effects, than with wearclothes (clothes of trademarks like Nike, Adidas or Reebok are the latest fashion of young people) and all sorts of aircrafts (combat, transport or helicopters)
What makes the USA famous abroad
Personalities : - on the first place I would name the US president - he is probably the most powerful man in the world and we could say (whether we like it or not) that America is under his reign a big example for many other countries around the world
- action actors - they are big heroes for little boys and girls who don’t know anything about the real world
- singers - USA leads (as many people think) the world pop-music and other genres; who wouldn’t know the king of pop Michael Jackson ?
- sportsmen - when Americans can’t be as good as their sport idols, they at least admire them like they were gods (e.g. Michael Jordan, Mark McGuire ...)
- and I can’t forget the first man on the moon Luis Armstrong
Culture : I think that every young boy of 13 or 14 must admire the life style of “big ones” in America - children can drive from 15, they usually have their owncars, they make parties with friends, they go shopping, to cinemas and to fast foods when they want ...; I think this is their culture - to be free and to do what they want
- action actors - they are big heroes for little boys and girls who don’t know anything about the real world
- singers - USA leads (as many people think) the world pop-music and other genres; who wouldn’t know the king of pop Michael Jackson ?
- sportsmen - when Americans can’t be as good as their sport idols, they at least admire them like they were gods (e.g. Michael Jordan, Mark McGuire ...)
- and I can’t forget the first man on the moon Luis Armstrong
Culture : I think that every young boy of 13 or 14 must admire the life style of “big ones” in America - children can drive from 15, they usually have their owncars, they make parties with friends, they go shopping, to cinemas and to fast foods when they want ...; I think this is their culture - to be free and to do what they want
THE USA
National parks
· in USA there are many national parks protecting the wild nature and animals from human spreading and destroying everything that is unfit to him (in Yosemite there was allowed to build a dam at the beginning of this century, but after this it was claimed that no more interactions would be done into any NP); many other countries followed the US model of establishing their national parks
· NPs are recreational areas, you can’t travell there by car (it’s roadless)
Yellowstone - the oldest national park in USA, set up in 1872, known for its hotsprings, waterfalls and variety of wildlife (grizzlys, owes, buffalos ...)
Yosemite - there is the third highest waterfall in the world - Yosemite (739m)
Olympic - contains rainforest, the peaks are covered by glaciers
Everglades - formed by tropical swamps and morass, many species of birds
Carlsbad Caverns - great caves and underground chambers, stalagnits and stalaktits
Mammoth caves - the largest complex of caves in the world, they measure 530 km
Mesa Verde - ruins of prehistoric indian viilages and stone buildings from 11th - 14th century
Petrified forest - tree trunks million of years old, which have turned into stones
· in USA there are many national parks protecting the wild nature and animals from human spreading and destroying everything that is unfit to him (in Yosemite there was allowed to build a dam at the beginning of this century, but after this it was claimed that no more interactions would be done into any NP); many other countries followed the US model of establishing their national parks
· NPs are recreational areas, you can’t travell there by car (it’s roadless)
Yellowstone - the oldest national park in USA, set up in 1872, known for its hotsprings, waterfalls and variety of wildlife (grizzlys, owes, buffalos ...)
Yosemite - there is the third highest waterfall in the world - Yosemite (739m)
Olympic - contains rainforest, the peaks are covered by glaciers
Everglades - formed by tropical swamps and morass, many species of birds
Carlsbad Caverns - great caves and underground chambers, stalagnits and stalaktits
Mammoth caves - the largest complex of caves in the world, they measure 530 km
Mesa Verde - ruins of prehistoric indian viilages and stone buildings from 11th - 14th century
Petrified forest - tree trunks million of years old, which have turned into stones
USA - religion
· when Pilgrim fathers came to America from England in 1620, they brought with them roots of English Protestant church; they issued the Mayflower compact, which was actually the 1st constitution and it tried to unificate the church in America
· in 1636 the first amendment to the Mayflower compact was added; the government can't support any religion
· in the half or 18th century there was a Great Awakening - thousands of people became members of any church, they started to strongly believe in God and praying, Puritans became more educated
· the religious situation in 1950's was known as a three faith model - Protestants, Catholics and Jews made the biggest groups
· it can be seen that religion has a big influnce in USA today - the president oaths on a Bible, he says "... and so help me God", you don't have to be a soldier if your religion forbids it ...
Sects :
· a terrible thing happend in 1978 when Jim Jones let his believers drink the poisson; the result was 900 dead by suicide
Mormons - the largest sect in USA, they live in Utah and strongly keep the family solidarity
Jehova's witnesses - the sect was founded in 1870 in New York by Charles Russel
Scientologists - they try to increase their spititual activities
The Amish - they aim on agriculture, they don't often go to schools - they prepare themselves for good wives, mothers and farmers, they don't like modern civilisation and they disdain for it, can't make pictures and photos of people
Religions now :
56% Protestantism (including Baptist, Methodist, Lutheran, Presbyterian, Mormon and others)
25% Roman Catholicism
2% Judaism
17% Other (including other Christian denominations, Islam, and Hinduism)
7 % have none
· in 1636 the first amendment to the Mayflower compact was added; the government can't support any religion
· in the half or 18th century there was a Great Awakening - thousands of people became members of any church, they started to strongly believe in God and praying, Puritans became more educated
· the religious situation in 1950's was known as a three faith model - Protestants, Catholics and Jews made the biggest groups
· it can be seen that religion has a big influnce in USA today - the president oaths on a Bible, he says "... and so help me God", you don't have to be a soldier if your religion forbids it ...
Sects :
· a terrible thing happend in 1978 when Jim Jones let his believers drink the poisson; the result was 900 dead by suicide
Mormons - the largest sect in USA, they live in Utah and strongly keep the family solidarity
Jehova's witnesses - the sect was founded in 1870 in New York by Charles Russel
Scientologists - they try to increase their spititual activities
The Amish - they aim on agriculture, they don't often go to schools - they prepare themselves for good wives, mothers and farmers, they don't like modern civilisation and they disdain for it, can't make pictures and photos of people
Religions now :
56% Protestantism (including Baptist, Methodist, Lutheran, Presbyterian, Mormon and others)
25% Roman Catholicism
2% Judaism
17% Other (including other Christian denominations, Islam, and Hinduism)
7 % have none
Legislature
· congress consists of two houses, the Senate and the House of Representatives; the Senate contains 100 senators, two representing each state, the 435 members of the House are elected by the different states on the basis of their population at the most recent US census; representatives serve two-year terms, and senators six-year terms, Every two years all 435 members of the House are elected, and one-third of the senators.
· the Senate tries all impeachments, with a two-thirds vote necessary to convict
Judiciary :
· the federal court system derives its powers from Article III of the Constitution, the system includes the Supreme Court, established by the Constitution and some more courts established by Congress
· the federal courts perform two constitutional functions : first, they interpret the meaning of laws, second, the courts determine whether any law passed by Congress or state legislatures violates the US Constitution
Political parties :
· two major political parties exist in the United States : The Democratic party founded in the 1790s and The Republican party founded in 1854
· the Senate tries all impeachments, with a two-thirds vote necessary to convict
Judiciary :
· the federal court system derives its powers from Article III of the Constitution, the system includes the Supreme Court, established by the Constitution and some more courts established by Congress
· the federal courts perform two constitutional functions : first, they interpret the meaning of laws, second, the courts determine whether any law passed by Congress or state legislatures violates the US Constitution
Political parties :
· two major political parties exist in the United States : The Democratic party founded in the 1790s and The Republican party founded in 1854
US political system + presidential election
· the supreme law of the land is the Constitution of the United States; the Constitution provides for a union of states, now numbering 50, each with its own constitution, republican form of government, and reserved powers, within a federal system; the national government is responsible for external affairs, and has concurrent powers with states, commonwealths, and self-governing territories over domestic matters
Executive :
· the American president typically has a greater range of functions than prime ministers in parliamentary governments because the president serves as ceremonial chief of state as well as head of government; article II of the Constitution provides for a president and vice president chosen by a majority of voters in the Electoral College, for a fixed term of four years, the 22nd Amendment (1951) limits presidents to two terms in office.
Presidential elections :
· the Electoral College nominally chooses the president and vice president of the United States; this group comprises the electors from the separate states who are selected by the voters in presidential elections. Each state is entitled to a number of electors equal to the total number of senators and representatives it sends to the US Congress, therefore at least three electors; than the House of Representatives votes state by state to choose the president, and the Senate votes as individuals to elect the vice president
Executive :
· the American president typically has a greater range of functions than prime ministers in parliamentary governments because the president serves as ceremonial chief of state as well as head of government; article II of the Constitution provides for a president and vice president chosen by a majority of voters in the Electoral College, for a fixed term of four years, the 22nd Amendment (1951) limits presidents to two terms in office.
Presidential elections :
· the Electoral College nominally chooses the president and vice president of the United States; this group comprises the electors from the separate states who are selected by the voters in presidential elections. Each state is entitled to a number of electors equal to the total number of senators and representatives it sends to the US Congress, therefore at least three electors; than the House of Representatives votes state by state to choose the president, and the Senate votes as individuals to elect the vice president
Black Americans
· first Africans were brought to America in 1619 as servants and soon some colonies strongly supported the idea of slavery; in the 18th century the slavery reached its peak and most of the slaves were forced to work hard on large plantantions
· the abolishment of slavery was a result of several actions and negotiations which took place during the North and South war and finally in 1865 the slavery ended and the president Lincoln was assasinated
· even later, the blacks were discriminated by white people and it sometimes led to segregation - separate schools, churches, swiming pools, bus stations ... for blacks
· in the first half of 20th century many Afro-Americans gained high positions in cultural life, it is called Harlem rennaissance (Armstrong, Elington ...)
· thanks to Civil Rights Movement and Martin Luther King in 1960’s the blacks gained equal positions with the white; they live side by side now but there are still many of them who are on the bottom of social scale
affirmative action program (positive discrimination) - universities and some employers are given certain number of Afro-Americans to be admited
· the abolishment of slavery was a result of several actions and negotiations which took place during the North and South war and finally in 1865 the slavery ended and the president Lincoln was assasinated
· even later, the blacks were discriminated by white people and it sometimes led to segregation - separate schools, churches, swiming pools, bus stations ... for blacks
· in the first half of 20th century many Afro-Americans gained high positions in cultural life, it is called Harlem rennaissance (Armstrong, Elington ...)
· thanks to Civil Rights Movement and Martin Luther King in 1960’s the blacks gained equal positions with the white; they live side by side now but there are still many of them who are on the bottom of social scale
affirmative action program (positive discrimination) - universities and some employers are given certain number of Afro-Americans to be admited
Immigration
· New York city (called Big apple) can be defined by its ethnic and cultural diversity; you can find there areas like Little Italy, Chinatown and several other ethnic areas with names of their countries
· the greatest waves of immigrants came in NY from 1840’s to 1920’s and their reasons were personal freedom and economic opportunity; they found there schools and jobs which helped them to integrate into the larger community, but the fathers often couldn’t find a job and the mothers felt isolated from friends; so they hoped their children would attend better schools and get better jobs (children were their only connection between the old and new world - they could write and speak English and soon they got better paid jobs than their parents)
· some 20 million of immigrants passed through Ellis Island between 1891 and 1954 (was closed), also known as Isle of Tears, because all immigrants feared that they couldn’t pass and after many weeks of exhausting voyage over the ocean they would have to return
· the greatest waves of immigrants came in NY from 1840’s to 1920’s and their reasons were personal freedom and economic opportunity; they found there schools and jobs which helped them to integrate into the larger community, but the fathers often couldn’t find a job and the mothers felt isolated from friends; so they hoped their children would attend better schools and get better jobs (children were their only connection between the old and new world - they could write and speak English and soon they got better paid jobs than their parents)
· some 20 million of immigrants passed through Ellis Island between 1891 and 1954 (was closed), also known as Isle of Tears, because all immigrants feared that they couldn’t pass and after many weeks of exhausting voyage over the ocean they would have to return
Ethnic groups in USA
· there are 106 minor groups in USA today, the biggest ones are Hispanics (people from Spain, they are considered the fastest growing group), Africans (came as slaves), Dutches, Chineese, French, Italian, Russians, Arabs ...
· USA are often called “melting pot” or “mosaic”; the “mosaic” refers to many nationalities, colours and cultures of people who immigrated and their variety makes a picture like mosaic; “melting pot” means that all these different cultures melt together and create one new culture
Indians :
· the native Americans were called Indians by Crystof Columbus, because he thought that he was in India; their lifestyle was to hunt, to fish, to move from place to place, but than came a white man and started to build cities, railways and extended his territories (one reason was the gold feavor)
· some living Indian tribes are Apachees, Comanches, Sioux and Cherokees, but some of them were forced to live in reservations (one hundred tousands Indians live in the biggest reservation in Arizona) and some of them adopted the lifestyle of white men (cars, whisky ...)
· in 1960’s there was a movement “Indian power” when Indians protested against closing them in reservations; the number of them is now increasing
· USA are often called “melting pot” or “mosaic”; the “mosaic” refers to many nationalities, colours and cultures of people who immigrated and their variety makes a picture like mosaic; “melting pot” means that all these different cultures melt together and create one new culture
Indians :
· the native Americans were called Indians by Crystof Columbus, because he thought that he was in India; their lifestyle was to hunt, to fish, to move from place to place, but than came a white man and started to build cities, railways and extended his territories (one reason was the gold feavor)
· some living Indian tribes are Apachees, Comanches, Sioux and Cherokees, but some of them were forced to live in reservations (one hundred tousands Indians live in the biggest reservation in Arizona) and some of them adopted the lifestyle of white men (cars, whisky ...)
· in 1960’s there was a movement “Indian power” when Indians protested against closing them in reservations; the number of them is now increasing
The Parliament
The monarch
The House of Lords (1036 peers) - can’t cancel the law but can discuss it for 1 year at most; made up of the lords temporal and the lords spiritual - hereditary peers and life peers :
lords temporal - law lords (judicial duties)
- other life peers appointed in recognition for their service in politics ...
lords spiritual -archbishops and bishops
The house of Commons (651 members) - are elected from gographical constituences by majority system, the voting age was lowered in 1969 to 18 years, its life is 5 years, dissolved by the sovereign
Political parties :
· the majority party forms Her (or His) Majesty's Government, and the second party is officially recognized as Her (or His) Majesty's Own Loyal Opposition
- the Labour party, generally socialist until the 1990s when it moved towards the political centre, began a programme of nationalization of selected industries after an overwhelming election victory in May 1945
- the Conservative party has favoured private enterprise with less state regulation
- other parties in the early 1990s included the Scottish Nationalist party and Plaid Cymru (Welsh nationalist), and the Northern Irish parties: the Ulster Unionist party, the Democratic Unionist party, the Social Democratic and Labour party, and Sinn Fein; all but Sinn Fein have representatives in the House of Commons
The House of Lords (1036 peers) - can’t cancel the law but can discuss it for 1 year at most; made up of the lords temporal and the lords spiritual - hereditary peers and life peers :
lords temporal - law lords (judicial duties)
- other life peers appointed in recognition for their service in politics ...
lords spiritual -archbishops and bishops
The house of Commons (651 members) - are elected from gographical constituences by majority system, the voting age was lowered in 1969 to 18 years, its life is 5 years, dissolved by the sovereign
Political parties :
· the majority party forms Her (or His) Majesty's Government, and the second party is officially recognized as Her (or His) Majesty's Own Loyal Opposition
- the Labour party, generally socialist until the 1990s when it moved towards the political centre, began a programme of nationalization of selected industries after an overwhelming election victory in May 1945
- the Conservative party has favoured private enterprise with less state regulation
- other parties in the early 1990s included the Scottish Nationalist party and Plaid Cymru (Welsh nationalist), and the Northern Irish parties: the Ulster Unionist party, the Democratic Unionist party, the Social Democratic and Labour party, and Sinn Fein; all but Sinn Fein have representatives in the House of Commons
United kingdom - politics
· The United Kingdom is a parliamentary monarchy based on an unwritten constitution and is thus adaptable to changing political conditions
· Britain is today governed by her majesty’s Government in the name of the queen and with the approval of Parliament
The monarch :
· Queen Elizabeth II., succeeded to the throne on February 6, 1952, on the death of her father King George VI.; the heir to the throne is her oldest son, Charles, Prince of Wales;
· the Monarch formally appoints the prime minister and government and other important persons, she chairs meeting regularly with the prime minister, receives accounts of cabinet decisions, signs state papers and dissolves the parliament
The executive :
· prime minister chooses his ministers (usually from the Commons) who create the cabinet, which decides and implements policy and coordinates government departments; it normally numbers between 15 to 20
· Britain is today governed by her majesty’s Government in the name of the queen and with the approval of Parliament
The monarch :
· Queen Elizabeth II., succeeded to the throne on February 6, 1952, on the death of her father King George VI.; the heir to the throne is her oldest son, Charles, Prince of Wales;
· the Monarch formally appoints the prime minister and government and other important persons, she chairs meeting regularly with the prime minister, receives accounts of cabinet decisions, signs state papers and dissolves the parliament
The executive :
· prime minister chooses his ministers (usually from the Commons) who create the cabinet, which decides and implements policy and coordinates government departments; it normally numbers between 15 to 20
Sports and me
Sports and me
· I think that the main and only function of any sport is to bring happiness and fun from moving; of course it is nice to win some competiton but the winner has to say : “OK, maybe I’m so good maybe it was just a luck, but I like this sport and I would be happy the same if I was the last”
· when I was young, I used to play tennis for about 3 years, but I must say I didn’t like it very much; I didn’t like going to trainings because there were too many people and I was the youngest and the worst of them; but what I liked was to play on weekends mornings with my father (I beated him twice)
· I did judo for approximately one year but I gave it up because I didn’t like it at all - I was kind of sensitive
· now I play frisbee and it’s the greatest game in the world; it originated in America in 1960’s and came to Europe in early 90’s, I started to do it 2 years ago and quickly learned the basic - throw the disc, now I’m not the worst; once a week we go running and another day we train in a hall or outdoor during the summer; I’ve been only on four ultimate cups and our team was always on last three positions; but it doesn’t matter, we are relatively young team and we all like it
· I would also mention that I do rollerblade skating, but mainly during the summer
· I don’t watch TV very much but if I had to choose a sport to watch, it would be hockey - it is quick, action and CR is good in it
Článek podporuje:
inline hokej, nordic skating, helmy levně
· I think that the main and only function of any sport is to bring happiness and fun from moving; of course it is nice to win some competiton but the winner has to say : “OK, maybe I’m so good maybe it was just a luck, but I like this sport and I would be happy the same if I was the last”
· when I was young, I used to play tennis for about 3 years, but I must say I didn’t like it very much; I didn’t like going to trainings because there were too many people and I was the youngest and the worst of them; but what I liked was to play on weekends mornings with my father (I beated him twice)
· I did judo for approximately one year but I gave it up because I didn’t like it at all - I was kind of sensitive
· now I play frisbee and it’s the greatest game in the world; it originated in America in 1960’s and came to Europe in early 90’s, I started to do it 2 years ago and quickly learned the basic - throw the disc, now I’m not the worst; once a week we go running and another day we train in a hall or outdoor during the summer; I’ve been only on four ultimate cups and our team was always on last three positions; but it doesn’t matter, we are relatively young team and we all like it
· I would also mention that I do rollerblade skating, but mainly during the summer
· I don’t watch TV very much but if I had to choose a sport to watch, it would be hockey - it is quick, action and CR is good in it
Článek podporuje:
inline hokej, nordic skating, helmy levně
Sports popular in our country and in the English-speaking world
CR - Czechs are traditionally good in hockey, football and athletics; I think that I don’t have to remind the Olympic games in Nagano, because everybody in Czech country knows our “Golden Team” or at least goalman Hasek or forward Jagr; we were good in football between two world wars and now it is still the traditional sport, but rather domestic; we have always been good in athletics and still are; I could name Zatopek, Fibingerova from 50’s and 60’s and Zelezny, Kasparkova and Dvorak from present days
USA - we could say that Americans created their own, very uncommon sports, which became more popular than anything else - baseball, basketball, American football and golf; 40 000 people visiting one match is not surptising, but many people go there not to see the match, but their heroes or to chat with friends; you can get 10 000$ if you catch the homerun from Mark McGuire
England - traditional sports would be here probably football and tennis; although the English tennis players haven’t been succesful since 1930’s, Wimbledon is the most famous of all lawn tennis centres; it is home of the “Lawn Tennis Championships on Grass”, the oldest and most prestigious of the tournaments; Wimbledon is situated in Church Road, in a residential district of southwest London; there are some 16 grass courts and 10 clay courts, the Centre Court and the No.1 are the two principal courts; the first championships were held by the All-England Club in 1877 at the original site in Worple Road, Wimbledon
Highland Games - series of organized sports events held in Scotland annually since the 19th century and in many places in Canada and the United States; one of the best known of the games is the Braemar Gathering, held in Aberdeenshire in Scotland in August; competition for prizes is held in the standard athletic events and in uniquely Scottish sports such as tossing the caber - a fir tree pole about 5 m long and weighing about 41kg and the weight - a 25-kg sphere; Scottish dancing, Gaelic recitations, and the playing of the bagpipes are also featured
USA - we could say that Americans created their own, very uncommon sports, which became more popular than anything else - baseball, basketball, American football and golf; 40 000 people visiting one match is not surptising, but many people go there not to see the match, but their heroes or to chat with friends; you can get 10 000$ if you catch the homerun from Mark McGuire
England - traditional sports would be here probably football and tennis; although the English tennis players haven’t been succesful since 1930’s, Wimbledon is the most famous of all lawn tennis centres; it is home of the “Lawn Tennis Championships on Grass”, the oldest and most prestigious of the tournaments; Wimbledon is situated in Church Road, in a residential district of southwest London; there are some 16 grass courts and 10 clay courts, the Centre Court and the No.1 are the two principal courts; the first championships were held by the All-England Club in 1877 at the original site in Worple Road, Wimbledon
Highland Games - series of organized sports events held in Scotland annually since the 19th century and in many places in Canada and the United States; one of the best known of the games is the Braemar Gathering, held in Aberdeenshire in Scotland in August; competition for prizes is held in the standard athletic events and in uniquely Scottish sports such as tossing the caber - a fir tree pole about 5 m long and weighing about 41kg and the weight - a 25-kg sphere; Scottish dancing, Gaelic recitations, and the playing of the bagpipes are also featured
Problems connected with sports nowdays
Problems connected with sports nowdays
· I think that the main problem connected with sports nowdays is that the reason why people did sports a hundred years ago and why they do it now changed
In the past - people did sports for fun, they just wanted to move their bodies, they didn’t care whether they would get on Olympic games - they liked the sport for itself and the sport made them happy
Nowdays - in our present society, when the world is quickly developing and modernising, when everything becomes more difficult and elaborate, the standard for being the best in something moved up > only very few people can stand on the real peak of human race and sportsmen think that they can if they work very, very hard; so the reason is not the fun of the game or sport, but it is to be the best, to beat everybody and to show everybody I’m the best
· and what’s the result of this degeneration of the function of sports ? > people regardlessly try to win at any price, fair play is not important anymore and spotsmen start to take drugs (no matter they destroy their body, but they win and that’s what they want)
· another problem is commercialism of sports and Olympic games - sportsmen need proffesional and expensive equipment, so the companies support them and than everybody can see that the fastest man wears a Nike T-shirt; sometimes I think that the competers didn’t win for themselves but for the company; it’s not surprising anymore when you see a famous sportsman in a commercial or when he has a restaurant (e.g. Michael Jordan’s in Chicago)
Článek podporuje:
inline hokej, nordic skating, helmy levně
· I think that the main problem connected with sports nowdays is that the reason why people did sports a hundred years ago and why they do it now changed
In the past - people did sports for fun, they just wanted to move their bodies, they didn’t care whether they would get on Olympic games - they liked the sport for itself and the sport made them happy
Nowdays - in our present society, when the world is quickly developing and modernising, when everything becomes more difficult and elaborate, the standard for being the best in something moved up > only very few people can stand on the real peak of human race and sportsmen think that they can if they work very, very hard; so the reason is not the fun of the game or sport, but it is to be the best, to beat everybody and to show everybody I’m the best
· and what’s the result of this degeneration of the function of sports ? > people regardlessly try to win at any price, fair play is not important anymore and spotsmen start to take drugs (no matter they destroy their body, but they win and that’s what they want)
· another problem is commercialism of sports and Olympic games - sportsmen need proffesional and expensive equipment, so the companies support them and than everybody can see that the fastest man wears a Nike T-shirt; sometimes I think that the competers didn’t win for themselves but for the company; it’s not surprising anymore when you see a famous sportsman in a commercial or when he has a restaurant (e.g. Michael Jordan’s in Chicago)
Článek podporuje:
inline hokej, nordic skating, helmy levně
Comparing schools in UK/USA and CR
· the biggest difference between our and British school system is, that pupils in CR after 9 years of compulsury education can enter the high school for 4 years and in UK after 11 years of compulsury education they take only 2 years of ‘A’ levels - I think that someone who wants to enrol at a university is much better prepared from the 4-years high school than from 2-years ‘A’ levels
· in CR the better and worse students are together only for 9 years and than they separate, but in UK they have to be mixed for 11 years - I think that the good students must suffer
· children in UK enter the school at the age or 5 and in CR at the age of 6 or 7; I think in this point our system is better, because when children are 5, they are still too young to pay attention and they get quickly tired - that’s why they don’t like going to schools
· the British system is better in the length of compulsory education - during 11 years the pupils learn more than during 9 years
· on the contrary to the USA, students in CR don’t take only written tests, but also oral exams - it is good for expressing; Czech students also learn more theory than make experiments; it has advantages and of course disadvantages too, but basicly I think we are better prepared for studies on the university
· in CR the better and worse students are together only for 9 years and than they separate, but in UK they have to be mixed for 11 years - I think that the good students must suffer
· children in UK enter the school at the age or 5 and in CR at the age of 6 or 7; I think in this point our system is better, because when children are 5, they are still too young to pay attention and they get quickly tired - that’s why they don’t like going to schools
· the British system is better in the length of compulsory education - during 11 years the pupils learn more than during 9 years
· on the contrary to the USA, students in CR don’t take only written tests, but also oral exams - it is good for expressing; Czech students also learn more theory than make experiments; it has advantages and of course disadvantages too, but basicly I think we are better prepared for studies on the university
School year in CR
· school year in CR starts on the 1st of September, ends on 31st of June and is divided into two 5-months-long terms; at the end of every term students receive reports
· the first holidays are autumn holidays in October (2 days), then Christas holidays (in an ideal case they are 2 weeks long), half-of-term holiday is held after students receive reports (one day), spring holidays are one week long and are held on different terms depending from which region the student is and after the year report 2 months holidays
· on secondary schools, students of the 4th grade have one week off called “Saint week” before the school-leaving exam, that every student of the secondary school has to take (except some vocational schools)
· during the school year, every school has its own days off (e.g. concerts, sports days, theatres and other actions)
· on basic schools, secondary schools and universities students go on week-long summer or winter courses, with their teachers, where they learn to ski or go swimming, biking and hiking in summer
· the main subjects that most of the schools teach are maths, Czech language, foreign language, geography, history, physics, chemistry, biology ..., but they differ on each secondary schools
· the first holidays are autumn holidays in October (2 days), then Christas holidays (in an ideal case they are 2 weeks long), half-of-term holiday is held after students receive reports (one day), spring holidays are one week long and are held on different terms depending from which region the student is and after the year report 2 months holidays
· on secondary schools, students of the 4th grade have one week off called “Saint week” before the school-leaving exam, that every student of the secondary school has to take (except some vocational schools)
· during the school year, every school has its own days off (e.g. concerts, sports days, theatres and other actions)
· on basic schools, secondary schools and universities students go on week-long summer or winter courses, with their teachers, where they learn to ski or go swimming, biking and hiking in summer
· the main subjects that most of the schools teach are maths, Czech language, foreign language, geography, history, physics, chemistry, biology ..., but they differ on each secondary schools
Schools and I
· first school I was attending was a nursery school and when I was 6 I moved to a basic school; the basic school had no specialisation and it even didn’t have extended language teaching, so I was learning only one language (English) and only for 4 years; I was the last class that didn’t have the compulsory 9th class and on the second term I passed the entrance exams to a secondary school, gymnasium; now I would like to enrol at a a university - CVUT, specialisation air traffic controller
· school system in CR :
Creche - is the first school, where babies are brought up until they are 3; it’s for mothers, who can’t stay on maternity leave with their children
Nursery school - from 3rd year of baby’s life the maternity leave for mothers finishes and they usually put their children in these school, where they can be until they are 6 or 7
Primary school - is compulsory for all children and the education is 9 years long
Secondary school - is voluntuary and children can choose from :
vocational schools - prepares for a job, emphasises handy work and practical training
technical schools - students are educated in specialised subjects
gymnasium - students are given general education
Supplementary schools - are usually 2 years long and educate students in specialised subjects
University - is the highest possible education; there are more types of them, e.g. technical and academical ones, academies of arts, millitary and police ...
· school system in CR :
Creche - is the first school, where babies are brought up until they are 3; it’s for mothers, who can’t stay on maternity leave with their children
Nursery school - from 3rd year of baby’s life the maternity leave for mothers finishes and they usually put their children in these school, where they can be until they are 6 or 7
Primary school - is compulsory for all children and the education is 9 years long
Secondary school - is voluntuary and children can choose from :
vocational schools - prepares for a job, emphasises handy work and practical training
technical schools - students are educated in specialised subjects
gymnasium - students are given general education
Supplementary schools - are usually 2 years long and educate students in specialised subjects
University - is the highest possible education; there are more types of them, e.g. technical and academical ones, academies of arts, millitary and police ...
School system in the Czech Republic
In the CR, school attendance is compulsory from the age of 6 till 15 (or 16). It is free of charge and all children have the same possibilities for their future education. This system includes 4 grades:
a) Pre - school education
In our country there are nursery schools for children from the age of 1 to 3 years. From the age of 3 to 6 children attend kindergarten. This pre-school education is not compulsory.
b) Primary education
From the age of 6 to 15 (or 16) children attend basic schools. There are 2 degrees there. The first degree is from the first to the fifth class. Children learn the 3 R's there: Reading, wRiting, aRithmetic. Second degree is from the 6th to the 9th class. They learn Czech language and literature, foreign language, Maths, Chemistry, Biology, Physics, History, Geography, Civics, P. E., Music and Art.
c) Secondary education
Boys and girls over the age 15 (or) 16 attend secondary schools such as Grammar school, Special School and Apprentice centres. At secondary school students are taught most of those subject as at basic school but they are expanded in their content. As for special subjects, they learn economics, typing, accounting, computers, and various kinds of laboratory work. Students finish their studies with the school-leaving examination
d) Tertiary education
Tertiary education refers to universities and Technical Universities. Successful students from secondary schools can enter any university.
a) Pre - school education
In our country there are nursery schools for children from the age of 1 to 3 years. From the age of 3 to 6 children attend kindergarten. This pre-school education is not compulsory.
b) Primary education
From the age of 6 to 15 (or 16) children attend basic schools. There are 2 degrees there. The first degree is from the first to the fifth class. Children learn the 3 R's there: Reading, wRiting, aRithmetic. Second degree is from the 6th to the 9th class. They learn Czech language and literature, foreign language, Maths, Chemistry, Biology, Physics, History, Geography, Civics, P. E., Music and Art.
c) Secondary education
Boys and girls over the age 15 (or) 16 attend secondary schools such as Grammar school, Special School and Apprentice centres. At secondary school students are taught most of those subject as at basic school but they are expanded in their content. As for special subjects, they learn economics, typing, accounting, computers, and various kinds of laboratory work. Students finish their studies with the school-leaving examination
d) Tertiary education
Tertiary education refers to universities and Technical Universities. Successful students from secondary schools can enter any university.
School system in Great Britain
School is compulsory for children between the age of 5 to 16. Primary schools are for ages between 5 - 11 and Secondary schools are for ages over 11. Children under the age of five go to kindergarten. In Britain, 93% of pupils go to state schools. At the age of 16 about two thirds (2/3) of these pupils leave school and get jobs or apprenticeships. This system of education is free of charge. Some children take the Certificate of Secondary Education (C. S. E.) which means the satisfactory completion of school at the age of 16. More ambitious children take the examinations for the General Certificate of Secondary Education at ordinary level (GCSE - O level) or advanced level (GCSE - A level) at the age of 18. The GCSE - A level is the basic qualification to enter university. There are more than 40 universities in Great Britain.
School sports day
· school sports day on my school is traditionally held the first Tuesday in May on an athletic field close to the school; it is organised by our sport teachers and the events are :1000m run, relay, 100m sprint, long jump and high jump and weight put
· I participated only on one school sport day because the other times I was ill; I ran a relay and a 1000m run; I think that I started the relay well, I overtook 2 runners but finally our class finished 3rd; and when I was supposed to run the 1000m, I didn’t notice that other competors moved to the other side of the pitch and they started without me
· because we have only 10 boys in our class, we have never achieved a good position as a whole class
· I participated only on one school sport day because the other times I was ill; I ran a relay and a 1000m run; I think that I started the relay well, I overtook 2 runners but finally our class finished 3rd; and when I was supposed to run the 1000m, I didn’t notice that other competors moved to the other side of the pitch and they started without me
· because we have only 10 boys in our class, we have never achieved a good position as a whole class
New Year’s Eve
- is celebrated on 31st of December in the Gregorian calendar and is not a public holiday; people welcome the new year coming, they gather in public places or they go to parties and usually get drunk
Hogmanay - is the name given to New Year's Eve in Scotland; the custom called “First Footing” is still held and it means that a person who enters a house as the first in the new year is called first footer and he should carry a small piece of coal to bring luck; people go from door to door, visiting friends and relatives during which they give and receive small gifts, usually of food or drink, this is often followed by a gathering at one person's house where the festivities (including eating a haggis and drinking whisky, dancing and singing) continue
Pancake day (also Shrove Tuesday) - is not a holiday and is held the day before the Christian period of Lent (40 days before Easter) begins, people in Britain make and eat pancakes, they also hold races in tossing the pancakes while running
Easter - is celebrated between March 22 and April 25 and follows the Lent that begins on Ash wednesday; on Good Friday, Christians remember the crucifixion of Jesus and on Easter Sunday his resurection; people in Britain eat hot cross buns and children receive chocolate Easter eggs, but firstly they have to find them hidden in the garden; in CR we decorate real eggs and eat chocolate rabbits, and on Easter Monday we beat all girls with wooden sticks
Hogmanay - is the name given to New Year's Eve in Scotland; the custom called “First Footing” is still held and it means that a person who enters a house as the first in the new year is called first footer and he should carry a small piece of coal to bring luck; people go from door to door, visiting friends and relatives during which they give and receive small gifts, usually of food or drink, this is often followed by a gathering at one person's house where the festivities (including eating a haggis and drinking whisky, dancing and singing) continue
Pancake day (also Shrove Tuesday) - is not a holiday and is held the day before the Christian period of Lent (40 days before Easter) begins, people in Britain make and eat pancakes, they also hold races in tossing the pancakes while running
Easter - is celebrated between March 22 and April 25 and follows the Lent that begins on Ash wednesday; on Good Friday, Christians remember the crucifixion of Jesus and on Easter Sunday his resurection; people in Britain eat hot cross buns and children receive chocolate Easter eggs, but firstly they have to find them hidden in the garden; in CR we decorate real eggs and eat chocolate rabbits, and on Easter Monday we beat all girls with wooden sticks
Thanksgiving Day
- is celebrated the fourth Thursday in November and it is a legal holiday in the United States and in Canada; after the first harvest was completed by the Plymouth colonists and with help of Indians in 1621, a day of thanksgiving and prayer was proclaimed; now American families usually get together and they eat turkey, corn, sweet potatoes and pumpkin pie
Independence Day - is the holiday, which commemorates the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, and wasn’t a legal holiday until 1941; parades, pageants, patriotic speeches, organized firing of guns and cannons and displays of fireworks are held as well as family picnics and outings
Halloween - is not a holiday and is celebrated on October 31; this feast originated among the ancient Druids, who believed that on that evening, the lord of the dead called evil spirits so the Druids customarily lit great fires on Halloween apparently for the purpose of warding off all these spirits; after the Romans conquered Britain, they added to Halloween features of the Roman harvest festival; in recent days children go trick or treat, they were frightening clothes and face masks; carved pumpkins with lit candles placed inside can be seen in windows
Guy Fawkes Night - is not a holiday, celebrated on 5th November and remembering the failure of the “Gunpowder plot”, a plan by Roman catholics and Guy Fawkes who wanted to rid the country of its Protestant rulers and to blow up the Houses of Parliament in 1605; bonfires are lit and dummies are burned
Eisteddfod - is a national music and literary festival held each summer in Wales to promote Welsh language, literature, music, and customs; the week-long ceremony is a revival of the ancient Welsh custom of assembling bards, or minstrels, for competition among themselves in poetry and music
Independence Day - is the holiday, which commemorates the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, and wasn’t a legal holiday until 1941; parades, pageants, patriotic speeches, organized firing of guns and cannons and displays of fireworks are held as well as family picnics and outings
Halloween - is not a holiday and is celebrated on October 31; this feast originated among the ancient Druids, who believed that on that evening, the lord of the dead called evil spirits so the Druids customarily lit great fires on Halloween apparently for the purpose of warding off all these spirits; after the Romans conquered Britain, they added to Halloween features of the Roman harvest festival; in recent days children go trick or treat, they were frightening clothes and face masks; carved pumpkins with lit candles placed inside can be seen in windows
Guy Fawkes Night - is not a holiday, celebrated on 5th November and remembering the failure of the “Gunpowder plot”, a plan by Roman catholics and Guy Fawkes who wanted to rid the country of its Protestant rulers and to blow up the Houses of Parliament in 1605; bonfires are lit and dummies are burned
Eisteddfod - is a national music and literary festival held each summer in Wales to promote Welsh language, literature, music, and customs; the week-long ceremony is a revival of the ancient Welsh custom of assembling bards, or minstrels, for competition among themselves in poetry and music
Christmas
Christmas
· Christmas Day falls on December 25 and celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ in Bethlehem
· Christmas Day did not officially come into being until 354 when Pope Gregory proclaimed December 25 as the date of the Nativity; Christian church subsequently added, in the Middle Ages, the Nativity crib and Christmas carols to its customs
· in 1552 the Puritans banned Christmas, a move followed in Massachusetts seven years later; although Christmas returned to England in 1660 with Charles II, the rituals all but died out until revived in Victorian times
· most of the Christmass customs are world wide, like decorating Christmas tree (which originated in German centuries ago), singing carols (some were revived and many new ones written, often to traditional melodies) and sending Christmas cards
· some special customs were introduced in England and USA, e.g. Christmas crackers (they were invented in the late 19th century by an enterprising English baker, Tom Smith, who, by 1900, was selling 13 million worldwide each year) or the familiar image of Santa Claus, complete with sledge, reindeers, and sack of toys
· in English-speaking countries, they give presents on Christmas day and the “traditional” meal is turkey or goose, Christmas pudding, and mince pies
· in Czech republic, we give presents to each other on 24th - Christmas Eve and we usually eat fried carp with potatoe salad
· Christmas Day falls on December 25 and celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ in Bethlehem
· Christmas Day did not officially come into being until 354 when Pope Gregory proclaimed December 25 as the date of the Nativity; Christian church subsequently added, in the Middle Ages, the Nativity crib and Christmas carols to its customs
· in 1552 the Puritans banned Christmas, a move followed in Massachusetts seven years later; although Christmas returned to England in 1660 with Charles II, the rituals all but died out until revived in Victorian times
· most of the Christmass customs are world wide, like decorating Christmas tree (which originated in German centuries ago), singing carols (some were revived and many new ones written, often to traditional melodies) and sending Christmas cards
· some special customs were introduced in England and USA, e.g. Christmas crackers (they were invented in the late 19th century by an enterprising English baker, Tom Smith, who, by 1900, was selling 13 million worldwide each year) or the familiar image of Santa Claus, complete with sledge, reindeers, and sack of toys
· in English-speaking countries, they give presents on Christmas day and the “traditional” meal is turkey or goose, Christmas pudding, and mince pies
· in Czech republic, we give presents to each other on 24th - Christmas Eve and we usually eat fried carp with potatoe salad
Civil rights movement
· until WWII there was a strong segregation of blacks, they couldn’t eat in the same restaurants, sit in the same places in buses and trains, go to swimming pools, vote and drink the same water; during the WWII, according to Truman’s orders, the blacks were given the same positions in the army as the white and in 1948 the army was desegregated
· in 1954 the segregation in schools was outlawed and the black children could attend the same schools as white pupils; in 1957 9 black students tried to enroll at a previously all-white high school, but were stopped by national guard; two days later, according to Eisenhower’s order, they were admitted under a protection of federal troops
· the landmark came in 1955 in Montgomery, Alabama, when a black woman refused to give up her seat to a white passanger and was arrested; this encouraged thousands of blacks , led by Martin Luther King, to Montgomery bus boycott and other willing, but non-violent protests (such as sit-in, civil disobedience); the Supreme court declared segregation in public buses unconstitutional
· in 1963 the black marchers were attacked by dogs and cattles and 4 months later MLK led an assembly on Lincoln Memorial where he delivered “I have a dream ...” speech; when Lyndon B. Johnson overtook the presidential office, he aimed mainly on racial discriminations; the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was passed which had a powerful impact on equality in accomodation, employment and voting rights ...
· civil rights had been focused mainly in the south, in the north the blacks had worse opportunities in everything; in 1964 many towns in north were struck by riots; the black nationalist movement in the 60’s was very strong, some of the black leaders called for total segregation rather than integration; among them were the Black muslims led by Malcolm X
· in 1970’s the blacks decided that voting was the most effective way to gain equal rights and by 1985 10% of all American officials were blacks
· in 1954 the segregation in schools was outlawed and the black children could attend the same schools as white pupils; in 1957 9 black students tried to enroll at a previously all-white high school, but were stopped by national guard; two days later, according to Eisenhower’s order, they were admitted under a protection of federal troops
· the landmark came in 1955 in Montgomery, Alabama, when a black woman refused to give up her seat to a white passanger and was arrested; this encouraged thousands of blacks , led by Martin Luther King, to Montgomery bus boycott and other willing, but non-violent protests (such as sit-in, civil disobedience); the Supreme court declared segregation in public buses unconstitutional
· in 1963 the black marchers were attacked by dogs and cattles and 4 months later MLK led an assembly on Lincoln Memorial where he delivered “I have a dream ...” speech; when Lyndon B. Johnson overtook the presidential office, he aimed mainly on racial discriminations; the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was passed which had a powerful impact on equality in accomodation, employment and voting rights ...
· civil rights had been focused mainly in the south, in the north the blacks had worse opportunities in everything; in 1964 many towns in north were struck by riots; the black nationalist movement in the 60’s was very strong, some of the black leaders called for total segregation rather than integration; among them were the Black muslims led by Malcolm X
· in 1970’s the blacks decided that voting was the most effective way to gain equal rights and by 1985 10% of all American officials were blacks
Korean war
· a military struggle fought on the Korean Peninsula from June 1950 to July 1953; it begun as a war between South Korea and North Korea but the conflict swiftly developed into a limited international war involving the United States and 19 other nations; from a general viewpoint, the Korean War was one of the by-products of the cold war
· North Korea apparently attacked South Korea without the knowledge of either the Soviet Union or the People's Republic of China; the war began on June 25 when the North Korean leader, Kim Il Sung, invaded the south of the 38th parallel, supported by the growing opposition to South Korea's president and thinking of reuniting the two Koreas; the United States immediately responded by sending supplies to Korea
· US President Harry S. Truman ordered combat forces stationed in Japan deployed to Korea; American forces, those of South Korea, and other nationalities forces were placed under a unified UN command headed by the US commander in chief in the Far East, General Douglas MacArthur
· at the beginning the American and other UN troops were pushed back to a small area in the south-east of South Korea, but McArthur made an excellent offensive and his troops soon reached the south borders of China; after some time they again had to retreat against well-supplied and fresh Chinnese army and McArthur changed his agressive plans only to prevent south Korea from invasion from the north
· the discussions for a ceasefire begun in July in 1951, between representatives of the UN and Communist commands; the truce negotiations continued intermittently for two years
· North Korea apparently attacked South Korea without the knowledge of either the Soviet Union or the People's Republic of China; the war began on June 25 when the North Korean leader, Kim Il Sung, invaded the south of the 38th parallel, supported by the growing opposition to South Korea's president and thinking of reuniting the two Koreas; the United States immediately responded by sending supplies to Korea
· US President Harry S. Truman ordered combat forces stationed in Japan deployed to Korea; American forces, those of South Korea, and other nationalities forces were placed under a unified UN command headed by the US commander in chief in the Far East, General Douglas MacArthur
· at the beginning the American and other UN troops were pushed back to a small area in the south-east of South Korea, but McArthur made an excellent offensive and his troops soon reached the south borders of China; after some time they again had to retreat against well-supplied and fresh Chinnese army and McArthur changed his agressive plans only to prevent south Korea from invasion from the north
· the discussions for a ceasefire begun in July in 1951, between representatives of the UN and Communist commands; the truce negotiations continued intermittently for two years
McCarthyism
· the early 50’s in USA are often known as McCarthyism, a by-product of the cold war, when the people feared being attacked by nuclear weapons, spreading communism and this was also period of spies and secret agents
· General Joseph McCarthy commanded troops in the Korean war and was well-known for his strong hate of communists; because of his agressive military strategy he was relieved from the command
· he continued his career as a politician and was a chief of the US House of Representatives Committee of Un-American Activities; he became famous with his list of 200 communist in state department and he continued to blame hundreds of people of being member of the Communist party; he was accusing like he was mad and lost all of his popularity
· this persecution of former communists culminated when the Hollywood Ten (American writers who refused to answer whether they had been members of a communist party) were prisoning and later couldn’t be employed anywhere; between years 1947-1954 214 Hollywood workers were accused of membership in the C. party and they had to squeal on others
· General Joseph McCarthy commanded troops in the Korean war and was well-known for his strong hate of communists; because of his agressive military strategy he was relieved from the command
· he continued his career as a politician and was a chief of the US House of Representatives Committee of Un-American Activities; he became famous with his list of 200 communist in state department and he continued to blame hundreds of people of being member of the Communist party; he was accusing like he was mad and lost all of his popularity
· this persecution of former communists culminated when the Hollywood Ten (American writers who refused to answer whether they had been members of a communist party) were prisoning and later couldn’t be employed anywhere; between years 1947-1954 214 Hollywood workers were accused of membership in the C. party and they had to squeal on others
Watergate affair
· a major United States political scandal that began with the burglary and wiretapping of the Democratic party's campaign headquarters and that culminated in the first resignation of a US president
· the burglary was committed on June 17, 1972, by five men who were caught in the offices of the Democratic National Committee at the Watergate apartment and office complex in Washington, D.C.; their arrest uncovered a White House-sponsored plan of espionage against political opponents and a trail of complicity that led to many of the highest officials in the land
· on July 16, 1973, it was told the committee, on nationwide television, that Nixon had ordered a taping system to be installed in the White House to automatically record all conversations; Nixon refused to release the tapes, claiming they were vital to the national security, but US District Court Judge ruled that Nixon must give the tapes
· Nixon gave the tapes to the court, but some subpoenaed conversations were missing, and one tape had a mysterious gap of 18,5 minutes; experts determined that the gap was the result of five separate erasures; Nixon also released written transcripts of 42 more tapes; the conversations revealed an overwhelming concern with punishing political opponents
· rather than face almost certain impeachment, Nixon resigned on August 9, the first US president to do so
· the burglary was committed on June 17, 1972, by five men who were caught in the offices of the Democratic National Committee at the Watergate apartment and office complex in Washington, D.C.; their arrest uncovered a White House-sponsored plan of espionage against political opponents and a trail of complicity that led to many of the highest officials in the land
· on July 16, 1973, it was told the committee, on nationwide television, that Nixon had ordered a taping system to be installed in the White House to automatically record all conversations; Nixon refused to release the tapes, claiming they were vital to the national security, but US District Court Judge ruled that Nixon must give the tapes
· Nixon gave the tapes to the court, but some subpoenaed conversations were missing, and one tape had a mysterious gap of 18,5 minutes; experts determined that the gap was the result of five separate erasures; Nixon also released written transcripts of 42 more tapes; the conversations revealed an overwhelming concern with punishing political opponents
· rather than face almost certain impeachment, Nixon resigned on August 9, the first US president to do so
JFK
· J.F. Kennedy comes from a 9-children family, his father was a politician and multimillionaire; he studied the best-known universities and during WWII was a soldier in US NAVY (he rescued his crew from Jappanneese); he begun his political career in congress as a strict anticommunist and supporter of working class; he was elected in the presidential office in November 1960
· he introduced some important social-political changes, e.g. Food stamp program (distribute food to poor people from state supplies), Area development act (unemployed people had an opportunity to build needed buildings and new industrial buildings) and Alliance for progress (USA would support the industrial growth in Latin America)
· JFK was assasinated on November 22 in 1963 in Dallas, Texas, by Lee Harvey Oswald
Vietnam war
· Vietnam war was actually the war between USA and Soviet Union - Soviet Union wanted to spread its communist power and USA was afraid of a “domino theory” (if Vietnam became communist, surrounding countries would become communist too)
· in 1949 South Vietnam was formed by French and a guerrila war between North and South begun; USA started to supply French, but only with non-military arsenal; in 1954 Vietcong under a leadership of communist Ho Chi Minh surrounded French in the South with a president N. D. Diem > negotiations in Geneva continued; in 60’s USA sent advisers in South Vietnam (Johnson and JFK were both fond of the war); the struggles begun in 1964 and continued until 1975
· the ground fights were unsuccesful for American soldiers because of the difficult landscape and that’s why USA decided to begin the night bomb raids with huge B-52s
· there were many demonstrations held in USA against the war (mainly in years 67-68) because it costed 25 billion $ a year and several lives
· finally Vietnam was divided by Geneva on 17th paralel
· he introduced some important social-political changes, e.g. Food stamp program (distribute food to poor people from state supplies), Area development act (unemployed people had an opportunity to build needed buildings and new industrial buildings) and Alliance for progress (USA would support the industrial growth in Latin America)
· JFK was assasinated on November 22 in 1963 in Dallas, Texas, by Lee Harvey Oswald
Vietnam war
· Vietnam war was actually the war between USA and Soviet Union - Soviet Union wanted to spread its communist power and USA was afraid of a “domino theory” (if Vietnam became communist, surrounding countries would become communist too)
· in 1949 South Vietnam was formed by French and a guerrila war between North and South begun; USA started to supply French, but only with non-military arsenal; in 1954 Vietcong under a leadership of communist Ho Chi Minh surrounded French in the South with a president N. D. Diem > negotiations in Geneva continued; in 60’s USA sent advisers in South Vietnam (Johnson and JFK were both fond of the war); the struggles begun in 1964 and continued until 1975
· the ground fights were unsuccesful for American soldiers because of the difficult landscape and that’s why USA decided to begin the night bomb raids with huge B-52s
· there were many demonstrations held in USA against the war (mainly in years 67-68) because it costed 25 billion $ a year and several lives
· finally Vietnam was divided by Geneva on 17th paralel
Food and Meals, How to Keep Healthy
Food and Meals, How to Keep Healthy
At six or seven in the evening comes time for dinner. At this time the entire family is usually together. We often prepare warm dishes. On some occasions we even go out to restaurants. There we can choose from a menu of various dishes. Roast pork with sauerkraut and dumplings, chicken with rice, fried pork chops with mashed potatoes, filet of fish with potato salad, roasted sirloin beef in sour cream sauce and Czech dumplings. For variety we can order a vegetable salad prepared from tomatoes or cucumbers, stewed fruits or a dessert.
While cooking we may add various spices such as garlic, marjoram, pepper, ketchup, vinegar, mustard, onions, and so on.
Inappropriate food is the cause of quite a few diseases. More frequent now are disorders of the digestive track, stomach and small and large intestine. It is noteworthy but not surprising, that young people are now suffering from these diseases. It is because of fast food. So we should always keep in mind also our health and not just listen to our stomach and the fact that we are hungry.
When you want to be slimmer you can try to go on a diet, but I don’t believe in them, because when you eat something with more calories, then all the weight you lost will be back again. It is better to eat more vegetables and fruits, cereal, and other low caloric and healthy food. And it is also better to eat your last meal before seven PM. Finally, when you sit and do nothing, then all the calories are turned into fat, so I can recommend that you should be more active.
At six or seven in the evening comes time for dinner. At this time the entire family is usually together. We often prepare warm dishes. On some occasions we even go out to restaurants. There we can choose from a menu of various dishes. Roast pork with sauerkraut and dumplings, chicken with rice, fried pork chops with mashed potatoes, filet of fish with potato salad, roasted sirloin beef in sour cream sauce and Czech dumplings. For variety we can order a vegetable salad prepared from tomatoes or cucumbers, stewed fruits or a dessert.
While cooking we may add various spices such as garlic, marjoram, pepper, ketchup, vinegar, mustard, onions, and so on.
Inappropriate food is the cause of quite a few diseases. More frequent now are disorders of the digestive track, stomach and small and large intestine. It is noteworthy but not surprising, that young people are now suffering from these diseases. It is because of fast food. So we should always keep in mind also our health and not just listen to our stomach and the fact that we are hungry.
When you want to be slimmer you can try to go on a diet, but I don’t believe in them, because when you eat something with more calories, then all the weight you lost will be back again. It is better to eat more vegetables and fruits, cereal, and other low caloric and healthy food. And it is also better to eat your last meal before seven PM. Finally, when you sit and do nothing, then all the calories are turned into fat, so I can recommend that you should be more active.
Cuban crisis
· major Cold War confrontation between the United States and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) over Soviet-supplied missile installations in Cuba, regarded by many as the world's closest approach to nuclear war
· after Castro’s revolution on Cuba, Eisenhower’s administrative anulled diplomatic relations with Cuba in 1960, because Cuba abused American soldiers on ambassys, took over American property and supported guerrilas in Latin America
· on April 17, 1962, a group of Cuban refugees, trained and equiped in USA, landed on the Cuban coast, in the Bay of Pigs; Castro’s soldiers were waiting for them and 2,000 Cuban refugees were captured or killed by 20,000 Castro’s army
· in October USA had leaerned that Soviet Union had begun missile shipment and spy planes overflying Cuba had photographed Soviet-managed construction work by August 29; and the first ballistic missile was spotted on October 14.
· after a week of secret consultation with his advisers, during which options of invasion, air strikes, blockade, or diplomacy were discussed, on October 22 US President John F. Kennedy announced his intention of placing a naval blockade around Cuba to prevent the arrival of more missiles.
· Kennedy demanded that the Soviet Union dismantle and remove the weapons, declaring that US naval forces would intercept and inspect ships bound for Cuba to determine whether they were carrying missiles.
· Soviet vessels en route for Cuba turned away to avoid the quarantined zone, while communication between Khrushchev and Kennedy was opened through diplomatic channels. After several days of negotiations during which nuclear war was feared by many to be a possibility, Khrushchev agreed, on October 28, to dismantle the missile sites and return the weapons to the Soviet Union, offering the United States on-site inspection in return for a guarantee not to invade Cuba
· Kennedy halted the blockade and also secretly promised to withdraw US missiles recently stationed in its NATO partner Turkey
· after Castro’s revolution on Cuba, Eisenhower’s administrative anulled diplomatic relations with Cuba in 1960, because Cuba abused American soldiers on ambassys, took over American property and supported guerrilas in Latin America
· on April 17, 1962, a group of Cuban refugees, trained and equiped in USA, landed on the Cuban coast, in the Bay of Pigs; Castro’s soldiers were waiting for them and 2,000 Cuban refugees were captured or killed by 20,000 Castro’s army
· in October USA had leaerned that Soviet Union had begun missile shipment and spy planes overflying Cuba had photographed Soviet-managed construction work by August 29; and the first ballistic missile was spotted on October 14.
· after a week of secret consultation with his advisers, during which options of invasion, air strikes, blockade, or diplomacy were discussed, on October 22 US President John F. Kennedy announced his intention of placing a naval blockade around Cuba to prevent the arrival of more missiles.
· Kennedy demanded that the Soviet Union dismantle and remove the weapons, declaring that US naval forces would intercept and inspect ships bound for Cuba to determine whether they were carrying missiles.
· Soviet vessels en route for Cuba turned away to avoid the quarantined zone, while communication between Khrushchev and Kennedy was opened through diplomatic channels. After several days of negotiations during which nuclear war was feared by many to be a possibility, Khrushchev agreed, on October 28, to dismantle the missile sites and return the weapons to the Soviet Union, offering the United States on-site inspection in return for a guarantee not to invade Cuba
· Kennedy halted the blockade and also secretly promised to withdraw US missiles recently stationed in its NATO partner Turkey
Food and Meals, How to Keep Healthy
In our country daily meals usually start with breakfast, which consists of something to drink such as tea with sugar and lemon, cold or warm milk or a cocoa. Most people breakfast on several slices of bread, rolls or buns and butter, processed or natural cheese, eggs, ham, salami, jam and so on. We can also have something sweet. Quite a lot of people eat cereal or cornflakes with ingredients like yoghurt, chocolate, stewed fruit, walnuts, hazelnuts and so on. We must always remember that breakfast must be healthy, light and easily digestible.
Around noon it is lunchtime. Most people take their meals at the school canteen, or local canteen, but some people prefer going to a restaurant or having fast food in a McDonalds. But I assume that these meals are neither healthy nor substantial. Soups may be either vegetable (potato, tomato, pea, bean, carrot, parsley, celery, mushrooms) or meat teas (beef tea, tripe, chicken, hen). The main dish can be either sweet such as fruit dumplings or pancakes with jam and cream. Or we can have some meat (beef, pork, veal, mutton, lamb) with some vegetables such as potatoes, chips, rice, Czech dumpling, pasta or bread. More healthy fish and poultry are slowly replacing beef and pork. It’s healthy to drink at least one glass of mineral water, juice, tea or beer, after each meal. Scientists recommend drinking at least two litres of water per a day.
Around noon it is lunchtime. Most people take their meals at the school canteen, or local canteen, but some people prefer going to a restaurant or having fast food in a McDonalds. But I assume that these meals are neither healthy nor substantial. Soups may be either vegetable (potato, tomato, pea, bean, carrot, parsley, celery, mushrooms) or meat teas (beef tea, tripe, chicken, hen). The main dish can be either sweet such as fruit dumplings or pancakes with jam and cream. Or we can have some meat (beef, pork, veal, mutton, lamb) with some vegetables such as potatoes, chips, rice, Czech dumpling, pasta or bread. More healthy fish and poultry are slowly replacing beef and pork. It’s healthy to drink at least one glass of mineral water, juice, tea or beer, after each meal. Scientists recommend drinking at least two litres of water per a day.
Main points from the history
When they had died out by the sword in 1306, the Czech throne went by way of dynastic wedding to the Luxembourg, and the Czech Kingdom became also the center of the Holy roman Empire mainly during the reign of Charles IV and his son Wenceslas IV. Prague grew into one of the largest European metropolises of that era and was center of education, architecure and arts. In 1348 Charles University was founded. It´s the oldest one in the Europe.
The first part of the 15th century is marked by the Hussite Movement.
After the reign of King Jiří z Poděbrad and after period of the rule of Jagielonian dynasty there came the period of the Hapsburgs dynasty. One of interesting emperors of this age was Rudolf II. He was famous for his interesting in chemistry and arts. During his rule Prague became center of arts in the empire.
The 20th century brought establishing of Czech state and two horrible world wars. After second world war Czech republic was under soviet influence. Turn came in 1989, after velvet revolution. In 1993 Czechoslovakia was divided into two states - Czech Republic and Slovakia. Now Czech republic is waiting for becoming a member of European Union.
There are also many places associated with our history. Among the most beautiful historic towns belong Prague, Kutná Hora, Tábor, Telč, Olomouc, Kroměříž,… Also many castles, ruins and chateaux can be found in our republic. To the most interesting ones belong Karlštejn, Křivoklát, Bezděz, Hluboká, Zvíkov, Loket, Kuks, Lednice and of course the Prague castle.
The first part of the 15th century is marked by the Hussite Movement.
After the reign of King Jiří z Poděbrad and after period of the rule of Jagielonian dynasty there came the period of the Hapsburgs dynasty. One of interesting emperors of this age was Rudolf II. He was famous for his interesting in chemistry and arts. During his rule Prague became center of arts in the empire.
The 20th century brought establishing of Czech state and two horrible world wars. After second world war Czech republic was under soviet influence. Turn came in 1989, after velvet revolution. In 1993 Czechoslovakia was divided into two states - Czech Republic and Slovakia. Now Czech republic is waiting for becoming a member of European Union.
There are also many places associated with our history. Among the most beautiful historic towns belong Prague, Kutná Hora, Tábor, Telč, Olomouc, Kroměříž,… Also many castles, ruins and chateaux can be found in our republic. To the most interesting ones belong Karlštejn, Křivoklát, Bezděz, Hluboká, Zvíkov, Loket, Kuks, Lednice and of course the Prague castle.
Idustry, main products, economy, agriculture
The most important part of our economy is engineering industry. Other important branches are metallurgical and chemical industries and tourism, textile and glass industries have a long tradition. One of our most significant raw materials is coal. Black coal and anthracite are to be found mainly in the Ostrava Coal Basin, but also in the area of Kladno and elsewhere. Because of intensive mining these regions are the most polluted ones in the Czech Republic. The supplies of brown coal or lignite can be found in the North Bohemia Coal Basin and in Western Bohemia in the Sokolov Basin. We also hove minor supplies of iron ore, uranium and oil. Our deposits of kaolin and clay are important for the ceramics and glass industries as well as limestone for the building industry.
Also agriculture in our republic is developed enough. The most fertile soil is in South Moravia. The main items grown there are wheat, sugar-beet, corn, grapes and fruits. In animal production the most important are cattle-breeding and pig-breeding. Fish-breeding, especially carp-breeding can be found in South Bohemia, in the region called Třeboňsko. Bohemia and Moravia are quite rich in mineral springs and spas (Karlovy Vary, Mariánské lázně, Františkovy lázně, Poděbrady, Luhačovice,…).
Main points from the history
Our territory has been inhabited by Slavonic tribes since 5th century. The first Slavonic state was Samo's empire which was found here in 623. Feudal Great Moravian Empire was formed in the 9th century. After its disintegration in the 9th century power was taken over by the Czech tribe headed by the Přemyslid dynasty.
Also agriculture in our republic is developed enough. The most fertile soil is in South Moravia. The main items grown there are wheat, sugar-beet, corn, grapes and fruits. In animal production the most important are cattle-breeding and pig-breeding. Fish-breeding, especially carp-breeding can be found in South Bohemia, in the region called Třeboňsko. Bohemia and Moravia are quite rich in mineral springs and spas (Karlovy Vary, Mariánské lázně, Františkovy lázně, Poděbrady, Luhačovice,…).
Main points from the history
Our territory has been inhabited by Slavonic tribes since 5th century. The first Slavonic state was Samo's empire which was found here in 623. Feudal Great Moravian Empire was formed in the 9th century. After its disintegration in the 9th century power was taken over by the Czech tribe headed by the Přemyslid dynasty.
System of government
The head of the Czech Republic is the President. The present President is Václav Havel. He is elected for five years. Parliament and the government have the main power.
The government is composed of the premier, the vice-premier and the ministers. There are many ministries, headed by ministers, eg. Interior, Foreign Affairs, Defence, Justice, Industry, Commerce, Agriculture, Finance, Transport, Labour and Social Affairs, Education, Culture and Health.
The judicial power is divided into a system of courts. There is Constitutional court and the Supreme Court, which are at the highest level and they go down to region and district courts.
Our flag consists of three colours, red, blue and white. The red is at the bottom, the white is at the top and the blue makes a triangle at the left side.
Population and cities
The biggest city is the capital, Prague and it has about one million inhabitants. The other big cities are Brno, Ostrava, Plzeň, České Budějovice, Hradec Králové. The major nationalities living here are Czech and Moravian, but there are also minority groups such as the Romes, Poles, Germans, Ukrainians and Russians.
The government is composed of the premier, the vice-premier and the ministers. There are many ministries, headed by ministers, eg. Interior, Foreign Affairs, Defence, Justice, Industry, Commerce, Agriculture, Finance, Transport, Labour and Social Affairs, Education, Culture and Health.
The judicial power is divided into a system of courts. There is Constitutional court and the Supreme Court, which are at the highest level and they go down to region and district courts.
Our flag consists of three colours, red, blue and white. The red is at the bottom, the white is at the top and the blue makes a triangle at the left side.
Population and cities
The biggest city is the capital, Prague and it has about one million inhabitants. The other big cities are Brno, Ostrava, Plzeň, České Budějovice, Hradec Králové. The major nationalities living here are Czech and Moravian, but there are also minority groups such as the Romes, Poles, Germans, Ukrainians and Russians.
THE CZECH REPUBLIC
Over the map
The Czech Republic is situated in the centre of Europe and sometimes it is called the heart of Europe. It has a population of 10 million people and covers an area of about 80,000 sq. km.
The Czech borders are the oldest ones in the Europe. We border with Germany on the west with a nature border made by the Ore Mountains, the Czech Forest and Šumava range. The border with Poland is made by the Jizerské Mountains, the Giant Mountains the Eagle Mountains and the Jeseník Mountain range. The border with Austria is made by the Dyje river and the border with Slovakia is made by the Morava river and White Karpat hills.
The Czech Republic consists of three lands: Bohemia, Moravia and Silesia. A natural border between Moravia and Bohemia is made by the Bohemian-Moravian Highland. The biggest mountain in the Czech Republic is Sněžka (1602m) in the Giant Mountains and the longest river is the Vltava. Other important rivers are the Labe, Jizera, Ohře, Svitava, Svratka, Dyje, Morava and Oder. In southern Moravia fertile lowlands can be found. The warmest areas are in Southern Moravia and the coldest areas are in the Giant Mountains.
There are many spots of natural beauty in the Czech Republic, as well as areas totally spoiled by industries. South Bohemia is particularly rich in ponds. The most beautiful natural places are the Czech Paradise, “rock town” in Prachov rocks, the Děčín walls, Czech Switzerland, the Boubín virgin forests, Macocha abyss and so on. We have also some protected areas, some of them are really very nice (for example one of the protected areas is the region near river Dyje) and National parks.
The Czech Republic is situated in the centre of Europe and sometimes it is called the heart of Europe. It has a population of 10 million people and covers an area of about 80,000 sq. km.
The Czech borders are the oldest ones in the Europe. We border with Germany on the west with a nature border made by the Ore Mountains, the Czech Forest and Šumava range. The border with Poland is made by the Jizerské Mountains, the Giant Mountains the Eagle Mountains and the Jeseník Mountain range. The border with Austria is made by the Dyje river and the border with Slovakia is made by the Morava river and White Karpat hills.
The Czech Republic consists of three lands: Bohemia, Moravia and Silesia. A natural border between Moravia and Bohemia is made by the Bohemian-Moravian Highland. The biggest mountain in the Czech Republic is Sněžka (1602m) in the Giant Mountains and the longest river is the Vltava. Other important rivers are the Labe, Jizera, Ohře, Svitava, Svratka, Dyje, Morava and Oder. In southern Moravia fertile lowlands can be found. The warmest areas are in Southern Moravia and the coldest areas are in the Giant Mountains.
There are many spots of natural beauty in the Czech Republic, as well as areas totally spoiled by industries. South Bohemia is particularly rich in ponds. The most beautiful natural places are the Czech Paradise, “rock town” in Prachov rocks, the Děčín walls, Czech Switzerland, the Boubín virgin forests, Macocha abyss and so on. We have also some protected areas, some of them are really very nice (for example one of the protected areas is the region near river Dyje) and National parks.
Over the map, industry, politics
Where is the Czech Republic situated?
What is its area and number of inhabitants?
What are the most important mountain ranges in our country?
What rivers can be found in our territory?
What are our natural resources and where are their deposits?
What kind of industry is developed here? Which are typical products for our country?
Which are the main agricultural areas in CR? What is grown there?
Name some famous castles, chateaux and ruins in Czech Republic.
Do you know any czech spas?
Which spots of natural beauty do you know?
What do you know about our system of govrnment?
What cultural heritage do we have?
What is its area and number of inhabitants?
What are the most important mountain ranges in our country?
What rivers can be found in our territory?
What are our natural resources and where are their deposits?
What kind of industry is developed here? Which are typical products for our country?
Which are the main agricultural areas in CR? What is grown there?
Name some famous castles, chateaux and ruins in Czech Republic.
Do you know any czech spas?
Which spots of natural beauty do you know?
What do you know about our system of govrnment?
What cultural heritage do we have?
History
What was the name of the first state on our territory and when was it founded?
What did the reign of Charles IV. bring to Czech lands?
What do you know about John Huss and the Hussite Movement?
How did the Hapsburg dynasty rule over our country? And what about the reign of Rudolf II.?
When was the independent Czechoslovak Republic established?
Who took over power in our republic in 1948 and how long were they in power?
When and how was the Czech Republic established?
What did the reign of Charles IV. bring to Czech lands?
What do you know about John Huss and the Hussite Movement?
How did the Hapsburg dynasty rule over our country? And what about the reign of Rudolf II.?
When was the independent Czechoslovak Republic established?
Who took over power in our republic in 1948 and how long were they in power?
When and how was the Czech Republic established?
The Czech Republic
Vocabulary
equal - rovný
interior - vnitřní
defence - obrana
labour - práce
supreme - najvyšší
contemporary - dnešní, soudobý
engineering - strojírenský
varied - rozmanitý
dean - děkan
in favour - ve prospěch
fertile - úrodný
clay - jíl, kaolín
establish - vytvořit
equal - rovný
interior - vnitřní
defence - obrana
labour - práce
supreme - najvyšší
contemporary - dnešní, soudobý
engineering - strojírenský
varied - rozmanitý
dean - děkan
in favour - ve prospěch
fertile - úrodný
clay - jíl, kaolín
establish - vytvořit
CZECH LIFESTYLE
The next thing to be noticed is that the way of spending free time has changed a lot. And I think this is the part of czech lifestyle which has been influenced mostly by USA. Nowadays many people sit in front of the TV and eat there - in USA these people are called couch potatoes. Or eating pop-corn in cinema is, I think, a typical American habit and many czech people influenced by this do the same. Also TV and cinema are influenced America. But in Czech Republic I think you have many possibilities how to spend your free time - especially in bigger towns. There are usually many sport fascilities like swimming pools, tennis courts, sports centres ... and also many fascilities for entertainment like cinemas or music clubs.
Travelling and the way of spending holidays is the thing which has changed completely in past ten years. Now people can travel wherever they want. And they do so. Many families save money all the year to have a holiday abroad because this kind of holiday is still rather expensive.
And finnaly - attitude to work. In the Czech Republic people are still a little bit lazy. But these days I think more and more people realize that it´s not a good way how to earn money, which they want so much. So it´s getting better.
I think that Czech lifestyle is very interesting, because if we compare it with neighbouring countries, there still is a difference and I think we shouldn´t let our lifestyle be influenced by the others too much.
Travelling and the way of spending holidays is the thing which has changed completely in past ten years. Now people can travel wherever they want. And they do so. Many families save money all the year to have a holiday abroad because this kind of holiday is still rather expensive.
And finnaly - attitude to work. In the Czech Republic people are still a little bit lazy. But these days I think more and more people realize that it´s not a good way how to earn money, which they want so much. So it´s getting better.
I think that Czech lifestyle is very interesting, because if we compare it with neighbouring countries, there still is a difference and I think we shouldn´t let our lifestyle be influenced by the others too much.
CZECH LIFESTYLE
The first thing to say is that czech lifestyle itself is not strictly czech. It is influenced by neighbouring countries,mainly by Germany and Austria. But in my opinion the country which influences czech lifestyle most is the USA which also changes lifestyle of the whole Europe. But of course we do have many typical czech habits and ways of doing things in our lives!
If we speak about place for living, the important thing to say is that so many people still live in blocks of flats. Here we can still see the influence of comunism. In this period blocks of flats were seen by the government as the best place for living and they were built in every town and also in many villages. These buldings often do not look very good, they are grey and high and usualy many of them are built on one place together. But in the past ten years people started to move to family houses. These are built in parts of the cities, which are far from centre and also in villages. For exaple in Prague have been built whole parts consisting of these houses.
Also the way of our grandmother´s cooking sometimes still remains comunism. Because these days meat was very expensive and the one who cooked it at home more than once or twice a week was seen as someone wealthier. And the others just envyed. It seems funny now. But nowadays there have been great changes. Our cousine has been influenced by the Western European coutries and also by American hamburgers and Coca - cola. People in Czech Republic started eating healthier and I think this is a good way.
In my opinion, the thing which hasn´t changed for past 50 years is number of children in an average family. It´s still one or two. Also almost all birthdays and anniversaries celebrates the whole family together. But these days we can see the influnce of the rest of Europe and USA - many women want to live alone, or want to have child but not man. They want to be more independent. Or both men and women live very often alone till they´re about 30 years old, because they want to make a career and money.
If we speak about place for living, the important thing to say is that so many people still live in blocks of flats. Here we can still see the influence of comunism. In this period blocks of flats were seen by the government as the best place for living and they were built in every town and also in many villages. These buldings often do not look very good, they are grey and high and usualy many of them are built on one place together. But in the past ten years people started to move to family houses. These are built in parts of the cities, which are far from centre and also in villages. For exaple in Prague have been built whole parts consisting of these houses.
Also the way of our grandmother´s cooking sometimes still remains comunism. Because these days meat was very expensive and the one who cooked it at home more than once or twice a week was seen as someone wealthier. And the others just envyed. It seems funny now. But nowadays there have been great changes. Our cousine has been influenced by the Western European coutries and also by American hamburgers and Coca - cola. People in Czech Republic started eating healthier and I think this is a good way.
In my opinion, the thing which hasn´t changed for past 50 years is number of children in an average family. It´s still one or two. Also almost all birthdays and anniversaries celebrates the whole family together. But these days we can see the influnce of the rest of Europe and USA - many women want to live alone, or want to have child but not man. They want to be more independent. Or both men and women live very often alone till they´re about 30 years old, because they want to make a career and money.
Theatre of the absurd
· main representatives are Ionesco, Adamov, Pinter, Genet, Beckett, Stoppard
· when the Waiting for Godot was first performed, it was received with acclaim and enthusiasm by the public, but wasn’t appreciated by critics, because this style was something new, still developing and it wasn’t defined yet
· absurd originally means ‘out of harmony’ in a musical context, or ridiculous, illogical, unreasonable
· the attitude of the theatre of the absurd expresses absurdity of our lives, it says that the crucial and basic values in our lives were shaken through ages, that we can’t find answers on our questions in religion as we thought before, there are no things we could rely on
· when applied to the theatre, characters live without purpose, they are lonely, they are cut off their religion and roots, everything seems senseless, there is no story, no plot
· the main features that occur in the absurd plays are:
devaluation of language - people can’t communicate with each other, words often mean nothing, people can’t understand what anybody else wanted to say, big use of phrases, silence also plays an important role
importance of actions - there is often only a very modest scenery and few actors so it is important what they do, their gestures and behaviour
indefinable characters
uncertain time, fusing of more timelines
· we can see some examples of the inability of communication in the Harold Pinter’s Last to go : there are two men who are chatting, but actually no one of them is interested in the conversation and they don’t even listen to each other; they talk about things that have no value when knowing them but they don’t start any reasonable conversation, they still repeat the senseless things which they have already said
· when the Waiting for Godot was first performed, it was received with acclaim and enthusiasm by the public, but wasn’t appreciated by critics, because this style was something new, still developing and it wasn’t defined yet
· absurd originally means ‘out of harmony’ in a musical context, or ridiculous, illogical, unreasonable
· the attitude of the theatre of the absurd expresses absurdity of our lives, it says that the crucial and basic values in our lives were shaken through ages, that we can’t find answers on our questions in religion as we thought before, there are no things we could rely on
· when applied to the theatre, characters live without purpose, they are lonely, they are cut off their religion and roots, everything seems senseless, there is no story, no plot
· the main features that occur in the absurd plays are:
devaluation of language - people can’t communicate with each other, words often mean nothing, people can’t understand what anybody else wanted to say, big use of phrases, silence also plays an important role
importance of actions - there is often only a very modest scenery and few actors so it is important what they do, their gestures and behaviour
indefinable characters
uncertain time, fusing of more timelines
· we can see some examples of the inability of communication in the Harold Pinter’s Last to go : there are two men who are chatting, but actually no one of them is interested in the conversation and they don’t even listen to each other; they talk about things that have no value when knowing them but they don’t start any reasonable conversation, they still repeat the senseless things which they have already said
Tom Stoppard’s Every Good Boy Deserves Favour
· there are only 6 actors in this play plus the orchestra (which plays an important role in the play) and a very modest scenery; there are three rooms on the stage: the cell with two beds, the office with table and two chairs and the school with a school desk; the story is placed in Russia probably in late 60’s
· in the cell there are two patients - both are named Alexander Ivanov, but to differ them one is called Alexander and the second one Ivanov; Alexander is a political prisoner, who had been prisoned, but he was released and put to a psychiatric hospital (in the prison he went on hunger strike and if he had died, it would have been an impositive sign for the other about what was going on in Russia) and Ivanov, who is a real madman (he thinks that he has an orchestra in his head)
· in the school there is Sacha (a son of Alexander) and a Teacher and in the office there is the Doctor
· the Doctor’s duty is to make Alexander admit that he is mad and what he had done or said against the regime was caused by his madness; Alexander refuses and even when his son goes to persuade him, he doesn’t give up
· at the end of the play Colonel, probably not only a doctor but also a communist of a high post, enters the cell, he mistakes Alexander for Ivanov and the result is that they both are considered healthy
· the orchestra symbolises the society, where everybody has to play strictly in a harmony, anybody can’t differ; that’s what the Teacher told Sacha, she tried to tell him that everybody who does not support the orchestra is bad; the triangle symbolises dissidents, in the orchestra it is something unharmonical and disturbing; what dominates to the orchestra is an organ, which is very strong and powerful and it represents the communist leader, maybe also Colonel in the play
· at the end all go to the orchestra and they play with other people in harmony, which is also a symbol of resignation
· in the cell there are two patients - both are named Alexander Ivanov, but to differ them one is called Alexander and the second one Ivanov; Alexander is a political prisoner, who had been prisoned, but he was released and put to a psychiatric hospital (in the prison he went on hunger strike and if he had died, it would have been an impositive sign for the other about what was going on in Russia) and Ivanov, who is a real madman (he thinks that he has an orchestra in his head)
· in the school there is Sacha (a son of Alexander) and a Teacher and in the office there is the Doctor
· the Doctor’s duty is to make Alexander admit that he is mad and what he had done or said against the regime was caused by his madness; Alexander refuses and even when his son goes to persuade him, he doesn’t give up
· at the end of the play Colonel, probably not only a doctor but also a communist of a high post, enters the cell, he mistakes Alexander for Ivanov and the result is that they both are considered healthy
· the orchestra symbolises the society, where everybody has to play strictly in a harmony, anybody can’t differ; that’s what the Teacher told Sacha, she tried to tell him that everybody who does not support the orchestra is bad; the triangle symbolises dissidents, in the orchestra it is something unharmonical and disturbing; what dominates to the orchestra is an organ, which is very strong and powerful and it represents the communist leader, maybe also Colonel in the play
· at the end all go to the orchestra and they play with other people in harmony, which is also a symbol of resignation
Oscar Wilde
In 1895, at the peak of his career, Wilde became the central figure in one of the most sensational court trials of the century. Wilde, who had been a close friend of the young Lord Alfred Douglas, was accused by Douglas's father of sodomy. Sentenced to two years of hard labour in prison, he emerged financially bankrupt and spiritually downcast. He spent the rest of his life in Paris.
The Importance of Being Earnest (1895) can be characterised by adroitly contrived plots and remarkably witty dialogues. The plot is very elaborate and full of sudden changes of each one’s position and unexpected revelations. The main characters are Jack, Cecily, Lady Bracknell, Gwendolen, Algernon, Dr Chasuble and Miss Prism.
The Canterville Ghost is a witty play based on Wilde’s novel. A modern American family comes to England to buy a castle where an evil ghost is said to live. The Mum, Virginia and Washington represent the modern, elaborate and technically developed America, they are extremely proud of their history (which can be seen from the children’s names) and they make fun of all English “ancient” traditions. Duke, the owner of the castle, doesn’t want to sell it, because he is a little afraid of the ghost, his ancient origin. The ghost killed his wife and that’s why he can’t die now although he longs to. Finally the Duke decides to sell it and the Ghost tries to scare the “ridiculous” Americans. But they are not afraid at all and the Ghost gives up. The Duke falls in love with Virginia and Virginia becomes a friend of the Ghost. She manages to rescue him from the spell and the Ghost finally dies. In the happy end the Duke asks Virginia for her hand and when he asks her what actually happened in the chamber where she was with the Ghost, a loud laughing can be heard.
The Importance of Being Earnest (1895) can be characterised by adroitly contrived plots and remarkably witty dialogues. The plot is very elaborate and full of sudden changes of each one’s position and unexpected revelations. The main characters are Jack, Cecily, Lady Bracknell, Gwendolen, Algernon, Dr Chasuble and Miss Prism.
The Canterville Ghost is a witty play based on Wilde’s novel. A modern American family comes to England to buy a castle where an evil ghost is said to live. The Mum, Virginia and Washington represent the modern, elaborate and technically developed America, they are extremely proud of their history (which can be seen from the children’s names) and they make fun of all English “ancient” traditions. Duke, the owner of the castle, doesn’t want to sell it, because he is a little afraid of the ghost, his ancient origin. The ghost killed his wife and that’s why he can’t die now although he longs to. Finally the Duke decides to sell it and the Ghost tries to scare the “ridiculous” Americans. But they are not afraid at all and the Ghost gives up. The Duke falls in love with Virginia and Virginia becomes a friend of the Ghost. She manages to rescue him from the spell and the Ghost finally dies. In the happy end the Duke asks Virginia for her hand and when he asks her what actually happened in the chamber where she was with the Ghost, a loud laughing can be heard.
British theatre II
III. British theatre in the second half of the 20th century
· since the 50’s and 60’s a generation of brilliant playwrights occurred - it is often called Second renaissance in British drama
· Absurd drama - 50’s and 60’s; lost of ideals, destruction of communication, a man lost in huge, unknown and elaborate world, no purpose for living
Samuel Beckett - Irish author, moved to Paris, his plays are minimalist with everything - scenery, actors ...
Waiting for Godot
Harold Pinter
The Birthday party, The Caretaker
· Angry young men - the 60’s; they don’t like upper class, disdain conventions and manners of the upper class as well as the hypocrisy, the playwrights also wanted to express the disappointment of political situation, social problems, hope in Labours
John Osborne - Look Back in Anger
Arnold Whisker - emphases social issues, reflection of bad economic situation
Kitchen, Chicken Soup with Barley, Chips with Everything
· Second wave - mid 60’s; dissatisfaction of the world-wide situation, feeling of a selfdestructiveness of man, people
Edward Bond - Lear, Bingo
Joe Orton - Loot
Tom Stoppard - Russia took often as his theme
Every Good Boy Deserves Favour, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead
· Third wave - 70’s to 90’s; comedies but also serious plays
Peter Shaffer - psychology
Amadeus, The Royal Hunt of the Sun, Equus
Alan Ayckbourn - comedies about middle class
Norman Conquest
David Hare - doesn’t show Great Britain in positive light
The Map of the World
Michael Frayn - comedies, wit, conversational humour
Noises off
Brian Friel - Irish history, nature
Translations
· since the 50’s and 60’s a generation of brilliant playwrights occurred - it is often called Second renaissance in British drama
· Absurd drama - 50’s and 60’s; lost of ideals, destruction of communication, a man lost in huge, unknown and elaborate world, no purpose for living
Samuel Beckett - Irish author, moved to Paris, his plays are minimalist with everything - scenery, actors ...
Waiting for Godot
Harold Pinter
The Birthday party, The Caretaker
· Angry young men - the 60’s; they don’t like upper class, disdain conventions and manners of the upper class as well as the hypocrisy, the playwrights also wanted to express the disappointment of political situation, social problems, hope in Labours
John Osborne - Look Back in Anger
Arnold Whisker - emphases social issues, reflection of bad economic situation
Kitchen, Chicken Soup with Barley, Chips with Everything
· Second wave - mid 60’s; dissatisfaction of the world-wide situation, feeling of a selfdestructiveness of man, people
Edward Bond - Lear, Bingo
Joe Orton - Loot
Tom Stoppard - Russia took often as his theme
Every Good Boy Deserves Favour, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead
· Third wave - 70’s to 90’s; comedies but also serious plays
Peter Shaffer - psychology
Amadeus, The Royal Hunt of the Sun, Equus
Alan Ayckbourn - comedies about middle class
Norman Conquest
David Hare - doesn’t show Great Britain in positive light
The Map of the World
Michael Frayn - comedies, wit, conversational humour
Noises off
Brian Friel - Irish history, nature
Translations
II. Theatre at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries
· revival of British drama begins with Oscar Wilde, until then prose and poetry dominate
Oscar Wilde - conversational wit
An ideal husband, The importance of being Earnest
George Bernard Shaw - interested in political life, education of the public, satire and wit
Saint Joan, Major Barbora, Pygmalion, The Devil’s Disciple
· 1898 - foundation of the Irish Literary Theatre (Abbey Theatre) by William Butler Yeats, J. M. Synge and others; it was aimed to perform Irish plays from Irish authors about Irish themes, but it expanded to perform English writers as well
J. M. Synge - The Playboy of the Western World
Sean O’Casey - The Plough and the Stars
Oscar Wilde
Oscar Wilde (1854-1900) - Irish-born writer and wit, who was the chief proponent of the aesthetic movement, based on the principle of art for art's sake. Wilde was a novelist, playwright, poet, and critic.
He was born in Dublin and educated at Trinity College in Dublin. As a youngster he was exposed to the brilliant literary talk of the day at his mother's Dublin salon. Later, as a student at the University of Oxford, he excelled in classics, wrote poetry and incorporated the Bohemian life-style of his youth into a unique way of life.
He settled in London and in 1884 married a wealthy Irish woman with whom he had two sons. Thereafter he devoted himself exclusively to writing. With little dramatic training, he proved he had a natural talent for stagecraft and theatrical effects and a true gift for farce.
Oscar Wilde - conversational wit
An ideal husband, The importance of being Earnest
George Bernard Shaw - interested in political life, education of the public, satire and wit
Saint Joan, Major Barbora, Pygmalion, The Devil’s Disciple
· 1898 - foundation of the Irish Literary Theatre (Abbey Theatre) by William Butler Yeats, J. M. Synge and others; it was aimed to perform Irish plays from Irish authors about Irish themes, but it expanded to perform English writers as well
J. M. Synge - The Playboy of the Western World
Sean O’Casey - The Plough and the Stars
Oscar Wilde
Oscar Wilde (1854-1900) - Irish-born writer and wit, who was the chief proponent of the aesthetic movement, based on the principle of art for art's sake. Wilde was a novelist, playwright, poet, and critic.
He was born in Dublin and educated at Trinity College in Dublin. As a youngster he was exposed to the brilliant literary talk of the day at his mother's Dublin salon. Later, as a student at the University of Oxford, he excelled in classics, wrote poetry and incorporated the Bohemian life-style of his youth into a unique way of life.
He settled in London and in 1884 married a wealthy Irish woman with whom he had two sons. Thereafter he devoted himself exclusively to writing. With little dramatic training, he proved he had a natural talent for stagecraft and theatrical effects and a true gift for farce.
British theatre I
I. British theatre up to 19th century
· before 16th century - sources - Religious plays - mystery plays (life of saints)
- miracle plays (Bible themes)
- Pagan and folk plays - everyday problems and events from people’s lives
- Greek and Latin drama - tragedy, revenge
· 16th century - first half of 17th century - Renaissance in British drama - famous playwrights :
Shakespeare, Marlow, Johnson, Kid
1642 - closing of theatres
1660 - theatres reopened, but didn’t develop in the former fame until 20th century
· second half 17th - 19th century
Restoration drama - first actresses
Comedy of manners - the immoral manners of the society, no proper plot
William Congreve - Love for Love
Richard Brinsley Sheridan - The School for Scandal
Satirical drama - 18th century
John Gay - The Beggar’s Opera
Henry Fielding - The Author’s Farce
· before 16th century - sources - Religious plays - mystery plays (life of saints)
- miracle plays (Bible themes)
- Pagan and folk plays - everyday problems and events from people’s lives
- Greek and Latin drama - tragedy, revenge
· 16th century - first half of 17th century - Renaissance in British drama - famous playwrights :
Shakespeare, Marlow, Johnson, Kid
1642 - closing of theatres
1660 - theatres reopened, but didn’t develop in the former fame until 20th century
· second half 17th - 19th century
Restoration drama - first actresses
Comedy of manners - the immoral manners of the society, no proper plot
William Congreve - Love for Love
Richard Brinsley Sheridan - The School for Scandal
Satirical drama - 18th century
John Gay - The Beggar’s Opera
Henry Fielding - The Author’s Farce
History of the English language
· 1066 - Norman duke William beat the English king Harold at the battle of Hastings and French words became an important part of English
· in next 200 years, English with Latin, Norse and French changed into Middle English; in this period the first great English writer Geoffrey Chaucer wrote the Canterbury Tales
· around 1480 the printing press was invented, which played an important role because it fixed the English grammar and spelling
· since William Shakespeare’s times (16th - 17th century) we call the English modern
· when the Normans invaded Britain, the official languages used for government, law, learning or the army were Latin and French (words like judge, military, professor, legal come from these two languages); the daily used language among people was Old English
· from 14th century, many English words were invented or borrowed from other languages, e.g. Ancient Greek (earth + writing > geography, soul + word > psychology), other common Greek words are phone, photo, philo, sophy, mono, poly
· words from Latin : multi, super, sub, mare ...
some words came from outside Europe - alcohol, algebra - Arabic, jungle - India
· in next 200 years, English with Latin, Norse and French changed into Middle English; in this period the first great English writer Geoffrey Chaucer wrote the Canterbury Tales
· around 1480 the printing press was invented, which played an important role because it fixed the English grammar and spelling
· since William Shakespeare’s times (16th - 17th century) we call the English modern
· when the Normans invaded Britain, the official languages used for government, law, learning or the army were Latin and French (words like judge, military, professor, legal come from these two languages); the daily used language among people was Old English
· from 14th century, many English words were invented or borrowed from other languages, e.g. Ancient Greek (earth + writing > geography, soul + word > psychology), other common Greek words are phone, photo, philo, sophy, mono, poly
· words from Latin : multi, super, sub, mare ...
some words came from outside Europe - alcohol, algebra - Arabic, jungle - India
History of the English language
· about 5000 B.C. a tribe called the Indo-Europeans lived in central Europe, they had their own language, and when they discovered the wheel around 3000 B.C., they were able to travel; some went on east, some on west and those, who came to Britain, were the Celts
· today the Celts live still in Scotland, Western Ireland, Wales, Cornwall and Brittany (northern France)
· after more than 2000 years the Celts were the only people living in Britain; than the Romans arrived and Julius Caesar with his army brought there new language - Latin; but Romans lived only in England, so only very few words entered the Celtic language
· the Romans left in 410 A.D., but 40 years later the Anglo-Saxon invaded the Britain - they came from Holland, Denmark and Germany (England means ‘land of the Angels’); their language was Old English and many of their words are still in dictionaries (sheep, earth, dog, work, field; the, is, you)
· in 597 A.D. Saint Augistine brought Christianity to Britain and hundreds of Latin and Greek words entered Old English
· another words (get, wrong, leg, want, skin, same and low) have their roots in Norse - a language of Vikings, who lived in Scandinavia and invaded Britain between the years 750 and 1050
· today the Celts live still in Scotland, Western Ireland, Wales, Cornwall and Brittany (northern France)
· after more than 2000 years the Celts were the only people living in Britain; than the Romans arrived and Julius Caesar with his army brought there new language - Latin; but Romans lived only in England, so only very few words entered the Celtic language
· the Romans left in 410 A.D., but 40 years later the Anglo-Saxon invaded the Britain - they came from Holland, Denmark and Germany (England means ‘land of the Angels’); their language was Old English and many of their words are still in dictionaries (sheep, earth, dog, work, field; the, is, you)
· in 597 A.D. Saint Augistine brought Christianity to Britain and hundreds of Latin and Greek words entered Old English
· another words (get, wrong, leg, want, skin, same and low) have their roots in Norse - a language of Vikings, who lived in Scandinavia and invaded Britain between the years 750 and 1050
Varieties of English
· English Language is the chief medium of communication of people in the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and numerous other countries, among the biggest and probably most important is India (it was a British colony until 1949). It is the official language of many nations in the Commonwealth of Nations and is widely understood and used in all of them. It is spoken in more parts of the world than any other language and by more people (420 million speak it all over the world) than any other tongue except Chinese.
· English as a first language is the one that children learn as their first and is also the official in the country; second language know most of the people in the country and is official too (English as a second language is learned in many countries to understand foreigners, when the first language is not very spread among foreign people); and English as a foreign language is the one we learn to know an international language, is not official in the state and it depends to each country how many people learn it
· we know 5 types of English - British, Indian, African, American and Australian
· English that is learned in schools is called Standard English (SE), but people on the top of the social scale (about 3%) speak with Received Pronounciation (RP)
· The most distinguishing differences between American English and British English are in pronunciation and vocabulary. There are slighter differences in spelling, pitch, and stress as well. It is often difficult to determine whether a work was written in England, the United States, or any other part of the English-speaking world.
· in American English there are series of spelling reforms (-er instead of British -re, -or to replace-our, check instead of cheque) and sometimes Americans use different words for the same thing that British (bug, to mean insects in general rather than bedbug in Great Britain, corn, to designate what the British call maize, elevator X lift, truck X lorry, windshield X windscreen, sidewalk X pavment, commercial X advertisment)
· English is the main language of science (especially computer science, medicine) and after the WWII. English became the main language of diplomacy
· English as a first language is the one that children learn as their first and is also the official in the country; second language know most of the people in the country and is official too (English as a second language is learned in many countries to understand foreigners, when the first language is not very spread among foreign people); and English as a foreign language is the one we learn to know an international language, is not official in the state and it depends to each country how many people learn it
· we know 5 types of English - British, Indian, African, American and Australian
· English that is learned in schools is called Standard English (SE), but people on the top of the social scale (about 3%) speak with Received Pronounciation (RP)
· The most distinguishing differences between American English and British English are in pronunciation and vocabulary. There are slighter differences in spelling, pitch, and stress as well. It is often difficult to determine whether a work was written in England, the United States, or any other part of the English-speaking world.
· in American English there are series of spelling reforms (-er instead of British -re, -or to replace-our, check instead of cheque) and sometimes Americans use different words for the same thing that British (bug, to mean insects in general rather than bedbug in Great Britain, corn, to designate what the British call maize, elevator X lift, truck X lorry, windshield X windscreen, sidewalk X pavment, commercial X advertisment)
· English is the main language of science (especially computer science, medicine) and after the WWII. English became the main language of diplomacy
Television destroys man’s imagination and activity
· people who watch TV many hours a day (who are kind of addict) usually don’t make sports and are sometimes fat, because they rather watch all activities in TV - they can see all kinds of sports and of course action movies (with runs, jumps, fights ...) so TV is for them sort of substitute for these actions, and better, because they can see actions that they couldn’t do in real (shooting, killing people, car chase ...)
· the spreading and development of TVs and videos breaks the communications and relationships between people - the family sit together, they watch a program and are silent (rarely make a comment about the program); in past they talked to each other, played games (cards, chess ...) and the communication was more natural
· I’m not against watching TV, but not all the evening (especially while eating) and choose what I’m interested in, not to switch it on anytime; and I prefer doing something together and communicate (e. g. playing scrabble or any game with children)
· when I have children I won’t let them watch TV more than 2 or 3 hours a day, I will try to persuade them to go out with friends, to draw or whatever, and I’ll abolish them to watch action and bloody movies - it destroys their perception of the world and they can think that the real world is about killing and violence (it can even end with killing someone like in USA - Arkansas)
· the spreading and development of TVs and videos breaks the communications and relationships between people - the family sit together, they watch a program and are silent (rarely make a comment about the program); in past they talked to each other, played games (cards, chess ...) and the communication was more natural
· I’m not against watching TV, but not all the evening (especially while eating) and choose what I’m interested in, not to switch it on anytime; and I prefer doing something together and communicate (e. g. playing scrabble or any game with children)
· when I have children I won’t let them watch TV more than 2 or 3 hours a day, I will try to persuade them to go out with friends, to draw or whatever, and I’ll abolish them to watch action and bloody movies - it destroys their perception of the world and they can think that the real world is about killing and violence (it can even end with killing someone like in USA - Arkansas)
Do journalists influence public opinion
· many people read the newspapers every day and although the newspapers shouldn’t advance any political party or publicise e.g. racial opinions, journalists sometimes do (they have their opinions and they rather write in accord with them than against them)
· all people can’t be educated in all areas what journalist write about so some themes or problems know the readers only from newspaper articles (e.g. the Temelin - only few people know enough about the problem, so there are 2 groups - one say that it is dangerous and one say that it doesn’t spoil the nature and it is safe and effective
· sometimes the journalists say what they shouldn’t, which is a conflict between freedom of opinions and one’s privacy and ethic (e.g. shooting our president in an hospital room when he didn’t know about it, or the book 7 dni ... - the author is telling sometimes lies and sometimes a little changed true, but when the readers connect it all together, the result is, that Havel and Dagmar are stupid, senile and they have all bad qualities - what the author did was that he violated their privacy, collected their mistakes (that everyone sometimes does) and wrote a whole book about it)
· the biggest mistake that journalists do is that they take one part (usually sensational) from one’s speech, they rip it out from the context (don’t let the author explain what he wanted to say) and than the thing alone sounds like sensation - that’s why many people don’t like to talk to journalists
· all people can’t be educated in all areas what journalist write about so some themes or problems know the readers only from newspaper articles (e.g. the Temelin - only few people know enough about the problem, so there are 2 groups - one say that it is dangerous and one say that it doesn’t spoil the nature and it is safe and effective
· sometimes the journalists say what they shouldn’t, which is a conflict between freedom of opinions and one’s privacy and ethic (e.g. shooting our president in an hospital room when he didn’t know about it, or the book 7 dni ... - the author is telling sometimes lies and sometimes a little changed true, but when the readers connect it all together, the result is, that Havel and Dagmar are stupid, senile and they have all bad qualities - what the author did was that he violated their privacy, collected their mistakes (that everyone sometimes does) and wrote a whole book about it)
· the biggest mistake that journalists do is that they take one part (usually sensational) from one’s speech, they rip it out from the context (don’t let the author explain what he wanted to say) and than the thing alone sounds like sensation - that’s why many people don’t like to talk to journalists
The influence of TV on a regular viewer
· there are 2 types of viewers - the 1st one is addict to TV, they watch it many hours a day and they don’t care much what the program is (they often do something different while watching), and the 2nd one, who watch TV rarely and not periodically - they choose certain programs
· the 1st group is highly influenced by TV, they take many opinions from TV, the 2nd group have their own opinions, they watch TV to get more information (not to create their opinions)
· people with higher education watch usually news, educational programs or some documents, but most people watch movies, series (especially action) and several types of popular TV competitions (quizzes, lotteries ...), house-wives soap operas and children fairy tales
· the main types of TV represent in CR TV Nova and CT1;
news on TV Nova - they are more sensational, emotional, aim on celebrities and people, they start usually with domestic affairs, political and serious world news are at the end, talking to people connected with some sensation (relatives to victims...), jokes of reporters
news on CT 1 - the first in order are political and world news, analysis, exact information, graphs and charts, repetition of important news
TV Nova - for less educated people, action and American films and series, soap operas, competitions
CT 1 - independent and valuable films, documentaries, educational programs, many news
UK - BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation) - BBC1 and BBC 2, money from licence fees (all must pay), educ. progs., subject to government directives
- IBA (Independent Broadcasting Authority) - ITV, funded by commercials, educ. progs., subject to government directives
commercials - at breaks and within programs, political, religious and for tabacco forbidden
130 cable TV networks, several satellite TV channels
· the 1st group is highly influenced by TV, they take many opinions from TV, the 2nd group have their own opinions, they watch TV to get more information (not to create their opinions)
· people with higher education watch usually news, educational programs or some documents, but most people watch movies, series (especially action) and several types of popular TV competitions (quizzes, lotteries ...), house-wives soap operas and children fairy tales
· the main types of TV represent in CR TV Nova and CT1;
news on TV Nova - they are more sensational, emotional, aim on celebrities and people, they start usually with domestic affairs, political and serious world news are at the end, talking to people connected with some sensation (relatives to victims...), jokes of reporters
news on CT 1 - the first in order are political and world news, analysis, exact information, graphs and charts, repetition of important news
TV Nova - for less educated people, action and American films and series, soap operas, competitions
CT 1 - independent and valuable films, documentaries, educational programs, many news
UK - BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation) - BBC1 and BBC 2, money from licence fees (all must pay), educ. progs., subject to government directives
- IBA (Independent Broadcasting Authority) - ITV, funded by commercials, educ. progs., subject to government directives
commercials - at breaks and within programs, political, religious and for tabacco forbidden
130 cable TV networks, several satellite TV channels
Different types of massmedia
CR : 2 channels public TV - serious information, programs of all interests, documents
2 channels commercial TV - shocking news, action movies, soap operas, sitcoms, cheap series
radio stations - music, foreign st. - BBC
newspapers - both types, tabloids (Blesk, Hrom, Vecerni Praha) are more expensive, aimed to people with lower education; broadsheets (Dnes, Lidove noviny) have political informations, deeper, analysis
Newspapers in UK/USA
Tabloids Broadsheets
Articles : Are shocking, emotional, aimed Serious inf., national news, world news,
on people, celebrites, disasters, sports background inf., in-depth features
Composition :Short, easy to understand, huge headlines, Long, elaborate, difficult words, complex and
plays on words, quotations, exclamations interesting articles
Photos : Many, often colour, especially people 2-3 on every page, places and people, black
and white
Cost : 25p 35p.
Size : 40 cm /28 cm 60 cm / 40 cm
Circulation : 13 million in UK 3 million in UK
Titles : The Sun, The Daily Star, The Daily The Guardian, The Times, The Independent,
Mirror, The Daily Mail, The Daily The Daily Telegraph and The Financial Times
Express and Today
2 channels commercial TV - shocking news, action movies, soap operas, sitcoms, cheap series
radio stations - music, foreign st. - BBC
newspapers - both types, tabloids (Blesk, Hrom, Vecerni Praha) are more expensive, aimed to people with lower education; broadsheets (Dnes, Lidove noviny) have political informations, deeper, analysis
Newspapers in UK/USA
Tabloids Broadsheets
Articles : Are shocking, emotional, aimed Serious inf., national news, world news,
on people, celebrites, disasters, sports background inf., in-depth features
Composition :Short, easy to understand, huge headlines, Long, elaborate, difficult words, complex and
plays on words, quotations, exclamations interesting articles
Photos : Many, often colour, especially people 2-3 on every page, places and people, black
and white
Cost : 25p 35p.
Size : 40 cm /28 cm 60 cm / 40 cm
Circulation : 13 million in UK 3 million in UK
Titles : The Sun, The Daily Star, The Daily The Guardian, The Times, The Independent,
Mirror, The Daily Mail, The Daily The Daily Telegraph and The Financial Times
Express and Today
Different types of massmedia
· the main types of massmedia are four : TV, newspapers, radio stations and Internet
TV : no doubt that the TV is the most spread massmedia and has the biggest influence
people are offerd an unreal world with adventure, romance, luck or whatever and when they can’t have it, they at least watch it
news : people get the information without effort, the reporters are witty and nice and they can see pictures and videos from several places;
newspapers : there are several types of newspapers from the serious ones (broadsheets) to the shocking ones (tabloids) so all people can choose ther cup of tea
the advantage of newspaper is that they have permanent group of readers so they can full their pages with information that would be in TV for many people boring > the depth of information
radio stations : most widely spread are music radio stations, but some have very serious news with analysis or some interviews > everybody can choose his favourite station
Internet : is developing with unbeliavable speed, people can do shopping through it, booking tickets, ordering, studying ...
the vast amount of information can’t influence someone’s opinion because he chooses what he wants to know
the problem is that the information are not limited or controled so even small children can see what they aren’t allowed to
TV : no doubt that the TV is the most spread massmedia and has the biggest influence
people are offerd an unreal world with adventure, romance, luck or whatever and when they can’t have it, they at least watch it
news : people get the information without effort, the reporters are witty and nice and they can see pictures and videos from several places;
newspapers : there are several types of newspapers from the serious ones (broadsheets) to the shocking ones (tabloids) so all people can choose ther cup of tea
the advantage of newspaper is that they have permanent group of readers so they can full their pages with information that would be in TV for many people boring > the depth of information
radio stations : most widely spread are music radio stations, but some have very serious news with analysis or some interviews > everybody can choose his favourite station
Internet : is developing with unbeliavable speed, people can do shopping through it, booking tickets, ordering, studying ...
the vast amount of information can’t influence someone’s opinion because he chooses what he wants to know
the problem is that the information are not limited or controled so even small children can see what they aren’t allowed to
USA - School system
· elementary and secondary education involves 12 years of schooling, the successful completion of which leads to a high school diploma
· the first possible school children can attend is a Kindergarten (actually nursing school), than elementary school and high school
Elementary schools :
· the first elementary school was established in 1630 in Masachussets, because the Puritans wanted to read the Bible
· basic subjects are : math, language, geography, history, arts, science ...
· about 85% are public schools and 15% privat schools - they are sometimes religious
High schools :
· 90% of students go to public schools, they can't choose which school they want to attend
· sport plays an important role in schools as well as the spirit (which is big in small cities)
Colleges :
· the first college founded in America was Harvard and was founded in Massachusets in 1636
· in 1944 the GI Bill of Rights was issued, which helped veterans from the WWII to get higher education (government paid their scholarships) and in 1960's the Affirmative Action Program was introduced - certain numbers of minotity students had to be admited on colleges
· every students takes an SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test) from math and English on which bases they are admited to college or not
· the trend of 1970's and 1980's was to be educated in technical subjects
· there is not any difference in quality of education between public and privat schools, the privat ones require much higher fees; all schools are funded from student fees, donations and government funding
· colleges are based on a credit system, science program and research makes the university of a high or low prestige
· the first possible school children can attend is a Kindergarten (actually nursing school), than elementary school and high school
Elementary schools :
· the first elementary school was established in 1630 in Masachussets, because the Puritans wanted to read the Bible
· basic subjects are : math, language, geography, history, arts, science ...
· about 85% are public schools and 15% privat schools - they are sometimes religious
High schools :
· 90% of students go to public schools, they can't choose which school they want to attend
· sport plays an important role in schools as well as the spirit (which is big in small cities)
Colleges :
· the first college founded in America was Harvard and was founded in Massachusets in 1636
· in 1944 the GI Bill of Rights was issued, which helped veterans from the WWII to get higher education (government paid their scholarships) and in 1960's the Affirmative Action Program was introduced - certain numbers of minotity students had to be admited on colleges
· every students takes an SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test) from math and English on which bases they are admited to college or not
· the trend of 1970's and 1980's was to be educated in technical subjects
· there is not any difference in quality of education between public and privat schools, the privat ones require much higher fees; all schools are funded from student fees, donations and government funding
· colleges are based on a credit system, science program and research makes the university of a high or low prestige
Municipal House of the Capital of Prague and Powder gate
· Municipal House was built on the place of former King’s court in 1905 to 1911 as a representative palace of the town in the style of Prague Art nouveau; the group of halls around the central Smetana Hall is decoratedby the works of the foremost artists of the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries; the Municipal House was the place of declaration of independent Czechoslovak stateon October 28th in 1918 and also the scene of negotiations of the representatives of Civic Forum , who after November 17th 1989 undertook the political powers
· the Powder Gate was constructed as a representative entry into the Old Town at King’s court by Matyas Rejsek in the 2nd half of 15th century in the Lately Gothic style; in the end of 19th century was renovated in the Neo-Gothic style by J. Mocker; the gate is 65m high and is decorated by stoneworks and sculptures
Vysehrad
· the second seat of the Bohemian princes and kings of the Premyslides dynasty was founded in the 10th century; the original castle figured in romantic legends about the beginning of Prague and the Bohemian state; it contains Rotunda of St Martin, Chapter church of St Peter and Paul, the chapels of St Ludmila and of Virgin Mary in Walls, remnants of Gothic fortifications, a baroque fortress of the 17th century, a park with so called “devil’s Column and four statues depicting figures of Bohemian mythology by J. V. Myslbek; you can find there also Vysehrad Museum and a cemetery, where since the 19th century important personalities of the Czech nation have been buried
Old Town Hall
· was built probably in 1299 at the Big square (market place) as the seat of self-government of the Prague Old Town; the oldest part of the Town Hall complex was built in the High Gothic style and contains the tower, oriel chapel and rich coat of arms decorations; the astronomical clock was made before 1410 by Nicholas of Kadan and completed in the end of 15th century; the calendar sheet and new statues of Apostles were were placed in 19th and 20th centuries
· the Powder Gate was constructed as a representative entry into the Old Town at King’s court by Matyas Rejsek in the 2nd half of 15th century in the Lately Gothic style; in the end of 19th century was renovated in the Neo-Gothic style by J. Mocker; the gate is 65m high and is decorated by stoneworks and sculptures
Vysehrad
· the second seat of the Bohemian princes and kings of the Premyslides dynasty was founded in the 10th century; the original castle figured in romantic legends about the beginning of Prague and the Bohemian state; it contains Rotunda of St Martin, Chapter church of St Peter and Paul, the chapels of St Ludmila and of Virgin Mary in Walls, remnants of Gothic fortifications, a baroque fortress of the 17th century, a park with so called “devil’s Column and four statues depicting figures of Bohemian mythology by J. V. Myslbek; you can find there also Vysehrad Museum and a cemetery, where since the 19th century important personalities of the Czech nation have been buried
Old Town Hall
· was built probably in 1299 at the Big square (market place) as the seat of self-government of the Prague Old Town; the oldest part of the Town Hall complex was built in the High Gothic style and contains the tower, oriel chapel and rich coat of arms decorations; the astronomical clock was made before 1410 by Nicholas of Kadan and completed in the end of 15th century; the calendar sheet and new statues of Apostles were were placed in 19th and 20th centuries
Cultural life
Cultural life
· the cultural life in Prague is wide and one can chose from several activities he would like to do - from going to opera or National Theatre to seeing a hockey or football match
· if you feel like to see some theatre performance of a high value, I recommend you to go to the National Theatre, situated on the right bank of Vltava; the interior is painted by famous Czech painters, e.g. Mikolas Ales, and you can see the best Czech actors casting in the most famous Czech and foreign plays; or if you would like to see some more informal performance, there are many possibilities where to go, but if you visit the Archa theatre, you will be satisfied; because many performances are in English, or even Czech ones are with English subtitle; and don’t worry to wear jeans, nobody gets mad
· if you would like to see some paintings or sculptures, you can visit the National Gallery in Prague, e.g. the collection of ancient art in Sternbersky palac on Hradcanske square 15
· from Prague museums I recommend the National museum on Venceslas square, where you can find paleontological, mineral or zoological collections, ancient history of Czech, Moravia and Silezia and scelets of many animals, including ancient man
· and if you admire classical music, there is not more prestigeous and honor place than the Rudolphinom on Alsovo sqare, on the bank of Vltava
· probably the most famous festival that is held every year is the classical music festival Prague spring, that begins every year on May 12th and ends on June 2nd; concerts can be seen in more concert halls in Prague, but it always begins with Dvorak’s Ma vlast in Rudolphinom; siniliar to this is Prague autumn, but is younger and not so famous
· I would recommend to everybody to see some performance on Krizikova fountain; this fountain is a little miracle of technology and it is wonderful that it was build so long ago; at recent days spectators can see spectacular performances full of colours, playing in warm summer nights on music by Queen, Vangelis or songs from world-reknown musicals
· the cultural life in Prague is wide and one can chose from several activities he would like to do - from going to opera or National Theatre to seeing a hockey or football match
· if you feel like to see some theatre performance of a high value, I recommend you to go to the National Theatre, situated on the right bank of Vltava; the interior is painted by famous Czech painters, e.g. Mikolas Ales, and you can see the best Czech actors casting in the most famous Czech and foreign plays; or if you would like to see some more informal performance, there are many possibilities where to go, but if you visit the Archa theatre, you will be satisfied; because many performances are in English, or even Czech ones are with English subtitle; and don’t worry to wear jeans, nobody gets mad
· if you would like to see some paintings or sculptures, you can visit the National Gallery in Prague, e.g. the collection of ancient art in Sternbersky palac on Hradcanske square 15
· from Prague museums I recommend the National museum on Venceslas square, where you can find paleontological, mineral or zoological collections, ancient history of Czech, Moravia and Silezia and scelets of many animals, including ancient man
· and if you admire classical music, there is not more prestigeous and honor place than the Rudolphinom on Alsovo sqare, on the bank of Vltava
· probably the most famous festival that is held every year is the classical music festival Prague spring, that begins every year on May 12th and ends on June 2nd; concerts can be seen in more concert halls in Prague, but it always begins with Dvorak’s Ma vlast in Rudolphinom; siniliar to this is Prague autumn, but is younger and not so famous
· I would recommend to everybody to see some performance on Krizikova fountain; this fountain is a little miracle of technology and it is wonderful that it was build so long ago; at recent days spectators can see spectacular performances full of colours, playing in warm summer nights on music by Queen, Vangelis or songs from world-reknown musicals
Prague
Prague
· Prague is a city in west central Czech Republic, the capital of the country; it is located in the central Bohemia region, situated on both sides of the Vltava River; its population is about 1.3 million
History :
· the settlement of Prague dates from the 9th century, when it was the site of several Bohemian castles
· the city began to grow in the 13th century with the establishment of German communities by Wenceslas I, king of Bohemia; the German colonists developed the city rapidly, building the Old Town as a trading centre in 1232 and, expanding to the southeast, establishing the New Town a century later; the key personality for expansion of Prague was the King Charles IV, who let build the Charles University in 1348 as the first in middle Europe
· Prague prospered as the capital of the powerful province of Bohemia and during the 14th century became the largest European city after Paris, in 1442 it was conquered by the Hussites and continued to grow in wealth and power
· it was much damaged during several wars, notably in the Thirty Years' War (1618-1648), in 1744 the city surrendered to Frederick II, king of Prussia, who, during the Seven Years' War (1756-1763), defeated the Austrian forces at Prague
· in 1848, Prague was bombarded by Austrian troops to quell a Czech revolution, and in 1866 the city surrendered to Prussian forces during the Seven Weeks' War
· upon the establishment of the republic of Czechoslovakia in 1918, Prague became its capital; During World War II the city was occupied by German forces from March 1939 until May 1945 but escaped major damage
· the city was again the scene of turmoil when, in August 1968, Soviet troops invaded Prague and massive demonstrations ensued and also was the site of massive nonviolent demonstrations that led to the downfall of Czechoslovakia's Communist regime in 1989
· when the country divided into two republics on January 1, 1993, the city became capital of the independent Czech Republic
· Prague is a city in west central Czech Republic, the capital of the country; it is located in the central Bohemia region, situated on both sides of the Vltava River; its population is about 1.3 million
History :
· the settlement of Prague dates from the 9th century, when it was the site of several Bohemian castles
· the city began to grow in the 13th century with the establishment of German communities by Wenceslas I, king of Bohemia; the German colonists developed the city rapidly, building the Old Town as a trading centre in 1232 and, expanding to the southeast, establishing the New Town a century later; the key personality for expansion of Prague was the King Charles IV, who let build the Charles University in 1348 as the first in middle Europe
· Prague prospered as the capital of the powerful province of Bohemia and during the 14th century became the largest European city after Paris, in 1442 it was conquered by the Hussites and continued to grow in wealth and power
· it was much damaged during several wars, notably in the Thirty Years' War (1618-1648), in 1744 the city surrendered to Frederick II, king of Prussia, who, during the Seven Years' War (1756-1763), defeated the Austrian forces at Prague
· in 1848, Prague was bombarded by Austrian troops to quell a Czech revolution, and in 1866 the city surrendered to Prussian forces during the Seven Weeks' War
· upon the establishment of the republic of Czechoslovakia in 1918, Prague became its capital; During World War II the city was occupied by German forces from March 1939 until May 1945 but escaped major damage
· the city was again the scene of turmoil when, in August 1968, Soviet troops invaded Prague and massive demonstrations ensued and also was the site of massive nonviolent demonstrations that led to the downfall of Czechoslovakia's Communist regime in 1989
· when the country divided into two republics on January 1, 1993, the city became capital of the independent Czech Republic
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