London is the biggest city, and the capital of the United Kingdom. The city is very old and beautiful. It was founded more than two thousand years ago. In the 18th century Dr.Samuel Johnson, a great

History of London

London is the biggest city, and the capital of the United Kingdom. The city is very old and beautiful. It was founded more than two thousand years ago. In the 18^th century Dr.Samuel Johnson, a great man of letters, said: “ A man who is tired of life ”. This sentence is still true.

London was founded by the Romans in 43 A.D. and was called Londinium. In 61 A.D. the town was burnt down and when it was rebuilt by the Romans it was surrounded by a wall. That area within the wall is now called the City of London.

When William the Conqueror conquered England in 1066 he made London his base.

He built the Tower of London and was crowned at Westminster Abbey.

During the Middle Ages many churches and monasteries were built. Merchants and craftsmen lived inside the City walls and worked in particular areas. During the Tudor period (16th century) London became an important economic and financial centre. The Londoners of the Elizabethan period built the first theatres.

1666 was the year of the Great Fire of London, which destroyed most of the city. At this time, most London houses were of wood and pitch construction, dangerously flammable, and it did not take long for the fire to expand. Some 430 acres, as much as 80% of the city proper was destroyed, including 13,000 houses, 89 churches, and 52 Guild Halls. Thousands of citizens found themselves homeless and financially ruined.

After the fire many buildings were rebuilt in a much safer way. Charles II appointed six Commissioners to redesign the city. The plan provided for wider streets and buildings of brick, rather than timber. By 1671, 9000 houses and public buildings had been completed. Sir Christopher Wren was commissioned to design and oversee the construction of nearly 50 churches, and a new St. Paul's Cathedral, construction of which began in 1675. The King also had Wren design a monument to the Great Fire, which stands still today at the site of the bakery which started it all, on a street now named Monument Street.

The Great Fire, and the fire of 1676, which destroyed over 600 houses south of the river, changed the face of London forever.

During the Victorian period (19th century) London was one of the most important centres of the Industrial Revolution and the centre of British Empire.

All London's long-past history is told by its streets. There are many streets in London which are known all over the world. Among them Oxford Street, Downing Street and a lot of others can be mentioned.

Today London is a great political centre, a great commercial centre, a paradise for theatre-goers and tourists, but it is also a very quiet place with its parks and its ancient buildings, museums and libraries.

Questions:

1. Is London a young city?

2. Who was the founder of London? What was London's name then?

3. What is the City?

4. What William the Conqueror built?

5. When was London burnt for the first time?

6. When and by whom was the Tower built?

7. When were the first theatres built?

8. What was London during the Victorian period (19th century)?

9. What is London today?

10. All London's history is told by its streets, isn't it?

Vocabulary:

capital — столиця

to found — засновувати (місто)

“A man who is tired of life” – „Тот, кто устал от Лондона, устал от жизни”

Roman – римлянин

A.D. (Anno Domini) – нашої ери

burnt down – згоряти

rebuilt – відновлений 2) реконструйований, перебудований

surrounded — оточений

William the Conqueror – Вільям Завойовник

conquered – завоював, підкорив

base – базувати; розміщати війська

crowned — коронований

Westminster Abbey — Вестмінстерське абатство

Middle Ages – Середньовіччя

merchants – торговці

craftsmen – ремісники

worked in particular areas – займались своєю справою

pitch – смола

expand –поширюватися; збільшуватися

financially ruined – фінансово розорений

Guild Halls –зали Гільдії (гільдія - організація, спілка лицарів, магів)

homeless – бездомний, безпритульний

appointed – призначений, споряджений; обладнаний

сommissioners – спеціальний уповноважений, комісар; комісія (група осіб або орган)

timber – дерев'яний

commissioned – який отримав доручення (завдання)

oversee – наглядати, спостерігати за

site of the bakery – місце пекарні

Downing Street –Даунінг-стріт

paradise — рай

theatre-goers – театрали

ancient — античний, стародавній

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Дата добавления: 2015-09-30