1. THE BRITISH ISLES

2. UNITED KINGDOM

3. Form of Government
Constitutional monarchy = the sovereign has limited powers; political decisions are taken by the Government and the Parliament.
The UK is part of the European Union but its currency is still the pound, not the euro.
Queen
Elizabeth II

4. The Magna Charta
Magna Charta was issued in June 1215 and was the first document to put into writing the principle that the king and his government was not above the law.
video Magna Charta

5. Four largely autonomous regions
Scotland
Northern Ireland
England
Wales

6. Be careful!
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: England, Wales, Scotland e Northern Ireland
England
Physical and political region
Great Britain =
England + Wales + Scotland (3 physical and political regions)
Ireland
Island
Republic of Ireland
(Eire)
State

8. The former colonies
The UK has the sovereignty over some overseas territory, like Gibraltar and many islands in the Atlantic and Indian Ocean. These are all that remains of its former colonial empire.
Many former colonies are now part of the Commonwealth, an association of nations still allied with the British Crown.

9. Overseas territories

11. Population UK Population: around 64 million people
(3° in the European Union)
UK population density:
261 people per sq/km
London Population:
8,6 million people
London population density:
more than 5000 people per sq/km

12. Main cities London: 7 million people LONDON EDINBURGH GLASGOW BELFAST
MANCHESTER
LIVERPOOL
BIRMINGHAM
CARDIFF
LONDON

14. Language and religion
English (official language) + Welsh and Scottish Gaelic in Scotland and Wales.
English is a Germanic language, Gaelic is a Celtic language.
Most widespread religion: Anglicanism (a form of Protestantism).
Some Catholics in Northern Ireland and Presbyterians in Scotland.

16. English in the world
Second official language (light blue)

17. Primary and secondary sectors
Advanced agriculture (cereals, potatoes, sugar beet) + sheep breeding and fishing
Coal deposits and oil (in the North Sea)
Industrial Revolution
Automotive, aerospace, chemical and food industry.

18. Industrial development in Great Britain
The first iron bridge in the world (1719)

20. Tertiary sector The most important sector: finance (London)
trade (imports: foodstuffs and raw materials/ exports: machinery, clothing, beer and whisky)
transport network (Eurotunnel)
tourism

21. Postcards
from Great Britain

22. London

23. The Big Ben

24. Buckingham Palace

25. Thames

26. Tower Bridge

27. Oxford University

28. London Underground - map

29. Stonehenge

31. Scotland
William Wallace
Whisky

32. Wales
Conwy castle

33. Northern Ireland
Belfast City Hall
The Giant’s causeway