Реферат: 4 capitals of Great Britain
Cardiff
Cardiff’s rich
culture has a diverse range of influences, from the Romans and Normans of
antiquity to the industrial revolution and the coal industry - which
transformed Cardiff from a small town into a thriving, international city.
Origins of the
Name
There are two rival theories regarding the precise origins of the
name Cardiff or Caerdydd in Welsh. There is uncertainty concerning the origin
of "Caerdydd" — "Caer" means "fort" or
"castle," but although "Dydd" means "Day" in
modern Welsh, it is unclear what was meant in this context. Some believe that
"Dydd " or "Diff" was a corruption of "Taff", the
river on which Cardiff castle stands, in which case "Cardiff" would
mean "the fort on the river Taff" (in Welsh the T mutates to D).
A rival theory favours a link with Aulus Didius Gallus who was a
Roman governor in the region at the time the fort was established. The name may
have originated as Caer Didius – The Fort of Didius.
Roman origins
Cardiff lies at the centre of three river systems, the Taff, the Ely
and the Rhymney. Its location allowed its first residents to control trade and
movement along these rivers, giving them power over a large area. The first
people to take advantage of this location were the Romans who set up a fort
here on the site of Cardiff Castle about AD55-60. Some of the original Roman
walls can still be seen and the new interpretation centre, opened in June 2008,
is set against the backdrop of the original Roman foundation walls. This
dominating fort protected its inhabitants until about AD350-375 when it was
abandoned at the end of Roman rule in Britain.
The Vikings and the Normans also made their presence felt in
Cardiff, and in 1091 Robert Fitzhamon began work on the castle keep, which has
been at the heart of the city ever since.
Medieval Cardiff
Today, much of
Cardiff's Roman remains are lost beneath the medieval castle. The castle dates
from the 11th century, when the Normans conquered Glamorgan. It was begun by
William the Conqueror on his return from St David's in Pembrokeshire, in 1081.
This is supported by an inscription on a coin found within the castle grounds
which suggests that William may have established a mint at the castle.
Cardiff Castle
was originally built in wood. In the 12th century, Robert Consol, Duke of
Gloucester, rebuilt it in stone. At this time, the Castle's west and south
walls were raised, building upon the ruined walls of the Roman fort.
The medieval
town spread out from the castle's South Gate. Interestingly the High Street
lines up with the Roman rather than the medieval south gate, suggesting it
dates from this earlier period.
The Medieval
town probably developed in two stages. The first stage was within a relatively
small enclosure marked out by Working Street and Womanby (Hummanbye) Streets'
both names are linked to old Norse. In the second stage of its development,
Cardiff expanded south. The town was then enclosed and defended to the east by
a bank and ditch and eventually a stone gate. To the west, the town was
protected by the meandering river Taff.
Owain Glyndŵr
In 15th century, town was destroyed by Owain Glyndŵr's Welsh
army. The Castle lay in ruin until Richard Beauchamp, Earl of Warwick, restored
the defences and castle buildings in 1423. Beauchamp also constructed the
octagonal tower, now known as Beauchamp's tower.
Much of the rest of the castle and walls dates to the 19th century,
when the third Marquis of Bute employed William Burges to restore, refurbish
and rebuild it.
Black Gold transforms Cardiff
In the late
19th Century, the 2nd Marquess of Bute built the Glamorganshire canal, which
linked Merthyr Tydfil with Cardiff and the Cardiff docks, to take advantage of
the huge coal reserves in the area. This saw Cardiff become the biggest coal
exporting port in the world, resulting in Edward VII granting Cardiff city
status in 1905. The port reached its peak in 1913, with more than 10 million
tons going through the port. As Cardiff exports grew, so did its population;
dockworkers and sailors from across the world settled in neighbourhoods close
to the docks, known as Tiger Bay, and communities from up to 45 different
nationalities, including Norwegian, Somalian, Yemenese, Spanish, Italian,
Caribbean and Irish, helped create the unique multi-cultural character of the
area.
Double birthday
After going
into decline in the 70's and 80's Cardiff's docks and city centre have now been
regenerated. Cardiff Bay is now a thriving waterside development, and the
construction of the Millennium Stadium in the city centre helped transformed
Cardiff into a true European capital city. In 2005 Cardiff celebrated its
centenary as a city and 50 years as capital of Wales, and enjoyed a year-long
calendar of events, festivals and parties which marked the double anniversary.
Home of the Daleks
Terry Nation,
creator of Doctor Who’s arch-enemies, the Daleks, was born in Cardiff, and in
2005 the Daleks returned to their place of birth for the new BBC Wales series
of Doctor Who. The second season of Doctor Who, starring David Tennant and
Billie Piper was also filmed in and around Cardiff. A new Doctor Who spin-off
series, called Torchwood, was also filmed and is set in the Welsh capital.
World’s first FairTrade capital
In March 2004
Cardiff was designated as the world’s first FairTrade Capital City in
recognition of its support for the scheme. To gain this status Cardiff Council
had to ensure that FairTrade products are available in a number of cafes,
stores and supermarkets in Cardiff, as well as serving FairTrade teas and
coffees in its own canteens and meetings.
Famous sons and daughters
Cardiff has
produced many famous names in the last century. Children’s author Roald Dahl
was born in Cardiff in 1916, and the Norwegian Church where he was christened
is now used as an arts centre and café. In the sports world Ryan Giggs,
Colin Jackson and Dame Tanni Grey Thompson often fill the headlines, and Shirley
Bassey and Charlotte Church are the city’s home grown musical divas.
Captain Scott
and the South Pole
In 1910
Captain Robert Scott set off from Cardiff in the ship the ‘Terra Nova’ on his
ill-fated trip to the South Pole. Cardiff connections to Scott include a
memorial sculpture in Cardiff Bay, a memorial lighthouse erected in Roath Park
and the Discovery pub in Lakeside, home to photos from the expedition. The
Captain Scott room in the Royal Hotel, where he ate his farewell dinner, was
also reopened earlier this year.
Sporting history
Cardiff has a
long association with sport. In 1958 the city hosted the Britsh Empire and
Commonwealth Games, now better known as the Commonwealth Games. The Empire
swimming pool, however, was demolished to make way for the Millennium Stadium –
which hosted the Rugby World Cup final in 1999. The stadium again made sporting
history in 2005, when Wales won the Six Nations Grand Slam Championship for the
first time in over 20 years. Cardiff will also host an Ashes cricket Test match
in 2009, and football matches during the 2012 London Olympic Games.
So, in keeping
with its dynamic character, Cardiff is noted for visionary architecture. Dip
into the past at its two most extraordinary landmarks, Cardiff Castle in the
centre and Castell Coch just outside the city. Both were transformed in the
19th century into Gothic dream palaces. The gleaming white Civic Centre with
its domed City Hall is an early 20th-century classic. Then for the shape of the
future, head for Cardiff Bay, one of the world's largest regeneration projects
dominated by the new and innovative Wales Millennium Centre. Victorian edifices
have been joined by chic restaurants, stylish clubs and shops beside a newly
created freshwater lake, making it the most exciting place to hang out, day or
night.
Belfast
The history of Belfast as a settlement goes back to the
Bronze Age, but its status as a major urban centre dates to the eighteenth
century. Belfast today is the capital of Northern Ireland. Belfast was,
throughout its modern history, a major commercial and industrial centre. It
suffered in the late twentieth century from a decline in its traditional
industries, particularly shipbuilding. The city's history has been marked by
violent conflict between Catholic and Protestant communities which has caused
many parts of the city to be split into 'Catholic' and 'Protestant' areas. In
recent years the city has been relatively peaceful and major redevelopment has
occurred, especially the inner-city and dock areas.
BELFAST
IN THE 17TH CENTURY
The city of Belfast began in the early 17th century. The name
Belfast is a corruption of the Gaelic words Beal Feirste meaning mouth of the
sandy ford.
In 1177 an Englishman called John de Courcy built a castle there.
However the actual town of Belfast grew up after 1609 when king James began his
policy of settling Englishmen and Scots in Ulster. Sir Arthur Chichester was
granted land in Ulster including Belfast Castle, which he rebuilt in 1611. A
small town soon grew up in its shadow.
By 1611 there were Englishmen, Scots and Manxmen living in the
thriving community of Belfast. In 1613 Belfast was made a corporation and
afterwards it sent 2 MPs to parliament. However the corporation was partly
controlled by the Chichester family, the lords of the manor. Belfast was run by
an official called a sovereign assisted by 12 burgesses (merchants). Each year
the burgesses drew up a short list of 3 of themselves and Chichester chose one
to be the sovereign. Chichester's consent was required for new by laws.
Ordinary people had no part in the government of the town.
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