Contents 1. Introduction 6 2.Country and people 8 Geographically speaking o Politically speaking o The four nations o The dominance of England o National loyalties 3. History 15 Prehistory o The Roman period (43-410) o The Germanic invasions (410- 1066) o The medieval period (1066-148s) o The sixteenth century o The seventeenth century o The eighteenth century o The nineteenth century o The twentieth century 4. Geography 31 Climate o Land and settlement o The environment and pollution o London o Southern England o The Midlands o Northern England o Scotland ? Wales o Northern Ireland 5. Identity 42 Ethnic identity: the native British o Ethnic identity: the non-native British o The family o Geographical identity o Class o Men and women o Religious and political identity o Social and everyday contacts o Identity in Northern Ireland o Being British 6. Attitudes 56 Stereotypes and change o English versus British o Multiculturalism o Conservatism o Being different o The love of nature o The love of animals o Formality and informality o Public spiritedness and amateurism o Privacy and sex 7. Political life 67 The public attitude to politics o The style of democracy o The constitution o The style of politics o The party system o The modern situation 8. The monarchy 77 The appearance o The reality o The role of the monarch o The value of the monarchy o The future of the monarchy 9. The government 82 The cabinet o The Prime Minister o The civil service o Central and local government o Local government services 10. Parliament 90 The atmosphere of Parliament ? An MP's life o Parliamentary business o The party system in Parliament o The House of Lords 11. Elections 98 The system ? Formal arrangements o The campaign o Polling day ? Election night o Recent results and the future 12. The law 106 The police and the public o Crime and criminal procedure o The system of justice o The legal profession 13. International relations 113 The end of empire o The armed forces o Transatlantic relations o The sovereignty of the union: Europe o The sovereignty of the union: Scotland and Wales o The sovereignty of the union: Northern Ireland 14. Religion 121 Religion and politics o Anglicanism o Catholicism o Other conventional Christian churches o Other religions, churches and religious movements 15. Education 130 Historical background o Organization o Style o Recent developments o School life o Public exams o Education beyond sixteen 16. The economy and 141 everyday life Earning money o Work organizations o The structure of trade and industry o The distribution of wealth o Finance and investment- Spending money: shopping o Shop opening hours 17. The media 151 The importance of the national press o The two types of national newspaper o The characteristics of the national press: politics o The characteristics of the national press: sex and scandal. o The BBC ? Television: organization o Television: style 18. Transport 162 On the road o Public transport in towns and cities ? Public transport between towns and cities o The story of the chunnel o Air and water 19. Welfare 168 The benefits system o Social services and charities o The national health service ? The medical profession 20. Housing 174 Houses, not flats o Private property and public property o The importance of'home' o Individuality and conformity o Interiors: the importance of cosiness o Owning and renting o Homelessness 21. Food and drink 184 Attitudes to food ? Eating out o Alcohol o Pubs 22. Sport and competition 191 A national passion o The social importance of sport o Cricket o Football o Rugby o Animals in sport o Other sports o Gambling 23.The arts 201 The arts in society- The characteristics of British arts and letters o Theatre and cinema o Music o Literature o The fine arts 24. Holidays and special occasions 208 Traditional seaside holidays o Modern holidays o Christmas and New Year ? Other notable annual occasions