Text 8a

BEING SEA-FARING

The British is a most curious nation in many aspects. When a tourist from whatever continent comes to visit Britain the first conclusion he arrives at is how bizarre the people living there are. The main reason to their uniqueness will certainly lie on the surface: Great Britain is an island populated by the nation that had to grow up and go all the long way of its history alone being separated from the rest of the world by great amounts of water. This very natural characteristic turned them into not only a sea-faring nation, but also an interesting and special one, whose history and culture are one of the richest in the world. And the water surrounding the island played not a minor part in its forming.

The field of the country's economy connected with water was always a great concern for those who ruled it for they naturally attached much importance to it. From the times when the English society was being born and only beginning to take shape, kings had already interest themselves in the conditions of trading across the sea. Already in the eighth century, an English merchant was settled at Marseilles, perhaps as an agent for collecting goods to be sold in England. The Viking raids of the late eighth and ninth centuries disrupted the trade with the Continent, but Englishmen may well have taken part in the Baltic trade opened up by this time. In the eleventh century British pilgrims to Rome took the opportunity of obtaining from the Emperor and other rulers they met there greater security and reduction of tolls for traders.

Merchants from other lands also came to Britain. At the end of the tenth century, a document dealing with trade in London spoke of men from Rouen, Flanders, Pointier, Normandy, France; from about the same date comes a description of York as the town of merchants.

Merchants and seamen plied an honoured trade. Poets spoke with appreciation of the seaman "who can boldly drive the ship across the salt sea" or "can steer the stern on the dark wave, knows the waters, (being) the pilot of the company over the wide ocean", and it was at least a current opinion in the early eleventh century that the merchant who had crossed the sea three times at his own cost should be entitled to a thane's rank. So people working in the sea or over the seas gained much respect in the society for their job (and for the economical aspect, as well).

In the beginning of the XVIth century Britain possessed not only a great number of private merchant vessels but also a small fleet belonging to the crown, headed by two large carracks. Since the beginning of the colonial expansion, the merchant fleet had been constantly growing in number, size and tonnage of the ships. The country having been turned into the empire, where “the sun never sets”, the British economy was vitally dependent on overseas shipment being generally based on colonial treasures.

Though nowadays such position is forever lost, the British people respect and cherish their "watery" neighbourhood which from the earliest stages of their history up to now has given them food, drink, work, power, respect of other nations, wealth and after all entertainment. It forms the backgrounds of British character, lifestyle and culture and has always been worshipped by the people.

Ex. 7. Answer the questions:

1. What conclusion may a tourist have when he arrives to visit Britain? 2. What is the main reason of Britain’s uniqueness? 3. Why was the field of the country's economy connected with water always a great concern for British kings? 4. What disrupted the trade with the Continent in the late 100’s? 5. Can we say that European countries were interested in trade with Britain in the Middle Ages? 6. Why were merchants and seamen considered an honoured trade? 7. How can you prove that even in the XVIth century British shipbuilding was rather developed? 8. Why had the merchant fleet been constantly growing in number, size and tonnage of the ships since the 1500’s? 9. Why was the country sometimes described as an empire where “the sun never sets”? 10. Why do the British people respect and cherish their "watery" neighbourhood?

Ex. 8. Agree or disagree with the following statements. Give your grounds:

1. From the times when the English society was being born, English kings had already interest themselves in the conditions of overseas trading. 2. The Viking raids of the late eighth and ninth centuries promoted the British trade with the Continent. 3. Merchants from other lands had always come to Britain. 4. Foreign traders were not allowed to London in the Middle Ages. 5. People working in the sea or over the seas were related to the lowest society level in Britain. 6. In the beginning of the XVIth century all British fleet belonged to the crown. 7. The beginning of the colonial expansion was the reason for the merchant fleet growing. 8. The British imperial economy was vitally dependent on the inland products and industries. 9. The leading marine position of Great Britain has been preserved till nowadays. 10. It is the British "watery" neighbourhood that forms the backgrounds of British character, lifestyle and culture.

Ex. 9. Translate into English:

1. Эта тема любопытна во многих аспектах. 2. В музее вы можете увидеть старинные документы, связанные с развитием торговли в нашей стране. 3. Благодаря своему естественному расположению Великобритания быстро превратилась в страну мореходов. 4. Этот факт сыграл не меньшую роль в развитии страны. 5. Британию называли империей, «где никогда не заходит солнце». 6. Океанские торговые суда отличались высокими надстройками на носу и корме. 7. Первые купцы были агентами по сбору товаров для продажи на родине. 8. Это – широко распространенное мнение. 9. Морские профессии всегда считались почетными. 10. Торговые компании всегда были заинтересованы в снижении торговых пошлин.

Ex. 10. Define the main topic and idea of the text, split it into the logical parts, and make up the plan of the text.

Ex. 11. Abstract the text.

Ex. 12. Read and translate the text consulting the dictionary about the names and historical terms: