英语国家概况精讲系列（九）
The Restoration
王政复辟
When Oliver Cromwell died in 1658 and was succeeded by his son, Richard, the regime began to collapse. One of Cromwell"s generals George Monck, occupied London and arranged for new parliamentary elections. The Parliament thus was elected in 1660 resolved the crisis by asking the late King"s son to return from his exile in France as king Charles II. It was called the Restoration.
1658年奥利弗克伦威尔去世，他的儿子理查德继任护国公，政权立即开始瓦解。克伦威尔的一位将军乔治蒙克占领伦敦，安排新的议会选举。1660年选出的议会要求上一任国王的儿子长期流亡地法国回国作国王查尔斯二世，从而解决了危机。这就是所谓的王政复辟。
The Glorious Revolution of 1688
1688年光荣革命
In 1685 Charles II died and was succeeded by his brother James II. James was brought up in exile in Europe, was a Catholic. He hoped to rule without giving up his personal religious vies. But England was no more tolerant of a Catholic king in 1688 than 40 years ago. So the English politicians rejected James II, and appealed to a Protestant king, William of Orange, to invade and take the English throne. William landed in England in 1688. The takeover was relatively smooth, with no bloodshed, nor any execution of the king. This was known as the Glorious Revolution.
1685年查尔斯二世去世，由其弟詹姆斯二世继位。詹姆斯二世从小在欧洲流亡长大，是个天主教徒，他希望不放弃个人宗教信仰统治国家。但是1688的英国已不象40年前那样能容忍天主教徒当国王了。英国政客反对詹姆斯二世，他们呼吁信奉新教的国王，奥兰治亲王威谦入侵英国夺取王位。1688年11月15日威廉在托尔比登陆并占领伦敦。这一占领相对平静，既未流血也未处死国王，所以就称为“光荣革命”。
The Gunpowder Plot of 1605
1605年
The Gunpowder Plot of 1605 was the most famous of the Catholic conspiracies. On Nov. 5,1605, a few fanatical Catholics attempted to blow King James and his ministers up in the House of Parliament where Guy Fawkes had planted barrels of gun-powder in the cellars. The immediate result was the execution of Fawkes and his fellow-conspirators and imposition of severe anti-Catholic laws. The long-term result has been an annual celebration on Nov. 5, when a bonfire is lit to turn a guy and a firework display is arranged.
1605年的火药阴谋案是最著名的天主教阴谋。1605年11月5日，几个狂热的天主教徒企图在议会大厦炸死国王和大臣，盖伊福克斯已在地窖放了炸药桶。结果是福克斯和同伙被立即处死，以及更严厉的反天主教法律的颁发。长斯结果是每年11月5日举行庆祝仪式，点燃火堆焚烧盖伊模拟像并燃放烟火。

英语国家概况精讲系列（十）
第五章
The Rise and Fall of the British Empire (1688-1990)
大英帝国的兴衰
I. Whigs and Tories
辉格党人和托利党人
These two party names originated with the Glorious Revolution (1688).
这两个政党名称皆起源于1688年的光荣革命。
The Whig were those who opposed absolute monarchy and supported the right to religious freedom for Nonconformists. The Whig were to form a coalition with dissident Tories in the mid-19th century and become the Liberal Party.
辉格党人是指那些反对绝对王权，支持新教徒宗教自由权利的人。辉格党人在19世纪中叶与持不同意见的托利党人组盟组成自由党。
The Tories were those who supported hereditary monarchy and were reluctant to remove kings. The Tories were the forerunners of the Conservative Party.
托利党人是指那些支持世袭王权、不愿去除国王的人。托利党是保守党的前身。
I. Agricultural Changes in the Late 18th Century
18世纪末的农业革命
During the late 18th and early 19th centuries, the “open-field” system ended when the Enclosure Act was passed. The movement lasted for centuries. Agricultural enclosure had good as well as bad results:
18世纪末、19世纪初的农业革命期间，随着《圈地法》的颁布，传统的“开放田地”制结束。圈地运动持续了将近一个多世纪。农业圈地运动的利弊共存：
（1） Farms became bigger and bigger units as the great bought up the small;
由于大农场兼并了小农场，农场成为越来越在的生产单位；
（2） More vegetables, more milk and more dairy produce were consumed, and diet became more varied;
人们消费的蔬菜，牛奶及奶制品越来越多，饮食种类愈加丰富；
（3） Enclosure was a disaster for the tenants evicted from their lands by the enclosures. These peasant farmers were forced to look for work in towns. Enclosure led to mass emigration, particularly to the New World;
圈地对佃家而言是场灾难，他们被赶出土地，被迫到城镇找工作。圈地运动导致了大规模的移民，尤其是移民至新大陆。
（4） A new class hostility was introduced into rural relationships.
农村关系中产生了新的阶级对立。

英语国家概况精讲系列（十一）
II. The Industrial Revolution (1780-1830)
工业革命（1780-1830）
1．The industrial Revolution refers to the mechanisation of industry and the consequent changes in social and economic organization in Britain in the late 18th and early 19th centuries.
工业革命指的是17世纪末、18世纪初英国工业的机械化，以及因此而导致的社会结构和经济结构的变化。
2．Britain was the first country to industrialize because of the following factors:
英国成为第一个工业化的国家，原因如下：
(1) Favourable geopraphical location. Britain was well placed geographically to participate in European and world trade;
优越的地理位置：英国地理位置优越，适合参与欧洲与世界贸易；
(2) Political stability. Britain had a peaceful society, which, after the 17th century, was increasingly interested in overseas trade and colonies. International trade brought wealth to merchants and city bankers. They and those who had done well out of new farming methods provided capital in large quantities for industralization.
政治局面稳定。17世纪后的英国社会宁静，对海外贸易和殖民地兴趣日增。国际贸易给商人和城市银行家带来财富，他们加上由于新农作法而发家的人们为工业化提供了大笔资金。
(3) Good foundation in economy. The limited monarchy which resulted from the Glorious Revolution of 1688 ensured that the powerful economic interests in the community could exert their influence over Government policy.
1688年光荣革命限制了君主的权力，这使得强大的经济利益集团能对议会政策施加影响。
(4) It was a country in which the main towns were never too far from seaports, or from rivers, which could distribute their products.
英国的主要城镇皆靠近海港或河流，货物运送便利。
(5) Britain had many rivers, which were useful for transport but also for water and steam power. Britain also had useful mineral resources.
英国许多河流不仅用于交通，还提供水力及蒸汽动力。英国还有可用的矿产资源。
(6) British engineers had sound training as craftsmen.
英国工程师为训练有素的手工艺人。
(7) The inventors were respected. They solved practical problems.
发明家受人尊重，他们解决了实际难题。