MK University-BISKRA.

Faculty of Arts and Languages

Department of Foreign Languages/English Branch

Course: CIVILIZATIONS OF THE LANGUAGE

Level: 2nd Year LMD

Semester One
British Civilization: The Historical Shaping of Modern Britain

Objectives of the Course:

1. An Introduction to British Geography, People, and Customs

2. Origins of the British People 1: The Antiquity and Roman Rule
- The Celts
- Roman Invasion and Achievements
3. Origins of the British People 2: The Anglo-Saxon Era and the Birth of England
- Fall of the Roman Empire, Germanic invasions, Danish invasions (Vikings) anarchy in the Dark
Ages
- The Unification of England by Alfred the Great
- Structure of the Anglo-saxon society (language, religion)
4. Origins of the British People 3: The Normans and the Middle Ages
- Norman Invasion
- Feudalism
- Political transformations: Magna Carta – Provisions of Oxford
5. The English Reformation: Anglicanism
- The English Reformation and its Aftermath: From Henry VIII to Elizabeth I
6. The Elizabethan Era
- Queen Elizabeth’s Reign: political, economic, and cultural achievements
- The rise of England as a Sea Power
7. The Stuarts and the English Civil War
- Politico-religious conflict between the King and Parliament
- Puritanism - Cromwell
- The Restoration and the Glorious Revolution
8. The Birth of Great Britain
- Settlement Act – Union Act
- Mercantilism
- The birth of political parties
- The rising power of the prime minister
- The rise of Great Britain as an imperial power
 Semester two
American Civilization: The Historical Shaping of Modern America

Objectives of the Course:

1. An Introduction to American Geography

- Geographic regions
- Climatic regions
- Important towns and rivers
- Megalopolis
2. An Introduction to the American People
- Immigration and the Notion of Melting Pot
- Individualism
- Mobility
3. Pre-Columbian America: Native Americans
- Origins
- Different tribes
- Life, social organizations
4. Discoveries & Explorations
- Discoveries (Spanish, Portuguese, French, …)
- Explorations and early settlements
5. Colonial Period 1
- First settlements: Virginia Bay Colony – Massachusetts Bay Colony
6. Colonial Period 2
- Thirteen colonies: inception, life, religion, political organizations
7. Colonial Period 3:
- Relationship with the natives
- Slavery during the Colonial Era
- English, French, and Spanish rivalries in North America
8. The American Revolution
- Causes
- Consequences