UNIT 13

INDEX

 

1. - CONTEMPORARY TIMES

 

1.1.    The beginning of Contemporary Times.

1.2.            Great changes of the 19^th century.

1.3.            The 20^th century and the beginning of the 21^st century.

 

1.1.    THE BEGINNING OF CONTEMPORARY TIMES

Contemporary Times began in the late 18^th century, with the beginning of these important events:

 

                  The French Revolution:  It was a rebellion against the absolute monarchy. It began in 1789, when the common people demanded the same rights as the privileged groups. It proclaimed the equality of all citizens.

 

                  The Industrial Revolution: It was a time when lots of important changes happened. It changed agricultural societies into industrial societies. It began in Britain in the 18^th century with the invention of the steam engine and the introduction of the railway.

 

1.2.            GREAT CHANGES OF THE 19^TH CENTURY

 The main changes in this century were:

       Political parliaments arose.  The power of the monarchs was reduced. All the political decisions were made by the elected representatives of the people in parliament. In some countries the monarchies were replaced by republics.
 

 

       The progress of industrialization. Large factories with lots of workers instead of small artisan workshops arose.

       There were changes in the organization of society. There were upper classes and lower classes. The upper classes were made up of factory owners and large                                           landowners. The lower classes were made of farmers and factory workers.

 

1.3.            THE 20^TH CENTURY AND THE BEGINNING OF THE 21^ST CENTURY.

There have been many advances since 1900.

                         Advances in communication and transport: The Internet, the telephone, planes, trains, cars, etc.

The inventions of machines and the use of new energy sources like electricity helped industrial development.

         Today many countries have political democracies. Many States guarantee to meet the basic needs of their people, like education or health, although many people in Asia and Africa die of hunger or do not have access to these basic services.

 

VOCABULARY

THE BEGINNING	EL PRINCIPIO
AGAINST	LEVANTARSE EN CONTRA DE
THE COMMON PEOPLE	EL PUEBLO LLANO
THE PRIVILEGED GROUPS	LOS GRUPOS PRIVILEGIADOS
SAME RIGHTS	MISMOS DERECHOS
CITIZENS	CIUDADANOS
THE STEAM ENGINE	LA MÁQUINA DE VAPOR
AROSE	APARECIERON
TO REPLECE	REEMPLAZAR
FACTORIES	FÁBRICAS
ARTISAN WORKSHOPS	TIENDAS DE ARTESANOS
WORKERS	TRABAJADORES
UPPER CLASSES	CLASE ALTA
LOWER CLASSES	CLASE BAJA
OWNERS	PROPIETARIOS
GUARANTEE	GARANTÍA
HEALTH	SALUD
ALTHOUGH	AUNQUE
HUNGER	HAMBRE
LANDOWNERS	TERRATENIENTES
FARMERS	GRANJEROS/AGRICULTORES
ADVANCES	AVENCES
SOURCES	FUENTES
DEVELOPMENT	DESARROLLO

ACTIVITIES

 

1.     Who began the French Revolution and when did it begin?

 

2.    What did people demand in the French Revolution? What was proclaimed?

  

3.    What was the Industrial Revolution and when did it occur?

 

4.    Give an example of a new invention of this time.

 

5.      What new mean of transport was introduced in the 18^th century?

 

6.    Where did The Industrial Revolution start?

 

7.    Fill in the gaps about the19th century.

 

The ___________ of the monarchs was reduced. All the political decisions were made by the elected representatives of the people in _______________ . In some countries the monarchies were replaced by _________________.

Small artisan workshops were replaced by ____________________.

Two new social classes arose: ____________________ and ____________________.

 

8.    If we talk about factory owners and landowners, we are talking about

_________________________ .

 

9.    If we talk about factory workers and farmers, we are talking about

______________________________ .

 

10. What are the main changes that happened since 1900?

 

11.  Do you think everybody in the world receive the same services like education or health?