The Tower of London and the Moscow Kremlin are the main sights of the country

Municipal budget educational institution

secondary comprehensive school №10

The scientific practical conference ‘Start in Science’

Section ‘Linguistics’

“The Kremlin and the Tower are the main

historical symbols of Russia and the UK”

Made by:

The pupil of the 6th form

Julia Berezhnaya

The scientific coordinator:

The teacher of English language

Sheviakova Marina Gennadievna

Pavlovo, 2013

Contents:

Introduction…………………………………………………………………………...p.3

Chapter I. The London Tower and the Moscow Kremlin.

1.1. The meaning of the words “tower” and “kremlin”………………………………. p.5

1.2. The foundation of the Tower and the Moscow Kremlin………………………… p.5

1.3. The role in different periods in history…………………………………………... p.6

1.4 The symbols of the Tower and the Moscow Kremlin……………………………. p.6

Chapter II. The similar features and the differences of the Tower and the Moscow Kremlin

2.1. The comparative characteristic of the Kremlin and the Tower of London……… p.7

2.2. The London Tower and the Moscow Kremlin today……………………………. p.8

Chapter III. Sociological survey……………………………………………………… p.9

4. Conclusion…………………………………………………………………………... p.10

5. The list of the bibliographic sources................... …………………………………… p.11

Introduction:

“The immortal Majesty of Kremlin Бессмертное величие Кремля

is impossible to be said in words” Невыразимо смертными словами!

Nikolai Rubtsov Николай Рубцов

I like travelling and travel every year with my mother. We usually go abroad to learn English and culture of different countries. 2 years ago we went to London. We walked a lot, visited museums and galleries. On the first day we visited the Tower. I was surprised when I saw its towers and learned a lot of interesting facts. I remembered our Russian symbol – the Kremlin and thought that they are similar.

The two famous world places: the Moscow Kremlin, situated in the Russian capital above the Moskva River and called the heart of Moscow, and the London Tower, known as Her Majesty’s Royal Palace and Fortress situated on the bank of the river Thames in the capital of the United Kingdom.They are the greatest architectural complexes in the world, treasure of the nations and works of art.

Hypothesis:

In my research work I suppose that the Kremlin and the Tower reflect the most important historic events of their countries, culture and traditions and have some similar features.

The actuality of the research:

The actuality of my research is that a lot of people visit Moscow and London every year. But sometimes they don’t know anything about history of these places. It’s important to know how the Kremlin and the Tower reflect the events of the history. If we learn the facts about the Kremlin and the Tower we will know our history, culture and traditions better.

The aim of the research:

Analyzing the historical facts about the Kremlin and the Tower, comparing the architectural and cultural changes, showing that these two places have much in common.

The tasks of the research:

• To study the theoretical material on the topic.

• To collect and study English and Russian facts about the two sights.

• To find similar features and differences in the Kremlin and the Tower

- in the history of foundation,

- in the role in different periods of the history,

- in the traditions kept alive in the Kremlin and in the Tower,

- in the current status.

The object of the research:

The Moscow Kremlin and the London Tower.

The methods of the research:

In the process of my research I referred to different linguistic, historical literature, dictionaries, reference books and the Internet.

Carrying out my work I applied the following methods as analyses, comparison, classification.

• analysis of linguistic, historical literature

• working with Internet resources

• comparison

• sociological survey

• synthesis of information

• sociological survey

Chapter I. The London Tower and the Moscow Kremlin. General facts.

1.1 The meaning of the words “tower” and “kremlin”.

In the Old Russian language the word “kremlin” means “a fortress” or “a citadel” - the city, surrounded by fortress walls with battlements and towers.

The tower is a word that in English means “tower”

1.2. The foundation of the Tower and the Moscow Kremlin

First of all the Moscow Kremlin and the Tower are both the places where two great capital cities were born. They were both built to defend the people from enemies.

The Tower was founded at the end of 1066 as a part of the Norman Conquest of England to protect him from angry English people who didn’t like being conquered.

The Tower of London was first built as a fortress; the first of its towers was called the «White Tower».

The White Tower, which gives the entire castle its name, was built by William the Conqueror in 1078.

The Tower is a complex of several buildings set within two concentric rings of defensive walls and the moat.

Today there are 22 different towers. The most famous of them are: The White Tower and the Bloody Tower.

The first written record of Moscow dates back to 1147 to the times of Yuri Dolgoruky. That’s when the first wooden Kremlin was built on the bank of the Moskva River. The fist Kremlin was small, only one-twentieth of the territory it occupies now. Under Dmitry Donskoy in 1367-1368, the white-stone walls and towers of the Kremlin were built and Moscow began to be called "white-stone". In the XV (fifteenth) century it was totally rebuilt. Today it contains the architectural monuments of XIV (fourteenth) – XX (twentieth) centuries: 20 towers and 3 cathedrals. The last was built in 1680.

Spasskaya Tower is one of the beautiful and slim Tower of Moscow Kremlin; it is its main gate. It was built by Italian architect Peter Antonio Soljario in 1491.

1.3. The role in different periods in history.

The Tower played a prominent role in the English history. Built by William the Conqueror it has served as a Royal Palace, an armory, treasury and even a royal Zoo (for 300 years). It was also a Royal residence. King Charles II was the last king to stay there. The monarch traditionally spent the night at the Tower prior to his or her coronation ceremony. The castle was used as a prison since 1100.

The Moscow Kremlin has been a centre of Russian statehood, the residence of Russian tsars, and hierarchs of the Russian Orthodox Church. According to the tradition the Russian tsars were coronated in Moscow.

Since 1992 the Kremlin is the residence of the President of the Russian Federation and his Administration. It occupies about 28 hectares (64 acres).

1.4. The symbols of the Tower and the Moscow Kremlin

The massive Tower complex except the White Tower includes: the Queen’s house, Royal Fusiliers Museum, the Chapels of St Peter and St John, Medieval Palace. There are 22 different towers which form a major part of London castle complex.

The Royal treasures are guarded. For the visitors of the Treasury is open. Among the precious stones that adorn the crown we can see powers and scepters which the members of the Royal family still use during the ceremonies.

“If the ravens leave the Tower, the kingdom will fall…” is the old superstition. Today seven ravens are kept at the Tower, and they each have a wing clipped to ensure they can’t fly far.

Talking about the Kremlin’s territory, we can’t pass without admiration by the golden-domed cathedrals, old chambers, and magnificent palaces. The most famous of them are: the Armory Chamber, the Assumption, Archangel and Annunciation Cathedrals. The most famous Spasskaya Tower (was built in 1491) is a clock tower. This tower is a symbol of Moscow like Big Ben is a symbol of London.

The Ivan the Great Bell-Tower complex had been formed for two centuries. Today 24 bells of XVI-XVII centuries are located on the bell-tower.

There is a proverb in Russia: «How heavy you are, the Cap of Monomakh! » - meaning the heavy burden of responsibility.

The Tsar Cannon is a unique item of the Kremlin’s artillery collection. It was created in 1586 and has never shot.

The legend says that the Kingdom and the Tower will fall if the six ravens ever leave the fortress. It was Charles the II, who first insisted that the ravens of the Tower should be protected. There are seven ravens at the Tower today (the required six plus one spare).

Chapter II. The similar features and the differences of the Tower and the Moscow Kremlin

2.1. The comparative characteristic of the Kremlin and the Tower of London

	The Tower of London	The Moscow Kremlin
Similar features:
1.They are both ancient.	It was built in the 11th century.	It was built in the 12th century.
2. They were built to defend the people from enemies.
3. They were built on the bank of the river.	The Thames	The Moskva river
4. All the Towers have names.
5. They were both fortresses, royal residences, armories, treasuries, museums, some towers were used as prisons and became museums.
Different features:
1. Serious changes.	The towers were not seriously rebuilt.	The wall was rebuilt a lot of times. It was wooden, white stone and now it is red brick.
2. Number of towers.	There are 22 towers.	There are 20 towers.
3. Number of circles.	There are 2 circles of walls.	There is one circle of walls.
4. Shape of towers.	It has more circular towers.	It has more square towers (and only 3 circular towers).
5. Form of fortresses.	It has the form of an irregular pentagon.	It has the roughly triangular shape.
6. Fate	It has never been seriously put to the test.	It withstood many enemy attacks.
7. Area	It occupies 7.2 ha	It occupies 28 ha(The Moscow Kremlin is much bigger.)
8. Beauty	The walls are not decorated. There are chapels in the Tower.	The walls are decorated with 1045 merlons. There are ruby stars on 5 towers. There is a chiming clock.

2.2. The London Tower and the Moscow Kremlin today.

Today the Tower and the Kremlin are the most popular tourist attractions. Queen’s Guard at the Tower mounts a guard at the tower. Queen’s Guard with the Yeomen Warders take part in the Ceremony of the keys every day.The magnificent Tower of London is now a museum and home to the Crown Jewels protected by the famous Beefeaters. The Beefeaters run regular tours. They will show you to Traitors Gate where prisoners entered the Tower for the last time,

The Scaffold site where the executions took place and the impressive armories where you can see the body amour worn by Henry VIII.

The Kremlin is still home to the ceremonial regimental headquarters.

Chapter III. Sociological survey.

I interviewed the students of my form asking them about the Tower and the Kremlin. My questions were the following:

1. What is older, the Moscow Kremlin or the Tower?

2. Where is the number of towers bigger?

3. Which complex of buildings was safer in the World War II?

4. Which complex attracts more tourists?

5. Would you like to visit them?

I have the following results.

82% of pupils answered that the Tower is older

18% said that the Kremlin is older

On the second question 59% of pupils answered that in the Kremlin the number of towers is bigger.

50% of pupils decided that both the Tower and the Kremlin were safe in the World War II.

68% of pupils said that the Tower attracts more tourists.

86% of pupils said that they would like to visit the Tower.

To the questions “Have you visited them?” and “Would you like to visit them?”

70% of pupils said that they would like to visit and 30% of them answered”no”.

This survey shows that a lot of pupils know what these places are but they don’t know their history. Most of the pupils would like to go to Moscow and London and see the Tower and the Kremlin.

Conclusion:

In my research work I proved my hypothesis that the symbols of Great Britain and Russia reflect the history of the countries, have much in common and are the hearts of the capitals. I have compared the Kremlin and the Tower, following the steps of the history of the two countries and showed how important to know the history and keep up national traditions and culture.

I think that everybody in the country should know and respect his traditions, the history of his nation and save the symbols and the sights of the country.

I fully agree with Marshal Josef Pilsudski, a Polish politician, who said:

«A nation that does not respect its past, does not deserve respect from present, and has no right to the future»

The list of the bibliographic sources:

1. Вакс Э.П. Дух России. – Санкт-Петербург: Детство-пресс, 1998.

2. Перешивалова И.В. Экскурсии по Москве на английском языке. – М.: Чистые пруды, 2007.

3. Рожкова Ф.В., Русанова С.В. Экскурсия по Москве. Пособие по английскому языку для неязыковых вузов: Учебное пособие. – М.: Высшая школа, 1980.

4. Брюсова Н.Г. Москва. – М.: Дрофа; Русский язык, 1997.

The list of the Internet sources:

1. http://ru.wikipedia.org/

2. englishinfo.ru

3. lifeglobe.net

4. http://www.liveinternet.ru

5. zanimatika.narod.ru

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