WORLD KNOWLEDGECURRENT POLITICAL LEADERS OF SOME OF THE WORLD’S NATIONS

USA Barak Obama PresidentChina Xi Jinping PresidentRussia Vladimir Putin PresidentIndia Narendra Modi Prime MinisterFrance François Hollande PresidentUnited Kingdom David Cameron Prime MinisterGermany Angela Merkel Chancellor Japan Shinzō Abe Prime Minister

POLITICAL SYSTEMS

DemocracyDemocracy is a form of government in which all eligible citizens participate equally either directly or through elected representatives (politicians) in the proposal, development, and creation of laws. All citizens once they are adults (in this country it is at the age of 18 years old) to vote in each election for the person/political party they would like to represent them and run the country. Examples of democracies are United Kingdom, America and India.

CommunismCommunism is a radical revolutionary socialist movement which aims to create a classless social order as well as a social, political and economic ideology that aims to establish absolute equality for all. Examples of communist states are China, North Korea and Cuba.

FascismFascism is a form of radical authoritarian nationalism that came to prominence in early 20th-century Europe.

Fascists sought to unify their nation through a totalitarian state. Hostile to democracy, socialism and communism, fascist movements shared certain common features including a devotion to a strong leader. Fascism views political violence and war as a means to achieve a stronger nation and asserts that stronger nations have the right to take over weaker nations. Examples of Fascist countries were Germany during Hitler’s rule and Italy under Benito Mussolini. Some countries today have elements of Fascist rule, such as Syria.

DictatorshipA dictatorship is defined as a form of government in which a country is ruled by one person (a Dictator), or a small group of people. In this form of government the power rests entirely on the person or group of people, and can be obtained by force. Dictator(s) are not voted for by their people and many countries run by dictators take away much of its peoples' freedom. Exampled of countries with dictators are Iran, Zimbabwe and Saudi Arabia.

WORLD KNOWLEDGE

RELIGIONS

JudaismThe people who follow Judaism are called Jews and their god is eternal and invisible and trusting in God’s will is fundamental to Jewish beliefs. Jewish law as revealed by God is contained in the Torah. The Wailing Wall in Jerusalem (once part of Solomon’s Temple) is a sacred site.

HinduismAbout 5000 years old and followed primarily in India. One of its beliefs is that a person’s actions lead to the reward or punishment of being reincarnated in a higher or lower form of life. The three principal gods are Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva but Krishna (an incarnation of Vishnu) is also widely worshipped. The main scriptures are the Vedas. The River Ganges is seen as a goddess of purity and followers of the religion come to bathe in the river. The cow is a sacred symbol to Hindu’s.

ChristianityReligion that grew out of Judaism 2000 years ago and is based on the belief that Jesus Christ is the son of God. The holy book is the Bible. Many years ago, the Church divided into Eastern (orthodox) and Western (Roman Catholic) branches. The Catholic Church still recognises the Pope as leader and Rome as a holy city but a major rift beginning in the sixteenth century let to the emergence of the Protestants and many subsequent divisions including the Church of England.

IslamFounded in the seventh century by the one prophet Muhammad, whose god is called Allah. The holy book – the Koran or Qur’an contains the revelations that Allah made to Muhammad. The holy cities are Mecca, birthplace of Muhammad and Medina, where he is buried. All able bodied Muslims who can afford it are expected to make a pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in their lives. The Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem is the oldest intact Muslim temple in the world and is built over the point from which Muhammad traditionally ascended to heaven.

BuddhismFounded in the sixth century by Gautama Siddhartha, known as Buddha. There are no Gods in Buddhism but a belief that life is characterized by suffering, that suffering is caused by desire, that to end desire is therefore to end suffering and lead to the ideal state of Nirvana.

INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATIONS

The United NationsThe United Nations (UN) is an organisation established on 24 October 1945 to promote international cooperation after World War II. There are 193 member countries of the United Nations. Its objectives include maintaining international peace and security, promoting human rights, fostering social and economic development, protecting the environment, and providing humanitarian aid in cases of famine, natural disaster, and armed conflict.

The Red CrossThe Red Cross is one of the oldest and most widely recognized organizations in the world, having won three Nobel Peace Prizes in 1917, 1944, and 1963.

The Red Cross is a humanitarian institution based in Geneva, Switzerland. The International Red Cross protects victims of international and internal armed conflicts. Such victims include war wounded, prisoners, refugees and civilians.

NATOThe North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is an inter-governmental military alliance based on the North Atlantic Treaty which was signed on 4 April 1949. The organization constitutes a system of collective defence whereby its member states agree to mutual defense in response to an attack by any external party.

NATO's headquarters are in Brussels, Belgium. NATO has 28 member states (countries) across North America and Europe including such countries as Germany, America, UK, France, Canada and many more.

The Scout AssociationThe Scouts, founded by Lord Baden-Powell in 1907 with one camp in England, now has more than 40 million members worldwide composed of Scout associations in 216 countries and territories. The scouts is a movement that aims to support young people in their physical, mental and spiritual development, that they may play constructive roles in society, with a strong focus on the outdoors and survival skills. There are scout movements across the world who work under the ethos, created by Lord Baden-Powell, of “leaving this world a little better than you found it”

European UnionThe European Union (EU) is an economic and political union of 28 member states (countries) that are located mainly in Europe. The EU has developed a single system of laws that apply in all member states. The UK is a member of the European Union although we have not adopted the currency of the Euro.

WORLD KNOWLEDGE

SOME OF THE MOST ICONIC STRUCTURES IN THE WORLD - In the United Kingdom

WINDSOR CASTLE

Windsor Castle is a royal residence in Windsor in Berkshire. The castle is notable for its long association with the royal family and for its architecture. The original castle was built in the 11th century after the Norman invasion by William the Conqueror. Since the time of Henry I, it has been used by succeeding monarchs and it is the longest-occupied palace in Europe.

More than five hundred people live and work in Windsor Castle.

BUCKINGHAM PALACE

Buckingham Palace is the official London residence and principal workplace of the British monarch.Originally known as Buckingham House, George III bought the property in 1735 when the mansion was little more than a red brick house. Since then, various architects have worked on the building to make it what it is today.

The palace also had to undergo extensive work after being bombed no less than nine times during World War II. However, still very much in operation, it's one of the few working royal palaces remaining in the world today.

BIG BEN

Big Ben is the nickname for the great bell of the clock at the north end of the Palace of Westminster in London and often extended to refer to the clock and the clock tower. The tower is now officially called the Elizabeth Tower, after being renamed in 2012 (from "Clock Tower") to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee of Elizabeth II. The tower holds the largest four-faced chiming clock in the world and is the third-tallest free-standing clock tower.

The tower was completed in 1858. The tower has become one of the most prominent symbols of both London and England and is often in the establishing shot of films set in the city.

HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT

The Palace of Westminster is the meeting place of the House of Commons and the House of Lords, the two houses of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Commonly known as the Houses of Parliament after its tenants, the Palace lies on the bank of the River Thames in central London.

The first royal palace was built on the site in the eleventh century, and Westminster was the primary London residence of the Kings of England until a fire destroyed much of the complex in 1512. After that, it served as the home of Parliament, which had been meeting there since the thirteenth century, and the seat of the Royal Courts of Justice, based in and around Westminster Hall.

In 1834 an even larger fire ravaged the building, much of which subsequently had to be demolished. What remained of the Old Palace was incorporated into its much larger replacement which was completed in 1840.

ST PAUL’S CATHEDRAL

London's most iconic building, St Paul's Cathedral was designed by English architect Sir Christopher Wren. Sitting at the top of Ludgate Hill, the highest point in the City of London, its famous dome is one of the world's largest, measuring nearly 112 metres high.

The original church on the site was founded in the year 604AD. Work on the present English Baroque church began in the 17th Century by Christopher Wren as part of a major rebuilding program after the Great Fire of London.

Wren started working on St Paul's in 1668, his designs for the cathedral taking a decade to complete and the actual construction taking a further 40 years. St Paul's has played an integral part of London life ever since - as a domineering element in the city's skyline and as a centre for tourism and religious worship.

TOWER OF LONDON

Her Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress, more commonly known as the Tower of London, is a historic castle on the bank of the River Thames in central London, England. It was founded towards the end of 1066 as part of the Norman Conquest of England. The White Tower, which gives the entire castle its name, was built by William the Conqueror in 1078, and was a resented symbol of oppression, inflicted upon London by the new ruling elite.

The castle was used as a prison from 1100 until 1952 although that was not its primary purpose. A grand palace early in its history, it served as a royal residence.

The Tower of London has played a prominent role in English history. It was besieged several times and controlling it has been important to controlling the country.

WESTMINSTER ABBEY

Westminster Abbey, formally titled the Collegiate Church of St Peter at Westminster, is a large, mainly Gothic, church in the City of Westminster, London. It is one of the most notable religious buildings in the United Kingdom and is the traditional place of coronation and burial site for English and later British monarchs.

According to a report in about 1080, a church was founded at the site in the 7th century. Construction of the present church was begun in 1245, on the orders of Henry III.Since 1066, when William the Conqueror was crowned, the coronations of English and British monarchs have been held here.

STONEHENGE

Stonehenge is a prehistoric monument in Wiltshire, England. One of the most famous sites in the world, Stonehenge is the remains of a ring of standing stones set within earthworks.

Archaeologists believe it was built anywhere from 3000 BC to 2000 BC. Radiocarbon dating in 2008 suggested that the first stones were raised between 2400 and 2200 BC whilst another theory suggests that bluestones may have been raised at the site as early as 3000 BC.

The surrounding circular earth bank and ditch, which constitute the earliest phase of the monument, have been dated to about 3100 BC. Archaeological evidence indicates that Stonehenge could have been a burial ground from its earliest beginnings. The dating of remains found on the site indicate that deposits contain human bone from as early as 3000 BC, when the ditch and bank were first dug. Such deposits continued at Stonehenge for at least another 500 years.

HADRIAN’S WALL

Hadrian's Wall was a defensive fortification in Roman Britain, begun in AD 122 during the rule of Emperor Hadrian. In addition to its military role, gates through the wall served as customs posts.

When built, the wall was 73 miles long. A significant portion of the wall still exists and can be followed on foot along the Hadrian's Wall Path.

It is the most popular tourist attraction in Northern England and was made a World Heritage Site in 1987.

CLIFTON SUSPENSION BRIDGE

The Clifton Suspension Bridge spans the Avon Gorge in Somerset. Designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel, it was eventually completed in 1864, five years after his death.

The bridge is 412 metres in length and is 75 metres above high water level.

ANGEL OF THE NORTH

The Angel of the North is a contemporary sculpture, designed by Antony Gormley, which is located in Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, England.

It is a steel sculpture of an angel, 20 metres tall, with wings measuring 54 metres across and is Britain’s largest sculpture.

THE BLARNEY STONE

The Blarney Stone is a block of bluestone built into the battlements of Blarney Castle, Blarney, about 8 kilometres from Cork, Ireland. According to legend, kissing the stone endows the kisser with the gift of the gab. (great eloquence or skill at flattery). The stone was set into a tower of the castle in 1446.

The word blarney has come to mean "clever, flattering, or coaxing talk. 'Blarney is something more than mere flattery. It is flattery sweetened by humour and flavoured by wit.

The Stone itself is still set in the wall below the battlements. To kiss it, one has to lean backwards (holding on to an iron railing) from the parapet walk.

WORLD KNOWLEDGE

SOME OF THE MOST ICONIC STRUCTURES IN THE WORLD - Beyond the UK

STATUE OF LIBERTY, NEW YORK

The Statue of Liberty is a colossal neoclassical sculpture on Liberty Island in the middle of New York Harbour, in Manhattan, New York City. The Statue of Liberty Enlightening the World was a gift of friendship from the people of France to the United States and is a universal symbol of freedom and democracy. The Statue of Liberty was dedicated on 28 October 1886 and is 93 metres high.

EIFFEL TOWER, PARIS

The Eiffel Tower is an iron lattice tower located in Paris. It was named after the engineer Gustave Eiffel, whose company designed and built the tower. Erected in 1889 it has become both a global cultural icon of France and one of the most recognizable structures in the world. The tower is 324 metres tall which is about the same height as an 81-storey building.

LEANING TOWER OF PISA

The Leaning Tower of Pisa is one of the most remarkable architectural structures in Europe. Most famous for its tilt, the tower began to lean during construction after soft ground on one side was unable to properly support the structure's weight.  Building work on the tower began in 1173 and went on for over 300 years.

THE COLOSSEUM, ROME

This elliptical amphitheatre in the centre of Rome is considered to be one of the greatest architectural feats achieved by the Ancient Romans. The stadium was capable of seating 50,000 spectators and used mainly for gladiatorial games.

Built from concrete and stone, construction began on the Colosseum around 72AD and finished in 80AD. The design and shape of the Colosseum has been the inspiration for many modern day stadiums.

THE ACROPOLIS, ATHENS

The Acropolis of Athens is an ancient citadel located on a high rocky outcrop above the city of Athens containing the remains of several ancient buildings, the most famous being the Parthenon.

While there is evidence that the hill was inhabited as far back as the fourth millennium BC, it was Pericles (c. 495 – 429 BC) in the fifth century BC who coordinated the construction of the site's most important buildings including the Parthenon.

The Parthenon and the other buildings were seriously damaged during 1687 when the Parthenon was being used for gunpowder storage and was hit by a cannonball.

TAJ MAHAL, AGRA

Recognised as 'the jewel of Muslim art in India', the Taj Mahal was built by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan. Often mistaken as a palace, this famous landmark was actually built as a tomb for the Emperor's wife after she died giving birth to their 14th child. 

The Taj Mahal is a mix of Persian, Turkish and Indian styles. Construction on the mausoleum began in 1632 and was completed in 1648. The surrounding buildings and gardens took a further five years to finish. 

THE SPHINX, GIZA

The Great Sphinx of Giza (The Terrifying One; literally: Father of dread), commonly referred to as the Sphinx, is a limestone statue of a reclining sphinx (a mythical creature with a lion's body and a human head that stands on the Giza Plateau on the west bank of the Nile in Giza, Egypt. The face of the Sphinx is generally believed to represent the face of the Pharaoh Khafra.

It is the largest monolith statue in the world, standing 73.5 metres long, 19.3 metres wide and 20.22 metres high.

It is the oldest known monumental sculpture, and is commonly believed to have been built by ancient Egyptians of the Old Kingdom during the reign of the Pharaoh Khafra in around 2558–2532 BC (before Christ).

SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE, SYDNEY

Sydney Opera House is widely regarded as one of the greatest architectural works of the 20th century. The beautiful building comprises three groups of interlocking shells, which roof two main performance halls and a restaurant.

A masterpiece of modern architecture, the opera house has become an iconic symbol of both Sydney and the Australian nation. 

THE WHITE HOUSE, WASHINGTON

Irish architect James Hoban was the man behind the design of the White House. Constructed began in 1793 through to completion in 1801.

The mansion has been home to every American leader since the country's second president John Adams.

PETRONAS TOWERS, KUALA LUMPUR

Standing at 170 metres above ground, the Petronas Towers are twin skyscrapers in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

The buildings, which held the titled of tallest in the world between 1998-2004, are an iconic landmark of the capital city.

BURJ KHALIFA, DUBAI

The world's tallest building Burj Khalifa is a mammoth skyscraper and magnificent centerpiece of Dubai standing at 828.9 metres high. Construction began on the 160-floor building in 2004 with its doors opening six years later in 2010.

ST BASIL’S CATHEDRAL, MOSCOW

This candy coloured cathedral is Moscow's most visited tourist attraction. The famous landmark, shaped to resemble the flame of a bonfire rising into the sky, is located just outside the Kremlin gates and marks the geometric centre of the city. 

Built between 1554 and 1560, the cathedral was erected during the reign of Ivan IV (Ivan the Terrible).

HAGIA SOPHIA, ISTANBUL

Sophia is a architectural masterpiece. A perfect example of Byzantine architecture, Hagia Sophia is located in Istanbul, Turkey.

The building was built for the first time by the emperor Constantine the Great (306-337). However, due to many factors, including being burned down in riots and destroyed in earthquakes, the ancient cathedral has been rebuilt many times since. Despite this, Hagia Sophia is widely recognised as one of the great buildings of the world.

The building also features in the opening scenes of the Bond film, Skyfall.