Artifact-Westminster Abbey

Westminster Abbey is an English church located near the River Thames that has been the coronation grounds for English monarchs since 1066. Benedictine monks founded the Abbey some years before the coronations began, but these monks established the lasting tradition of daily worship that continues to this day. For further information on Westminster Abbey, a good source is:
http://www.westminster-abbey.org/our-history

Pre-Trip:
What amazes me most about Westminster Abbey is not the incredible age, or the iconic architecture, but that Westminster Abbey is still in operation as a functioning church. Some would find it controversial that such a notable icon of Great Britain is a church, but for hundreds of years now, religion and Great Britain have had an undeniable connection. During King Henry VIII’s rule, he at one point was serving as the head of the state, and also the head of the new Anglican religion. People, most notably the first American colonists, left Great Britain on the Mayflower because of religious persecution. Being a Christian has definitely had an impact on the way I live my life and how I look at issues, and I am curious to see the extent of the connection between religion and Great Britain. There are definitely some similarities between Anglicism in Great Britain and Christianity in the United States, but I am curious to see if Anglicism plays a similar societal role as Christianity does in the United States.

Artifact- Soccer (Football) and the Barclays Premier League

Soccer, or football as it is known in Europe and the United Kingdom, is a sport that has dominated English culture for decades. The sport has particularly strong ties in England, as England was the place where the first organized soccer began in 1863. Currently in England, Barclays Premier League, which is the top football league in England, is widely renowned as one of the best and most competitive football leagues in the entire world. For more information regarding the Barclays Premier League, a good site is:
http://www.premierleague.com/en-gb.html

Pre-Trip:
I am a huge soccer (or football) fan. I first developed my love for the beautiful game during high school when I was on the team that my high school had. Being exposed to soccer in high school created a thirst for it, and I was delighted to discover that the Barclays Premier League quenched that thirst. Coming from the United States where Major League Soccer is just beginning to really take off, I have always looked at the Barclays Premier League as sort of an example that the MLS should strive for. Also looking comparatively at the skill level in both leagues, I have always seen Barclays Premier League as the more competitive and skilled league (however, recent Major League Soccer is starting to look more and more like the Barclays Premier League). I am of the belief that the Barclays Premier League is one of the most competitive leagues in the whole of organized soccer. I am a huge soccer fan, and I have heard that the people of England are also huge soccer fans, so I am interested to see the role that soccer takes on in the daily lives of the English people.

Artifact- The Beatles (and Abbey Road)

The Beatles were a British rock-band popular in the 1960s. Some have labeled them as one of the most influential rock acts of all time. The Beatles experienced especially huge success in American pop culture. While not their best-selling album, Abbey Road, generated arguably the most iconic cover art for a musical album and was still incredibly successful, staying at number one in album charts in the United States and in England for eleven and seventeen weeks respectively. More information about Abbey Road can be found at:
http://www.thebeatles.com/album/abbey-road

Pre-Trip:
Growing up, music has always been a constant in my home. Whether it is hearing someone practice an instrument, or more often than not, hearing and singing to the radio, music has always just been there. My family listens to practically every genre available, and of course, many of the songs that we have listened to have been products of the Beatles. Through my upbringing, I have become acquainted with a number of songs by the Beatles. This has led my to have an understanding of the Beatles in a very large sense, but definitely not an understanding to the same extent as the understanding of the British people. The Beatles were big in the United States, but much bigger in their home country of England. While I have an idea of the impact of the Beatles, at least in the United States, I have no idea to how big they truly were, so it will be interesting to see if the Beatle’s are as popular across the pond as I am imaging.

Artifact- The British Museum

In 1753, the first national public museum opened. This museum was the British Museum. Located in London, this museum opened with its intial collection from a man named Hans Sloane. Founded with the goal of expanding knowledge and providing access to all people, the museum has granted free admission since its opening. Further information about the British Museum can be found on the following site:
http://www.britishmuseum.org/about_us/the_museums_story/general_history.aspx

Pre-Trip:
Being a self-labeled history lover, I see the British Museum as a brilliant institution. The collection that they have is second to none, even if some of the materials do not really belong to the British Museum, and the variety and breadth of knowledge that the British Museum displays is astounding. Also being a conservative spender and a firm believer in the power of education, I see the British Museum as an even more impressive institution. It seems impractical to not charge an admission cost, yet, the British Museum has remained open for over two hundred and fifty years. The free admission helps to increase accessibility to the museum. This is incredibly significant because the free admission allows anyone that wishes to enter and become more knowledgeable about the world around them. This in turn helps to not only create the next generation of history lovers, but also allows anyone that has a desire to learn more the opportunity to do so.

Artifact- The Globe Theatre

The first Globe Theatre was created by William Shakespeare’s acting company around 1600 and constructed on near the River Thames in London. Shakespeare was an English writer who is regarded by many to be the greatest writer ever. The Globe was built as another, larger venue for Shakespeare to perform his works. More information about The Globe Theatre can be found:
http://www.bardweb.net/globe.net

Pre-Trip:
The Globe Theatre is arguably the birthplace of modern theatre. In that building, Shakespeare performed a number of his most famous pieces, and also increased the popularity of theatre itself. It is incredibly difficult to find a play that was performed in a theatre prior to Shakespeare. I think that The Globe itself is a testament to the impact that Shakespeare had, not only on theatre and writing, but also on the country of England and even the world. Society still remembers William Shakespeare and his writings, despite the fact that William Shakespeare lived 400 years ago. To do this day, actors aspire to play parts in Shakespeare pieces and audiences flock to performances of his works. The remembrance of Shakespeare speaks significantly to the cultural and historical impact that William Shakespeare truly had. As a brother to two sisters who are heavily involved in high school theatre, I am able to see the wide impact that Shakespeare truly had.