Теория и практика перевода. Терехова Г.В. - 75 стр.

         The Romans exterminated some Celtic groups but the establishment of the
Pax Romana (Roman peace) had a beneficial effect on the economy. New centres of
trade sprang up alongside the newly constructed roads. Christianity slowly began to
spread through the Low Countries in the 4th century A.D.. One century later the
Franks conquered Belgium and swept away the Roman civilisation together with the
first footholds of Christianity.
         Middle ages (400 - 1482)
         In the fifth century Belgium was conquered by the Franks. Before King
Clovis moved to Paris, Tournai was their capital. Celtic monks, with the support of
the royal house of the Merovingians, initiated the conversion to Christianity in the
early seventh century. They built churches and abbeys on land belonging to nobles,
with the consent of the landlords. When the Carolingian dynasty, whose most notable
leader was Emperor Charlemagne, came to power (eighth century), the Meuse area
(Liège) formed the backbone of their empire. The invasion of the Normans (ninth
century) caused a weakening of central authority and power fell into the hands of the
local elite.
         From the tenth century onwards, trade routes began developing along rivers.
The trading posts at their junctions slowly grew into towns and cities. When trade
became more organised, markets began to be held on a regular basis and the roads
used to transport goods. A new class of traders and craftsmen emerged in the towns.
They fought for their political autonomy and these cities became independent power
bases.
         The rapid commercial development of the county of Flanders made it one of
the most densely populated and most urbanised areas in Europe. This burgeoning
growth was founded on the exportation of a product of exceptional quality: Flemish
cloth. The Meuse area in Wallonia was also a centre concentrated and rapid urban
growth. It formed the hub of the metallurgic industry, a sector long associated with
the Meuse area. These were the pillars of the Flemish and Walloon economies. The
southern Netherlands were the crossroads of trade in Europe.
         In the thirteenth century transport by land was replaced transport by sea. At
that time the city of Bruges was the leading entrepôt harbour in Northern Europe and
a leading member of The Hanseatic League, an association of Northern European
harbour cities. Bruges remained the leading commercial centre in North-West Europe
until the silting up of the Zwin began to seriously impede access to the harbour in the
second half of the fifteenth century. Antwerp took over Bruges' role as the leading
commercial centre and reinforced his position by making a series of structural
improvements.
         In the fifteenth century the various regions of Belgium were united by the
Dukes of Burgundy, with the exception of the princedom of Liège. They promoted art
and culture and Belgium became a centre for intellectual and artistic activity.
         Modern Times (1482 - 1794)
         Under the reign of Emperor Charles V (1500-1555) Belgium was one of the
most urbanized regions in the world. The port of Antwerp was a leading commercial
centre and also became a financial centre. Art and science flourished along with the
economy and Belgian intellectuals became famous throughout Europe.
                                                                                     75