The key answer of exercise 1
The key to exercise solutions in chapter 4 - Culture and competences for the textbook Performer B1, Vol. 2 with authors Marina Spiazzi, Marina Tavella e Margaret Layton from Zanichelli
Question
Discuss. Can you name any famous walls around the world? Do you know their history and their cultural or political meaning?
Answer
Great Wall of China
- History: Built over centuries by various dynasties, primarily the Ming Dynasty, to protect against invasions.
- Cultural Significance: An iconic symbol of China, recognized for its architectural and engineering achievements.
- Political Meaning: Historically served as a military defense, but today it stands as a symbol of China's rich history and cultural heritage.
Berlin Wall
- History: Built by East Germany during the Cold War to prevent East Berliners from fleeing to West Berlin.
- Cultural Significance: Divided families and friends for decades, symbolizing the ideological divide between East and West during the Cold War.
- Political Meaning: The fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 became a powerful symbol of the end of the Cold War and the reunification of East and West Germany.
Western Wall (Wailing Wall)
- History: A remnant of the ancient Temple in Jerusalem, a holy site for Jewish worship.
- Cultural Significance: Considered one of the holiest places in Judaism, a site of prayer and pilgrimage.
- Political Meaning: The Western Wall is located in the contested city of Jerusalem, making it a focal point in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Hadrian's Wall
- History: Built by the Romans in northern England as a defensive fortification.
- Cultural Significance: A UNESCO World Heritage Site, showcasing Roman engineering and marking the northernmost boundary of the Roman Empire.
- Political Meaning: Historically separated Roman Britain from the lands to the north, occupied by various tribes.
DMZ (Korean Demilitarized Zone)
- History: A heavily fortified border between North and South Korea established after the Korean War.
- Cultural Significance: A tense and heavily guarded area, symbolizing the division of the Korean Peninsula.
- Political Meaning: Remains a symbol of the unresolved conflict between North and South Korea.
Israeli West Bank Barrier (Separation Wall)
- History: Built by Israel to separate Israeli and Palestinian territories for security reasons.
- Cultural Significance: Controversial and divisive, impacting the lives of Palestinians and Israelis living in the region.
- Political Meaning: A source of contention in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, with differing perspectives on its necessity and impact.