英语听力：探索发现 2012-09-02 爱尔兰的故事 Story Of Ireland—22
时间：2014-01-24 06:07:23
搜索关注在线英语听力室公众号：tingroom，领取免费英语资料大礼包。
（单词翻译）
By the 11th century, the Vikings who had settled in Ireland, the Hiberno-Norse, had been here for over a century and a half. They’d intermarried, become Christian1 and formed local alliances. They’d founded thriving port cities like Waterford, Wexford, Cork2 and Limerick.
They became enmeshed in Irish politics. They would learn the lesson of all
conquerors3 here. The longer you stay around, the more likely you are to become
drawn4 into the quarrels of your neighbours.
This was a country where local Gaelic kings were fighting for land and
supremacy5. They did so as power was being centralised across Europe. Small kingdoms were eaten up by the leaders of emerging dynasties. In northern France, Rollo the Viking had founded the Norman Empire. In England, power was
consolidating6 around the house of Wessex.
Such change could hardly have escaped the attention of an ambitious Irish king. This new leader was a man with the ruthlessness and energy to
humble7 kingdoms. He stormed the strongholds of his enemies, and in 4 years, was able to come here to the Rock of Cashel and proclaim himself king of all Munster. He demanded tributes from the defeated of wine and gold and the most precious commodity of the age, cattle. They called him Brian of the Cattle Tributes. In the Irish, Brian Boru.
分享到：
收听单词发音 
