british civilization essay

9th Edition

British Civilization An Introduction

Taylor & Francis eBooks (Institutional Purchase) Opens in new tab or window

Description

Thoroughly updated and revised, the ninth edition of the highly regarded British Civilization: An Introduction continues to be the ideal textbook on Britain, its country and people, religion, politics and government, international relations, legal system, economy, education, media and culture for students of British studies. Examining central structural features of British society, the book provides an introduction to British civilization that highlights its history of cultural, geographical and human diversity. The book includes: Expanded discussion of Britain’s current political climate and international relations through an examination of the 2016 Brexit referendum, the subsequent general election and Brexit negotiations up to April 2019 Discussion of the ever-shifting economy from a global perspective Opinion polls and surveys that provide an insight into the attitudes of British people to the conditions in which they live and operate today Exercises, questions, and suggestions for further reading and useful websites that stimulate class discussion and provide a springboard upon which students can develop their own independent study. Supported by a companion website (www.routledge.com/cw/oakland), a long-ranging chronology, full-colour illustrations, useful figures, exercises and discussion questions, and suggestions for further reading, it is the perfect introduction to the crucial and complex nature of British civilization, culture and society, past and present.

John Oakland is former Senior Lecturer in English at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology and the author (with David Mauk) of American Civilization (2017, now in its seventh edition), Irish Civilization (2012, with Arthur Aughey), British Civilization: A Student’s Dictionary (2003, in its second edition) and Contemporary Britain (2001).

Critics' Reviews

" British Civilization provides the most profound introduction to contemporary Britain … Oakland presents the most recent information in a very concise and easily accessible writing style. Due to the additional resources, exercises and essay questions the book is perfect for teaching and learning." Isabell Große, Leipzig University, Germany " British Civilization: An Introduction is an excellent overview of a number of elements which students will need to know in order to understand British society. It is well-written, concise, and has attractive full-colour pictures and illustrations. It is especially strong on recent developments in British culture." Mark Marston Norris, Grace College, USA

About VitalSource eBooks

VitalSource is a leading provider of eBooks.

Access your materials anywhere, at anytime.
Customer preferences like text size, font type, page color and more.
Take annotations in line as you read.

Multiple eBook Copies

This eBook is already in your shopping cart. If you would like to replace it with a different purchasing option please remove the current eBook option from your cart.

Book Preview

The country you have selected will result in the following:

Product pricing will be adjusted to match the corresponding currency.
The title Perception will be removed from your cart because it is not available in this region.

Your browser does not support HTML5 or CSS3

To best view this site, you need to update your browser to the latest version, or download a HTML5 friendly browser. Download: Firefox // Download: Chrome

Pages may display incorrectly.

Taylor and Francis Group is part of the Academic Publishing Division of Informa PLC

Informa PLC
Investor relations

This site is operated by a business or businesses owned by Informa PLC and all copyright resides with them. Informa PLC's registered office is 5 Howick Place, London SW1P 1WG. Registered in England and Wales. Number 3099067.

Welcome to the website for the ninth edition of the highly regarded British Civilization: An Introduction by John Oakland. Thoroughly updated and revised, this book continues to be the ideal textbook on Britain, its country and people, religion, politics and government, international relations, legal system, economy, education, media, and culture for students of British studies.

On this website you will find:

a comprehensive and interactive timeline of British history with links to further information
chapter-by-chapter resources for students, including flashcards to aid with learning key terms and their definitions, discussion questions, links to relevant web material, and suggestions for further reading
a password-protected instructor resources area featuring further essay questions and resources on testing and evaluation.

" British Civilization provides the most profound introduction to contemporary Britain … Oakland presents the most recent information in a very concise and easily accessible writing style. Due to the additional resources, exercises and essay questions the book is perfect for teaching and learning." Isabell Große, Leipzig University, Germany

" British Civilization: An Introduction is an excellent overview of a number of elements which students will need to know in order to understand British society. It is well-written, concise, and has attractive full-colour pictures and illustrations. It is especially strong on recent developments in British culture." Mark Marston Norris, Grace College, USA

Privacy Policy
Cookie Policy
Terms & Conditions

By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Cookies Policy .

DOI: 10.1080/10848770.2013.791436
Corpus ID: 144883897

British Civilization: An Introduction

Mihaela Culea
Published 1 July 2013
The European Legacy

10 Citations

European journal of literary studies-issn 2601-971x, revisiting british royalty myths in alan bennett’s the uncommon reader, selected aspects of british society in the harry potter novels, representation of englishness in the narrative structure of k. ishiguro’s the remains of the day, romanian travellers to england in the nineteenth century. national specificity in ion codru- drăgușanu’s travel accounts, political communication in the age of dissemination: media constructions of hezbollah.

Highly Influenced

A Cross-Cultural Analysis of Business and Social Etiquette in the United Kingdom and the Czech Republic

The english landscapes in the seventeenth century, foreign and bilingual language education in the uk and spain: a study of similarities and differences, trabajo fin de grado grado en estudios ingleses: lengua, literatura y cultura diachronic translation of poems of devotion: the exodus, related papers.

Showing 1 through 3 of 0 Related Papers

Online ordering is currently unavailable due to technical issues. We apologise for any delays responding to customers while we resolve this. For further updates please visit our website: https://www.cambridge.org/news-and-insights/technical-incident

We use cookies to distinguish you from other users and to provide you with a better experience on our websites. Close this message to accept cookies or find out how to manage your cookie settings .

Login Alert

> The Cambridge Companion to Modern British Culture
> Introduction: modern British culture

Book contents

Frontmatter
Introduction: modern British culture
1 Becoming British
2 Language developments in British English
3 Schooling and culture
4 The changing character of political communications
5 Contemporary Britain and its regions
6 Contemporary British cinema
7 Contemporary British fiction
8 Contemporary British poetry
9 Theatre in modern British culture
10 Contemporary British television
11 British art in the twenty-first century
12 British fashion
13 Sport in contemporary Britain
14 British sexual cultures
15 British popular music, popular culture and exclusivity
16 British newspapers today
17 The struggle for ethno-religious equality in Britain: the place of the Muslim community
Guide to further reading

Published online by Cambridge University Press: 28 September 2010

What does it mean for us to study a national culture? As we will see in the pages to come, it means looking across and reflecting upon a range of the practices and activities that contribute towards the shared experience of community and 'nation'. In part our endeavour calls upon an understanding of the various cultural and political institutions within which culture is organised and regulated, but, perhaps even more, it demands we comprehend something of the transience and excitement of everyday experience. In Britain, cultural activities are shaped by their histories and their traditions, but they also have a dynamic relationship with the present. A comprehensive account of British culture should therefore be alert to the forces that give living, thinking and playing in Britain form and character, while presenting an enthusiastic account of how this national culture changes along with the population and the world at large.

The Cambridge Companion to Modern British Culture offers just such an introduction to culture in twenty-first-century Britain. It brings together seventeen critical and insightful essays by some of the leading academics in British intellectual life. The subjects and issues the chapters cover are purposively varied, reflecting the diversity and debates that circulate in discussions of modern British culture. What emerges is a dynamic collection that brings together a number of aspects of living in and thinking about British culture. This is, therefore, a Companion designed to provide a fascinating and informative overview of modern British culture. However, the reader will also learn that British culture is not singular. Like most modern national cultures it is characterised by diversity and difference.

Access options

Save book to kindle.

To save this book to your Kindle, first ensure [email protected] is added to your Approved Personal Document E-mail List under your Personal Document Settings on the Manage Your Content and Devices page of your Amazon account. Then enter the ‘name’ part of your Kindle email address below. Find out more about saving to your Kindle .

Note you can select to save to either the @free.kindle.com or @kindle.com variations. ‘@free.kindle.com’ emails are free but can only be saved to your device when it is connected to wi-fi. ‘@kindle.com’ emails can be delivered even when you are not connected to wi-fi, but note that service fees apply.

Find out more about the Kindle Personal Document Service .

By Michael Higgins , Clarissa Smith , John Storey
Edited by Michael Higgins , University of Strathclyde , Clarissa Smith , University of Sunderland , John Storey , University of Sunderland
Book: The Cambridge Companion to Modern British Culture
Online publication: 28 September 2010
Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CCOL9780521864978.001

Save book to Dropbox

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Dropbox .

Get Citation

Reviews of the previous editions:

‘John Oakland is the doyen of civilization studies.’

British Studies Now

‘This is a first rate, lucidly written text.’

G.E.C. Paton, Aston University

‘Suitable above all because it covers so many areas of contemporary institutions ... a useful reference work.’

Patrick Leech, University of Bologna

‘Strikes a balance between providing up-to-date information and being a source of general reference.’

Anne K. Bjørge, Norwegian School of Economics and Business Administration

‘An excellent presentation of the British economic and political/institutional system.’

J. Condriou, Université de Provence

‘A perfect tool and source for class activities.’

Borek Sousedik, Tobos ELTR, Czech Republic

The seventh edition of this highly-praised textbook has been substantially updated and revised to provide students of British studies with the perfect introduction to Britain, its country and people, politics and government, education, economy, media, arts and religion. It includes:

discussion of recent developments and areas of topical interest in British society such as immigration, the recession, devolution and Britain’s relationships with the US and the EU, and coverage of the 2010 election
new full colour illustrations
exercises and questions to stimulate class discussion
insights into the attitudes of British people today towards important issues
updated suggestions for further reading and useful websites
a fully updated companion website featuring further exercises, links to relevant articles and videos online, and quiz questions.

British Civilization is a vital introduction to the crucial and complex identities of Britain.

For supplementary exercises, questions and tutor guidance, go to

www.routledge.com/textbooks/oakland

Privacy Policy
Terms & Conditions
Cookie Policy
Taylor & Francis Online
Taylor & Francis Group
Students/Researchers
Librarians/Institutions

Connect with us

We will keep fighting for all libraries - stand with us!

Internet Archive Audio

This Just In
Grateful Dead
Old Time Radio
78 RPMs and Cylinder Recordings
Audio Books & Poetry
Computers, Technology and Science
Music, Arts & Culture
News & Public Affairs
Spirituality & Religion
Radio News Archive

Flickr Commons
Occupy Wall Street Flickr
NASA Images
Solar System Collection
Ames Research Center

All Software
Old School Emulation
MS-DOS Games
Historical Software
Classic PC Games
Software Library
Kodi Archive and Support File
Vintage Software
CD-ROM Software
CD-ROM Software Library
Software Sites
Tucows Software Library
Shareware CD-ROMs
Software Capsules Compilation
CD-ROM Images
ZX Spectrum
DOOM Level CD

Smithsonian Libraries
FEDLINK (US)
Lincoln Collection
American Libraries
Canadian Libraries
Universal Library
Project Gutenberg
Children's Library
Biodiversity Heritage Library
Books by Language
Additional Collections

Prelinger Archives
Democracy Now!
Occupy Wall Street
TV NSA Clip Library
Animation & Cartoons
Arts & Music
Computers & Technology
Cultural & Academic Films
Ephemeral Films
Sports Videos
Videogame Videos
Youth Media

Search the history of over 866 billion web pages on the Internet.

Mobile Apps

Wayback Machine (iOS)
Wayback Machine (Android)

Browser Extensions

Archive-it subscription.

Explore the Collections
Build Collections

Save Page Now

Capture a web page as it appears now for use as a trusted citation in the future.

Please enter a valid web address

Donate Donate icon An illustration of a heart shape

British civilization : an introduction

Bookreader item preview, share or embed this item, flag this item for.

Graphic Violence
Explicit Sexual Content
Hate Speech
Misinformation/Disinformation
Marketing/Phishing/Advertising
Misleading/Inaccurate/Missing Metadata

plus-circle Add Review comment Reviews

2 Favorites

DOWNLOAD OPTIONS

No suitable files to display here.

IN COLLECTIONS

Uploaded by station12.cebu on November 27, 2021

79 British Empire Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

🏆 best british empire topic ideas & essay examples, 📌 simple & easy british empire essay titles, 👍 good essay topics on british empire, ❓ british empire essay questions.

History of British Empire Well, as exposited in this paper, the Second World War, anti-colonial movements, the United States, the United Nations declaration, the Cold War and the USSR were the main forces behind the decolonization while the end […]
British Empire and Imperial Culture The British Empire was the largest in the entire world and its power and influence were universally felt. The desire to gain more power and become the most powerful nation in the world led to […]
Internal Colonization and Slavery in British Empire The act of alienating Ireland in the development process brought the distinction in the collaboration. Slave trade contributed to the growth of the economy of the British Empire via the production of the raw materials […]
Rising to Prominence: The History of the British Empire The British Empire was the strongest empire between the 16th and the 20th centuries. The British Empire was the biggest empire at its peak, between the end of the 16th century and the 18th century.
British Empire in India and the Far East Cody traces the emergence of British imperialism to the East to its mercantile trade decline in the late 19th century when the abolition of slavery and the labialisation of trade that greatly diminished its wealth.
The British Empire and International Affairs Even though, Britain lost most of its colonies during the American Revolution and the Napoleonic wars, its economic policies rose above the United States as well as other European powers in the international affairs. This […]
British Empire Adventure Fiction – Cosmopolitanism/Citizenship The Boys’ Literature and the Idea of Empire, 1870- 1914, one of the adventures literatures tried to argue that; boys as the role model of Britons “are you proud to be a Briton?”. Overtime, the […]
“Slavery and the British Empire: From Africa to America” by Morgan Kenneth Slavery has for a very long time attracted the attention of many history scholars.”Morgan Kenneth, in his book Slavery and the British Empire gives a deep in site of how the British came to embrace […]
Trade and Commerce in the Development of the British Empire
Colonial Revenue Extraction and Modern Day Government Quality in the British Empire
British Empire Industrial Revolution
Prime Minister Robert Borden and Canada’s Role in the British Empire
Symbiosis: Trade and the British Empire
Historical Development of Education in the British Empire
Financial System of the British Empire Fail in the Face of Adversity
The Idea Behind the ‘Taxation Without Representation’ in the British Empire
The Most Important Factors in the Growth of the British Empire
Imperialism: British Empire and Imperialist Powers Spheres
The Rise and Fall of the British Empire
British Empire and the Union of South Africa
British Empire’s Influences and Actions in Africa – Good or Bad?
The British Empire and the British Industrial Revolution
Patriotic Trade, Ethnicity, and Market in the 1930s British Empire
The British Empire and the War for North America
The British Empire Against the Emperor of Ethiopia
British Empire and East India Company
Technological Advancements During the 18th Century of the British Empire
Significance of Slave Trade In the Growth of the British Empire
Conflict Between the Colonies and British Empire
British Empire and Winston Churchill
The Anglo Cluster: Legacy of the British Empire
Large Scale Institutional Changes: Land Demarcation Within the British Empire
The Second World War as a Catalyst for the Loss of Colonial Power in the British Empire
The British Empire and the Colonial Crisis
The Sun Never Sets on the British Empire – A World Map in the 19th and Early 20th Centuries
Queen Victoria’s Influential Reign Over the British Empire
The Reason the British Empire Gave up Imperial Control
British Empire and American Revolution
Preparation, Assimilation, Force: Education in the British Empire
British Empire and Central American Slave
The Benefits and Harms Caused by the British Empire
American Colonists and the British Empire
Taxation, Authority, and Social Conditions in the British Empire
British Empire’s Origins and Demise
The Ancient Roman Empire and the British Empire: Diffusion of Roman and English Law Throughout the World
Imperialism: British Empire and Small Islands
The British Empire in 1870-1914: A Waste of Money
Comparison Between the British Empire and the Roman Empire
Why Did the British Empire Fall?
How Did the British Empire Impact the World?
Do You Agree That Britain’s Imperial Defence Strategies Provided Only ‘The Illusion of Security’ for Her Eastern Empire in the Two Decades After 1921?
What Was the Most Important Factor in the Growth of the British Empire?
How Did America Win Her Independence From the British Empire?
Did the British Empire Improve Lives in Africa?
Why Was the British Empire So Successful?
How Did the British Empire Consolidation and Its Consequences up to 1774 Affect the American Colonist’s Way of Life?
Was Losing the American Colonies a Failure of the British Empire?
How Did Trade and Commerce Contribute to the Development of the British Empire in 1680?
Was the British Empire a Force for Good or for Evil?
How Was Significant Slave Trade in the Growth of the British Empire?
Was Trade the Most Important Factor of the British Empire?
How Did the British Empire Try to Enforce Obedience Through Taxation?
Were the British Empire’s Influences and Actions in Africa Good or Bad?
What Was Rudyard Kipling’s Attitude Towards the British Empire?
Why Was the British Empire Unique History?
Was the ‘New Imperialism’ of the Late Nineteenth Century a Symptom of British Strength or British Weakness?
Were Britain’s Relations With Her Colonies and Dominions Fundamentally Transformed in the Inter-War Period?
To What Extent Did Domestic Considerations Affect British Policy Towards Empire and Commonwealth Lands?
What Effect Did the Empire Have On British Policy in the Two World Wars?
Was the British Empire Lost on the Playing Fields of Haileybury?
In What Ways and to What Extent Did Changes in the Domestic Political Arena Affect the Process of British Decolonisation?
Why Did Most British Colonies Not Follow India Into Independence Until the 1960s?
How Was the British Empire Controlled?
Has There Been Any Significant Difference Between the Attitudes of Labour and Conservative Governments to the British Empire and Commonwealth?
Was the Falklands Conflict of 1982 an Imperial War?
What Significance Does the Commonwealth Possess?
Has the End of the British Empire Provided for the End of Great Britain?
What Countries Were in the British Empire?
International Politics Questions
Genocide Essay Titles
Orientalism Titles
Brexit Questions
Fascism Questions
Growth Strategy Titles
Colonialism Essay Ideas
Slavery Ideas
Chicago (A-D)
Chicago (N-B)

IvyPanda. (2023, January 20). 79 British Empire Essay Topic Ideas & Examples. https://ivypanda.com/essays/topic/british-empire-essay-topics/

"79 British Empire Essay Topic Ideas & Examples." IvyPanda , 20 Jan. 2023, ivypanda.com/essays/topic/british-empire-essay-topics/.

IvyPanda . (2023) '79 British Empire Essay Topic Ideas & Examples'. 20 January.

IvyPanda . 2023. "79 British Empire Essay Topic Ideas & Examples." January 20, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/topic/british-empire-essay-topics/.

1. IvyPanda . "79 British Empire Essay Topic Ideas & Examples." January 20, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/topic/british-empire-essay-topics/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "79 British Empire Essay Topic Ideas & Examples." January 20, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/topic/british-empire-essay-topics/.

Games & Quizzes
History & Society
Science & Tech
Biographies
Animals & Nature
Geography & Travel
Arts & Culture
On This Day
One Good Fact
New Articles
Lifestyles & Social Issues
Philosophy & Religion
Politics, Law & Government
World History
Health & Medicine
Browse Biographies
Birds, Reptiles & Other Vertebrates
Bugs, Mollusks & Other Invertebrates
Environment
Fossils & Geologic Time
Entertainment & Pop Culture
Sports & Recreation
Visual Arts
Demystified
Image Galleries
Infographics
Top Questions
Britannica Kids
Saving Earth
Space Next 50
Student Center
Introduction & Quick Facts
Plant and animal life
Ethnic groups and languages
Settlement patterns
The South West
The South East
The West Midlands
The East Midlands
East Anglia
The North West
The North East
Demographic trends
Major crops
Resources and power
Manufacturing
Transportation
Constitutional framework
Historic counties
Geographic counties
Administrative counties and districts
Unitary authorities
Metropolitan counties and districts
Greater London
Parishes and towns
Political process
Health and welfare

Daily life and social customs

Architecture
Cultural institutions
Sports and recreation
Media and publishing

Who were Henry VIII’s children?
How was Henry VIII influential?
Why did Henry VIII kill his wives?
What was Henry VIII’s childhood like?
When did Henry VIII get married?

King Charles III and Queen Camilla (Camilla, Queen Consort) wave from the balcony of Buckingham Palace during the Coronation of King Charles in London, England on May 6, 2023

Cultural life

Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.

English Heritage - Story of England
Ancient Origins - The Kingdom of Wessex and the Birth of England
England - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11)
England - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up)
Table Of Contents

England’s contribution to both British and world culture is too vast for anything but a cursory survey here. Historically, England was a very homogeneous country and developed coherent traditions, but, especially as the British Empire expanded and the country absorbed peoples from throughout the globe, English culture has been accented with diverse contributions from Afro-Caribbeans, Asians, Muslims, and other immigrant groups. Other parts of the United Kingdom have experienced the same social and cultural diversification, with the result that England is not always distinguishable from Wales and Scotland or even Northern Ireland . The former insularity of English life has been replaced by a cosmopolitan familiarity with all things exotic: fish and chips have given way to Indian, Chinese, and Italian cuisine, guitar-based rock blends with South Asian rap and Afro-Caribbean salsa, and the English language itself abounds in neologisms drawn from nearly every one of the world’s tongues.

Even as England has become ever more diverse culturally, it continues to exert a strong cultural influence on the rest of the world. English music, film, and literature enjoy wide audiences overseas, and the English language has gained ever-increasing currency as the preferred international medium of cultural and economic exchange.

Recent News

Historically, English daily life and customs were markedly different in urban and rural areas. Indeed, much of English literature and popular culture has explored the tension between town and country and between farm and factory. Today, even though the English are among the world’s most cosmopolitan and well-traveled people, ties to the rural past remain strong. Urbanites, for example, commonly retire to villages and country cottages, and even the smallest urban dwelling is likely to have a garden.

Another divide, though one that is fast disappearing, is the rigid class system that long made it difficult for nonaristocratic individuals to rise to positions of prominence in commerce, government, and education. Significant changes have accompanied the decline of the class system, which also had reinforced distinctions between town and country and between the less affluent north of England and the country’s wealthy south. For example, whereas in decades past English radio was renowned for its “proper” language, the country’s airwaves now carry accents from every corner of the country and its former empire, and the wealthy are likely to enjoy the same elements of popular culture as the less advantaged.

Many holidays in England, such as Christmas, are celebrated throughout the world, though the traditional English Christmas is less a commercial event than an opportunity for singing and feasting. Remembrance Day (November 11) honours British soldiers who died in World War I . Other remembrances are unique to England and are nearly inexplicable to outsiders. For example, Guy Fawkes Night (November 5) commemorates a Roman Catholic conspiracy to blow up the Houses of Parliament in 1605, and Saint George ’s Day (April 23) honours England’s patron saint—though the holiday is barely celebrated at all in England, in marked contrast to the celebrations in Wales, Scotland, and Ireland for their respective patron saints. Indeed, the lack of official celebration for Saint George contributes to the ambiguity of “Englishness” and whether it can now be distinguished from “Britishness.” The monarch’s official birthday is also observed nationally and commemorated in the summer by a military parade called Trooping the Colour , which has been celebrated since the 18th century.

English cuisine has traditionally been based on beef, lamb, pork, chicken, and fish, all cooked with the minimum of embellishment and generally served with potatoes and one other vegetable—or, in the case of fish (most commonly cod or haddock) deep-fried in batter and served with deep-fried potato slices (chips). Fish and chips , traditionally wrapped in old newspapers to keep warm on the journey home, has long been one of England’s most popular carryout dishes. By convention , at least for middle-income households, the main family meal of the week was the “Sunday joint,” when a substantial piece of beef, lamb, or pork was roasted in the oven during the morning and served around midday. In the 1950s and ’60s, however, these traditions started to change. Immigrants from India and Hong Kong arrived with their own distinctive cuisine, and Indian and Chinese restaurants became a familiar sight in every part of England. By the 1980s, American-style fast-food restaurants dotted the landscape, and the rapid post-World War II growth of holiday travel to Europe , particularly to France, Spain, Greece, and Italy, exposed the English to new foods, flavours, and ingredients, many of which found their way into a new generation of recipe books that filled the shelves of the typical English kitchen.

Other traditional English dishes include scones , kippers , bangers and mash , pie and mash , bubble and squeak , Blood pudding , the Scotch egg , Yorkshire pudding , shepherd’s pie , steak and kidney pie , the Chelsea bun , Welsh rarebit , the ploughman’s lunch , Cornish clotted cream , and sticky toffee pudding . Strawberries and cream and the Pimm’s Cup are the signature dish and drink, respectively, at England’s annual Wimbledon tennis tournament .

Modern History

Colonialism and imperialism: Understanding the British Empire's quest for global dominance

British colonialism and imperialism were some of the most powerful forces in world history.

In this article, we will provide an overview of British colonialism and imperialism, from the early explorations of the 15th century to its height in the 20th century.

We will discuss the motivations behind British colonial expansion, as well as the effects that imperialism had on both colonised and colonising nations.

What is colonisation and imperialism?

Colonisation is the process of taking ownership of someone's land for another country's own use.

Whereas imperialism is the use of political, economic, and military power to extend a nation's authority by establishing control over other territories.

The two concepts are often used interchangeably, but there are some important distinctions.

Colonisation is different to imperialism in that it generally refers to the physical occupation of a territory, whereas imperialism can refer to both occupation and economic domination.

A number of different European nations relied upon imperialism and colonisation to expand their empires in the early modern period.

Such countries included France, Spain, the Netherlands, and Portugal. By the start of the 20th century, most of Africa and Asia was controlled by a small number of European empires.

The British Empire was one of the largest empires in world history. At its peak in the 19th century, it controlled a quarter of the world's population and a third of its land surface.

British colonialism began in the late 15th century with the explorations of John Cabot. However, England did not establish a permanent colony until the early 17th century with the founding of Jamestown in 1607.

These early voyages were primarily motivated by a desire for wealth and prestige. However, as the British Empire expanded, other motivations came into play, such as the desire to spread Christianity or to gain a strategic advantage over rival European powers.

The imperial experience had a profound effect on both colonized and colonizing nations. In the colonies, indigenous peoples were often displaced, exploited, and discriminated against.

In Britain, the imperial experience led to a sense of national superiority and a belief in the right to rule over other peoples.

Why did European powers expand?

Britain's early explorations were motivated by a desire for wealth and power. The British crown was specifically interested in commodities and cash crops like tobacco, sugar, and spices.

These commodities were then sold in European markets for a profit.

The British also established control over strategic trade routes, like the Spice Route, and through the use of entities like the East India Trade Company.

Imperialism also had an impact on economic development. Colonies provided raw materials and markets for British goods, helping to fuel the Industrial Revolution .

Therefore, the desire to make money drove much of early European expansion. Not only did the acquisition of new territories mean the discovery of new trade goods, but the more regions that a country controlled meant that they had more people to sell their products to.

As a result, the larger an empire became, the more its wealth increased.

However, critics argue that imperialism led to exploitation and underdevelopment in the colonies.

They point to the high taxes that colonized peoples were required to pay, as well as the damaging effects of economic competition between colonial powers.

In addition to economic motivations, British colonialism was also driven by political and social factors.

The establishment of representative democracy in Britain since the 17th century led the British to believe that it was the best form of government.

They claimed that if they could spread democracy around the world, that every nation would benefit.

In a similar way, British society believed that their morals (what they believed to be 'right' and 'wrong') was superior to any other social system in the rest of the world.

Therefore, they thought that all of humanity would benefit from adopting British culture.

The expectation of spreading this culture on all other people was known as the 'White Man's Burden' among the British people.

Then, in the 19th century, Social Darwinism, a belief in the superiority of some races over others, also played a role in British imperialism.

This ideology justified Britain's right to rule over other peoples, on the grounds that they were 'racially inferior'.

During the era of British colonialism and imperialism, slavery was an important part of the economy.

Early colonisers had hoped to use the local peoples of their colonies as a form of cheap labour on farms and in mines.

However, diseases like smallpox and constant warfare made this impractical.

As a result, the British turned to Africa as a source of slaves. Slaves were brought from Africa to work on plantations in the Americas and the Caribbean.

They were also used in other parts of the world, including India and Southeast Asia.

Between the 16th and 19th centuries, an estimated 12 million Africans were taken from their homes and sold into slavery.

The slave trade was extremely profitable for British ship owners and merchants. It is estimated that between 1750 and 1830, the British slave trade generated an estimated profit of £100 million.

Eventually, the slave trade was abolished in 1807, but slavery itself continued to exist in British colonies until it was finally made illegal in 1833.

Industrial Revolution

The wealth and natural resources gained by Britain from its colonies were some of the crucial factors which led to the Industrial Revolution .

The Industrial Revolution began in Britain in the late 18th century and spread to other parts of the world in the 19th century.

This period of rapid economic growth was fuelled by the development of new technologies, like the steam engine and the Spinning Jenny.

The Industrial Revolution led to a dramatic increase in the production of goods, which helped fuel the growth of the British Empire.

It also had a profound impact on social and economic life, transforming Britain from a primarily agrarian society into an industrial powerhouse.

As a result of the increased production of food and luxury goods, the Industrial Revolution caused a rapid increase in Britain's population and wealth.

It also had a profound effect on British society, as people began to move from rural areas into cities to work in factories.

Major British colonies

The British colonisation of North America began in the 16th century, when England established colonies in Virginia and Newfoundland.

Colonisation continued in the 17th century, as the British founded New England, Maryland, and Pennsylvania.

In the 18th century, Britain's thirteen American colonies became a prosperous and populous part of the empire.

In Canada, French colonisation began in the 16th century, but British domination began with the defeat of France in the Seven Years' War (1756-1763).

After this conflict, Britain gained control of all French territory in North America east of Louisiana.

In the 19th century, British colonists began to settle in the western part of Canada, creating the provinces of Manitoba (1870) and British Columbia (1871).

In Australia, colonisation began in 1788 with the establishment of a British penal colony in New South Wales.

This was followed by the founding of other colonies, including Tasmania (1803), Western Australia (1829), and Victoria (1851). In 1901, these colonies were federated to form the Commonwealth of Australia.

In India, British colonisation began in the 18th century with the establishment of trading posts along the coast.

In 1757, the British gained control of Bengal after defeating the local rulers at the Battle of Plassey in 1757. This victory marked the beginning of British rule in India.

American War of Independence

The process of colonisation and imperialism created regions of social and military tensions in different parts of the world.

Not only were the First Nations peoples willing to fight to retain their independence from European domination, but many of the European settlers also started to resist control.

In North America, Native American tribes fought against European settlers in a series of wars, the most famous of which was the French and Indian War of 1754-63.

Likewise, in Australia, the First Nations people resisted British attempts to take over their land during the Frontier Wars. In New Zealand, the Maori people fought against British colonisation in the Maori Wars between 1845 and 1872.

The British Empire faced a significant crisis in 1776, when the European colonists that occupied the 13 North American colonies declared their independence from Britain.

These colonies were wealthy and expanding, but they were also subject to strict imperial controls.

This led to tension between the colonists and the British government, which came to a head with the American War of Independence, which lasted from 1775 to 1783.

With significant economic and military support from France, the American colonies successfully repelled British attempts to bring them back under submission, and as a result, they were able to force the British to accept their independence.

After eight years of fighting, the colonists were victorious, and the United States of America was born.

Signing of the Declaration of Independence

Criticism of British colonialism and imperialism

The effects of British colonialism were far-reaching. In the colonised nations, it led to the displacement of indigenous peoples, the introduction of new technologies and religions, and changes in economic and political structures.

British colonialism and imperialism have been criticised for their negative effects on indigenous peoples and on the development of colonised countries.

Critics argue that colonialism led to exploitation, racism, and underdevelopment in the colonies.

They also point to the negative impact of British cultural imperialism, which imposed Western values and ideas on colonised peoples.

In the colonising nations, such as Britain, it often resulted in the growth of a wealthy elite, while the majority of the population remained poor.

The increasing gap between the rich and poor in Europe was exacerbated by the Industrial Revolution.

The British Empire finally came to an end in the mid-20th century. India and Pakistan gained independence in 1947, while Sri Lanka became independent in 1948.

Ghana and Kenya gained independence later, in 1957 and 1963, respectively. The Empire was dismantled, and the process of decolonisation began.

The legacy of British colonialism and imperialism is still evident today. In many parts of the world, British colonial boundaries were used to create modern nation-states.

This has led to conflict in some regions, as different groups compete for control over territory.

In addition, the legacy of British imperialism can also be seen in the language, culture, and institutions of many former colonies.

Even after the decline of the British Empire, the English language remains one of the most important international languages in trade and business.

What do you need help with?

Download ready-to-use digital learning resources.

Contact via email

Search with any image

Unsupported image file format.

Image file size is too large..

Drag an image here

Politics & Social Sciences
Politics & Government

Sorry, there was a problem.

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required .

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

Image Unavailable

To view this video download Flash Player

Follow the author

British Civilization: An Introduction 9th Edition

Examining central structural features of British society, the book provides an introduction to British civilization that highlights its history of cultural, geographical and human diversity. The book includes:

Expanded discussion of Britain’s current political climate and international relations through an examination of the 2016 Brexit referendum, the subsequent general election and Brexit negotiations up to April 2019
Discussion of the ever-shifting economy from a global perspective
Opinion polls and surveys that provide an insight into the attitudes of British people to the conditions in which they live and operate today
Exercises, questions, and suggestions for further reading and useful websites that stimulate class discussion and provide a springboard upon which students can develop their own independent study.

Supported by a companion website (www.routledge.com/cw/oakland), a long-ranging chronology, full-colour illustrations, useful figures, exercises and discussion questions, and suggestions for further reading, it is the perfect introduction to the crucial and complex nature of British civilization, culture and society, past and present.

ISBN-10 1138318140
ISBN-13 978-1138318144
Edition 9th
Publisher Routledge
Publication date October 18, 2019
Language English
Dimensions 6.8 x 0.8 x 9.6 inches
Print length 388 pages
See all details

Products related to this item .sp_detail_sponsored_label { color: #555555; font-size: 11px; } .sp_detail_info_icon { width: 11px; vertical-align: text-bottom; fill: #969696; } .sp_info_link { text-decoration:none !important; } #sp_detail_hide_feedback_string { display: none; } .sp_detail_sponsored_label:hover { color: #111111; } .sp_detail_sponsored_label:hover .sp_detail_info_icon { fill: #555555; } Sponsored (function(f) {var _np=(window.P._namespace("FirebirdSpRendering"));if(_np.guardFatal){_np.guardFatal(f)(_np);}else{f(_np);}}(function(P) { P.when("A", "a-carousel-framework", "a-modal").execute(function(A, CF, AM) { var DESKTOP_METRIC_PREFIX = 'adFeedback:desktop:multiAsinAF:sp_detail'; A.declarative('sp_detail_feedback-action', 'click', function(event) { var MODAL_NAME_PREFIX = 'multi_af_modal_'; var MODAL_CLASS_PREFIX = 'multi-af-modal-'; var BASE_16 = 16; var UID_START_INDEX = 2; var uniqueIdentifier = Math.random().toString(BASE_16).substr(UID_START_INDEX); var modalName = MODAL_NAME_PREFIX + "sp_detail" + uniqueIdentifier; var modalClass = MODAL_CLASS_PREFIX + "sp_detail" + uniqueIdentifier; initModal(modalName, modalClass); removeModalOnClose(modalName); }); function initModal (modalName, modalClass) { var trigger = A.$(' '); var initialContent = ' ' + ' ' + ' '; var HEADER_STRING = "Leave feedback"; if (false) { HEADER_STRING = "Ad information and options"; } var modalInstance = AM.create(trigger, { 'content': initialContent, 'header': HEADER_STRING, 'name': modalName }); modalInstance.show(); var serializedPayload = generatePayload(modalName); A.$.ajax({ url: "/af/multi-creative/feedback-form", type: 'POST', data: serializedPayload, headers: { 'Content-Type': 'application/json', 'Accept': 'application/json'}, success: function(response) { if (!response) { return; } modalInstance.update(response); var successMetric = DESKTOP_METRIC_PREFIX + ":formDisplayed"; if (window.ue && window.ue.count) { window.ue.count(successMetric, (window.ue.count(successMetric) || 0) + 1); } }, error: function(err) { var errorText = 'Feedback Form get failed with error: ' + err; var errorMetric = DESKTOP_METRIC_PREFIX + ':error'; P.log(errorText, 'FATAL', DESKTOP_METRIC_PREFIX); if (window.ue && window.ue.count) { window.ue.count(errorMetric, (window.ue.count(errorMetric) || 0) + 1); } modalInstance.update(' ' + "Error loading ad feedback form." + ' '); } }); return modalInstance; } function removeModalOnClose (modalName) { A.on('a:popover:afterHide:' + modalName, function removeModal () { AM.remove(modalName); }); } function generatePayload(modalName) { var carousel = CF.getCarousel(document.getElementById("sp_detail")); var EMPTY_CARD_CLASS = "a-carousel-card-empty"; if (!carousel) { return; } var adPlacementMetaData = carousel.dom.$carousel.context.getAttribute("data-ad-placement-metadata"); var adDetailsList = []; if (adPlacementMetaData == "") { return; } carousel.dom.$carousel.children("li").not("." + EMPTY_CARD_CLASS).each(function (idx, item) { var divs = item.getElementsByTagName("div"); var adFeedbackDetails; for (var i = 0; i

Libertarian Economics: A Manifesto and an Explanation

Editorial Reviews

" British Civilization provides the most profound introduction to contemporary Britain … Oakland presents the most recent information in a very concise and easily accessible writing style. Due to the additional resources, exercises and essay questions the book is perfect for teaching and learning."

Isabell Große, Leipzig University, Germany

" British Civilization: An Introduction is an excellent overview of a number of elements which students will need to know in order to understand British society. It is well-written, concise, and has attractive full-colour pictures and illustrations. It is especially strong on recent developments in British culture."

Mark Marston Norris, Grace College, USA

About the Author

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Routledge; 9th edition (October 18, 2019)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 388 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1138318140
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1138318144
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.12 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.8 x 0.8 x 9.6 inches
#8,337 in Anthropology (Books)
#9,790 in European History (Books)
#13,136 in European Politics Books

About the author

John oakland.

Discover more of the author’s books, see similar authors, read author blogs and more

Products related to this item .sp_detail2_sponsored_label { color: #555555; font-size: 11px; } .sp_detail2_info_icon { width: 11px; vertical-align: text-bottom; fill: #969696; } .sp_info_link { text-decoration:none !important; } #sp_detail2_hide_feedback_string { display: none; } .sp_detail2_sponsored_label:hover { color: #111111; } .sp_detail2_sponsored_label:hover .sp_detail2_info_icon { fill: #555555; } Sponsored (function(f) {var _np=(window.P._namespace("FirebirdSpRendering"));if(_np.guardFatal){_np.guardFatal(f)(_np);}else{f(_np);}}(function(P) { P.when("A", "a-carousel-framework", "a-modal").execute(function(A, CF, AM) { var DESKTOP_METRIC_PREFIX = 'adFeedback:desktop:multiAsinAF:sp_detail2'; A.declarative('sp_detail2_feedback-action', 'click', function(event) { var MODAL_NAME_PREFIX = 'multi_af_modal_'; var MODAL_CLASS_PREFIX = 'multi-af-modal-'; var BASE_16 = 16; var UID_START_INDEX = 2; var uniqueIdentifier = Math.random().toString(BASE_16).substr(UID_START_INDEX); var modalName = MODAL_NAME_PREFIX + "sp_detail2" + uniqueIdentifier; var modalClass = MODAL_CLASS_PREFIX + "sp_detail2" + uniqueIdentifier; initModal(modalName, modalClass); removeModalOnClose(modalName); }); function initModal (modalName, modalClass) { var trigger = A.$(' '); var initialContent = ' ' + ' ' + ' '; var HEADER_STRING = "Leave feedback"; if (false) { HEADER_STRING = "Ad information and options"; } var modalInstance = AM.create(trigger, { 'content': initialContent, 'header': HEADER_STRING, 'name': modalName }); modalInstance.show(); var serializedPayload = generatePayload(modalName); A.$.ajax({ url: "/af/multi-creative/feedback-form", type: 'POST', data: serializedPayload, headers: { 'Content-Type': 'application/json', 'Accept': 'application/json'}, success: function(response) { if (!response) { return; } modalInstance.update(response); var successMetric = DESKTOP_METRIC_PREFIX + ":formDisplayed"; if (window.ue && window.ue.count) { window.ue.count(successMetric, (window.ue.count(successMetric) || 0) + 1); } }, error: function(err) { var errorText = 'Feedback Form get failed with error: ' + err; var errorMetric = DESKTOP_METRIC_PREFIX + ':error'; P.log(errorText, 'FATAL', DESKTOP_METRIC_PREFIX); if (window.ue && window.ue.count) { window.ue.count(errorMetric, (window.ue.count(errorMetric) || 0) + 1); } modalInstance.update(' ' + "Error loading ad feedback form." + ' '); } }); return modalInstance; } function removeModalOnClose (modalName) { A.on('a:popover:afterHide:' + modalName, function removeModal () { AM.remove(modalName); }); } function generatePayload(modalName) { var carousel = CF.getCarousel(document.getElementById("sp_detail2")); var EMPTY_CARD_CLASS = "a-carousel-card-empty"; if (!carousel) { return; } var adPlacementMetaData = carousel.dom.$carousel.context.getAttribute("data-ad-placement-metadata"); var adDetailsList = []; if (adPlacementMetaData == "") { return; } carousel.dom.$carousel.children("li").not("." + EMPTY_CARD_CLASS).each(function (idx, item) { var divs = item.getElementsByTagName("div"); var adFeedbackDetails; for (var i = 0; i

Gilgamesh in the 21st Century: A Personal Quest to Understand Mortality

Customer reviews

Our goal is to make sure every review is trustworthy and useful. That's why we use both technology and human investigators to block fake reviews before customers ever see them. Learn more

We block Amazon accounts that violate our community guidelines. We also block sellers who buy reviews and take legal actions against parties who provide these reviews. Learn how to report

Sort reviews by Top reviews Most recent Top reviews

Top reviews from the United States

Top reviews from other countries.

About Amazon
Investor Relations
Amazon Devices
Amazon Science
Sell products on Amazon
Sell on Amazon Business
Sell apps on Amazon
Become an Affiliate
Advertise Your Products
Self-Publish with Us
Host an Amazon Hub
› See More Make Money with Us
Amazon Business Card
Shop with Points
Reload Your Balance
Amazon Currency Converter
Amazon and COVID-19
Your Account
Your Orders
Shipping Rates & Policies
Returns & Replacements
Manage Your Content and Devices
Amazon Assistant

Conditions of Use
Privacy Notice
Consumer Health Data Privacy Disclosure
Your Ads Privacy Choices

How It Works
All Projects
Top-rated Pages
Admission essay writing
Book report writing
Cheap essay writing
Coursework writing
Dissertation writing
Essay editing
MBA essay writing
Scholarship essay writing
Term paper writing
Write my essay
Free sample essays
Writing blog

Best UK Essay Examples

British civilization commentary.

353 words | 2 page(s)

The text gives deep and analytical insight into the bittersweet relationship existing between the United States and Great Britain. While the general feeling is that the Anglo-American relationship is largely one sided, the author holds the strong view that it does make sense. This argument, which dominates the entire text, is elaborated and supported throughout the text using rather convincing arguments. Historical information such as past events and key political personalities has been alluded to in order to enhance credibility of the arguments and views.

The author does a brilliant job by first outlining the key questions that he intends to tackle in the subsequent text. This is highly recommendable and it braces the reader for what to expect (Al-Hajaj & Davis, 2008). The author subsequently summarizes the entire relationship as being based on trust. Additionally, he notes that the reality of the matter is that America shall always remain the dominant partner while Britain shall continue playing a submissive role. In light of this, both have different roles to play.

Use your promo and get a custom paper on "British Civilization Commentary".

Both countries have to begin by defining their expectations from the relationship. The fact that the US is not precluded from having other relations outside this one is clearly brought to the fore. The author also expresses his wish that America deals with the European countries as individuals and not as a block. Britain on the other hand, should be prepared to accept its submissive role but at the same time clearly spell out its expectations from the United States. It should additionally anticipate differences in opinions and challenges ahead.

All in all, the superb structured presentation of the content coupled with the clear and concise explanations make the document not only effective but also quite convincing (Minahan, 1926). This is a text indeed worth reading.

Davis, G. & Al-Hajaj, J. F. (2008). University of Basrah Studies in English (Contemporary Studies in Descriptive Linguistics). Bern: Peter Lang AG.
Minahan, C. E. (1926). The Qualities of a Good Text in History. Boston: Boston College.
Phil, R. D. (2006). Beyond Friendship – Te Future of Anglo-American Relations, Chapter Six: Securing the Future. Retrieved from: http://www.heritage.org/research/reports/2006/05/securing-the-futurev

Have a team of vetted experts take you to the top, with professionally written papers in every area of study.

British Civilization: Queen Victoria

Who is queen victoria, constitutional monarchy, the personal influence of queen victoria.

Bibliography

The evolvement of monarchy is important to understanding British civilization because the monarchical system has been adopted for several centuries and has been defining, variably, the sociological and political life in the country.

This paper is going to examine one particular reign: that of Queen Victoria (1837-1901) a monarch who, although knew ups and downs of popularity, ended up her reign as a highly esteemed monarch whereby the dubbing of the 19 th, to which she belonged, as The Victorian Age . Indeed, Queen Victoria’s reign has been marked by the internalization of constitutional monarchy nation-wise and the reinforcement of the empire overseas. Her reign has also known the blossoming of cultural and literary life in Britain.

Victoria was born in 1819 to Edward, Duke of Kent, as the only child. She married her first cousin, Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg Gotha (1819-1961) (Hibbert, 9-109). She is considered the longest reigning monarch in the history of Great Britain (1837-1901). She is one of the most remembered monarchs, albeit she knew some moment of unpopularity when she retreated from the public eye, as her husband Albert died (BBC, 1). Her name has, in the end, been ascribed to an age (BBC, 1) which proves that her popularity is rather significant. She is remembered for pulling the strings entire empire, and not only continental Britain.

When she took on the reign, at the age of eighteen, Victoria the country had already embarked on a system anchored in the constitution and parliamentary rule. It is a common knowledge for anyone who is into f British history that Magna Carta, 1215, has been the hallmark of constitutional monarchy in Britain.

The supremacy of parliamentary rule over the monarchical executive powers of Queen Victoria had been established, albeit with some reluctance on her part. Many episodes in her reign show that she had to yield to the Parliament or Cabinet and could not pursue her own personal judgment.

For instance, upon encouragement from a then member from the Conservative Party, Benjamin Disraeli, she tried to no avail to evacuate Afghanistan where Britain was at war around the year 1880. The Cabinet threatened to resign and she caved in (Hibbert, pp. 367-369). On some other instance, she overtly expressed her frustration with the limitations that she was under. Describing to Disraeli her dislike to adopt a conciliatory relationship with Russia, she declared was a “miserable thing to be a constitutional Queen…and to be unable to do what is right” (Hibbert, p. 363).

With such dynamic episodes of constitutional rule vs. executive rule of the Queen, the country had inevitably witnessed a deeper internalization of constitutional democracy. “Queen Victoria [was] an essential part of Benjamin Disraeli’s Tory democracy, providing the theatrical circus element to the new artisan democracy” (Hibbert, xxiv).

It must be noted that the political sphere of Queen Victoria, in its physical terms, went beyond the four constituents of Britain: Northern Ireland, Wales, England, and Scotland. Queen Victoria was not at the head of continental Britain only but an entire empire; an empire so large that has been said that sun never sets on it.

In the last two decades of Victoria’s reign, the British Empire reached an unprecedented dimension. The last quarter of the Victorian Age, between 1880 and 1890’s, saw the engulfment 66 million colonized people and 4 ¼ million square miles (Seaman, p. 332), in Asia, Africa, and North America. A classic book into the matter of British imperialism called The Expansion of Engla nd (1883) by Sir John Seeley points out that the British people seem indeed “to have conquered and peopled half of the World in a fit of absence of mind” (Seaman, p. 332).

A particular empirical title had been self-acclaimed by Victoria which Empress of India in 1876 (Kulke, 266). The interest of Victoria in India seems to have somewhat been of a personal nature. The Queen took Indian lessons and was receiving lessons at her royal palace from Indologist Max Mueller (Kulke, p. 266). This probably betrays that, on a similar wavelength as Seeley refection upon imperialism, the drive had not only been pragmatic-for India surely presented a profitable mercantile route- but rather some kind of personal interest.

The personal level or the persona of the monarch should in fact not be neglected in the study of history of Victorian England. Another venue in this direction, besides the personal imperial aspirations, is investigating how the person of the Queen was being seen by the people. Monarchy has in fact always drawn the interest of the people.

Queen Victoria was at the public eyes because it was perceived as “contradictory” to reconcile the private female sphere, as a mother and female spouse, and that of a monarch during the Victorian Age, according to some studies (Munich, 265). However, she managed to assert her authority.

There is hardly an investigation on how she managed to do so, however, her lengthy reign is sufficient enough to prove that she indeed was weighing and respected persona among its people. One can intuitively deem that the assertiveness of the Queen helped her mange the monarchy internally and the empire overseas. Queen Victoria has to her glorification various statutes after her, showing the aura that she has enjoyed. The Jubilee Memorial (1887) in Hall of Winchester Castle (Munich, 274) is one of the most famous ones.

To conclude, Queen Victoria has in fact been one of the major British monarchs. Her reign has been characterized by further internalization of the system of constitutional monarchy. Moreover, being at the top of a strong country, the Victorian age had also been the age of great expansion and imperialism. Handling these two dimensions of politics, internal political under the respect of the supremacy of parliamentary rule and the growth of empire, had been managed because the Queen assertive character.

BBC. “ Historic Figures: Queen Victoria ”

Hibbert, Christopher. Queen Victoria: A Personal History. Cambridge, MA, Basic Books, (2001).

Kulke, Hermann.; Rothermund, Dietmar. History of India, 4Th Ed, Routledge: New York Taylor & Francis, (2004).

Munich, Adrienne. Queen Victoria, Empire, and Excess , Tulsa Studies in Women’s Literature , Vol. 6, No. 2, Woman and Nation (1987), pp. 265-281

Seaman, L. C. B. Victorian England: Aspects of English and Imperial History, 1837-1901, Taylor & Francis: London, New York, (1995).

Cite this paper

Chicago (N-B)
Chicago (A-D)

StudyCorgi. (2021, November 18). British Civilization: Queen Victoria. https://studycorgi.com/british-civilization-queen-victoria/

"British Civilization: Queen Victoria." StudyCorgi , 18 Nov. 2021, studycorgi.com/british-civilization-queen-victoria/.

StudyCorgi . (2021) 'British Civilization: Queen Victoria'. 18 November.

1. StudyCorgi . "British Civilization: Queen Victoria." November 18, 2021. https://studycorgi.com/british-civilization-queen-victoria/.

StudyCorgi . "British Civilization: Queen Victoria." November 18, 2021. https://studycorgi.com/british-civilization-queen-victoria/.

StudyCorgi . 2021. "British Civilization: Queen Victoria." November 18, 2021. https://studycorgi.com/british-civilization-queen-victoria/.

This paper, “British Civilization: Queen Victoria”, was written and voluntary submitted to our free essay database by a straight-A student. Please ensure you properly reference the paper if you're using it to write your assignment.

Before publication, the StudyCorgi editorial team proofread and checked the paper to make sure it meets the highest standards in terms of grammar, punctuation, style, fact accuracy, copyright issues, and inclusive language. Last updated: April 12, 2022 .

If you are the author of this paper and no longer wish to have it published on StudyCorgi, request the removal . Please use the “ Donate your paper ” form to submit an essay.

Raffles London at The OWO review: a quintessentially British stay

This heritage building has been given a twist as a luxury hotel in the nation's capital

Newsletter sign up Newsletter

If you've walked from Big Ben to Trafalgar Square, or meandered from St James's Park to the Thames, the chances are you've seen – and admired – the Old War Office. The turreted, dove-grey building is one of the jewels of Whitehall, completed in 1906 to house Britain's imperial military machine.

For much of the 20th century, its offices were inhabited by Britain's leading politicians, from Lord Kitchener to David Lloyd George, along with their armies of staffers, cooks and typists.

For a time it was the workplace of T.E. Lawrence, later Lawrence of Arabia. In 1914, he lamented to a friend that the grand marble staircase at the heart of the building was allowed to be used by "field marshals and charwomen" alone.

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

A century later, in 2016, the Ministry of Defence sold the building for a reported £350 million; and last year, after extensive but historically sensitive renovations, it opened as a five-star hotel, Raffles London at The OWO.

From the street, The OWO looks much as it has since it was constructed but, inside, a transformation has taken place. Two new floors have been built, as have three new basement levels to make room for a ballroom, a swimming pool, an underground car park and more. Thousands of square metres have been added to the building's already considerable acreage, taking its total footprint to some 76,000 square metres.

The result is easily the most major hotel to have opened in the capital in a generation.

Why stay here?

London isn't short of ultra-high-end hotels, but Raffles London at The OWO distinguishes itself from its peers in several ways. Its location couldn't be better: situated opposite Horse Guards Parade, it is ideally placed for visitors wishing to walk around the capital, or needing a central place to stay while doing business.

The hotel also has a tangible sense of place. You couldn't wake up in one of its rooms thinking you were in any major world city: it feels deeply English. The interiors, which were overseen by the feted designer Thierry Despont, skilfully marry old and new, allowing visitors to appreciate the old-world aesthetics of wood panelling and other original features, while enjoying high-tech loos, vast, comfortable beds and generously sized marble bathrooms.

The staff are knowledgeable and helpful, as willing to suggest childcare options as they are to come up with last-minute wardrobe help (during my stay, my dress's zip broke; within five minutes, room service had sent up a bag of safety pins). There are also a serious number of them: the ratio of staff to guest room is an astonishing 3:1.

Rooms and suites

There are 120 rooms and suites to choose from, none of which are the same, and none of which come cheap. Prices start at about £1,100 per room plus service and tax (and may not include breakfast, so look out for that).

Many of the grandest suites are named after the great figures that worked in them: the Haldane, for instance, was occupied by successive Secretaries of State for War; while the Churchill Suite was originally the army council room, where critical decisions were made during the Second World War. There are also 85 residences – privately owned apartments with access to the hotel amenities.

Eating and drinking

The OWO has nine restaurants and bars, including a rooftop restaurant with views over St James's Park. If you don't want to order room service for breakfast, it can be taken in a light-filled atrium where the buffet options are superb (the almond croissants are particularly good) and the menu options even better.

Acclaimed chef Mauro Colagreco is in charge of three of the nine restaurants, which include Mauro's Table, a private dining room with views over Whitehall. A pre-dinner drink at the Spy Bar, the hotel's "speakeasy", is a must, and gratifyingly hard to find.

Other things to see and do

The spa is a big draw. Situated far beneath the ground floor, extending over four floors and designed by Goddard Littlefair, it features the usual steam rooms and saunas, and a large pool in a hall that is surprisingly tall for a room so deep underground.

For those fussy about lighting, the spa – and in fact the rest of the hotel – knocks it out of the park: the lighting is warm and not abrasive; subtly different according to each space's requirements, but always exactly right.

Look out for the hotel's remarkable collection of art, too: there's a six-metre high sculpture by Saad Qureshi and an oil painting, "Naval Officers of World War I", by Sir Arthur Stockdale Cope, on loan from the National Portrait Gallery, among other works.

The verdict

What the impressive statistics of The OWO don't capture is the hotel's style and grown-up charm.

Notable too are the warmth of its staff, and the intelligence with which this most storied of buildings has been coaxed into the 21st century, making this a truly unforgettable stay.

Leaf Arbuthnot was a guest at Raffles London at The OWO, Old War Office Building, 57 Whitehall, London SW1A 2BX; raffles.com/london

Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox

A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com

In the Spotlight TV doctor was known for his popularisation of the 5:2 diet and his cheerful willingness to use himself as a guinea pig

By The Week UK Published 15 June 24

Cartoons Artists take on going fishing, bar commiserations, and more

By The Week US Published 15 June 24

Carlos Alcaraz clutches the winner's trophy after his victory in the 2024 French Open

In the Spotlight Spanish wunderkind is being hailed as 'the saviour of tennis' after French Open win

The Week Recommends Ramble, sail and feast your way around Scilly to experience a region like no other

By Julia O'Driscoll, The Week UK Published 11 June 24

Daisy Ridley in The Young Woman and the Sea

The Week Recommends The film explores the story of Trudy Ederle, the first woman to swim across the Channel

By The Week UK Published 6 June 24

Talking Point Return of the hit Regency series has divided both fans and critics

By Rebekah Evans, The Week UK Published 21 May 24

Detail from Michelangelo's The Punishment of Tityus (1532)

The Week Recommends New exhibition focuses on works from the final 30 years of the artist's long career

By The Week UK Published 17 May 24

A view across Tenerife's coastline, with the striking white Royal Hideaway hotel in the foreground overlooking the sea

The Week Recommends Discover the island's volcanic beauty and black sands from this adults-only hideaway

By William Leigh Published 14 May 24

The Week Recommends Even a short exploration quickly shows the out-of-this-world island is undeserving of its 'Brits abroad' reputation

By William Leigh Published 9 May 24

A shot of the exterior of the My Arbor treetop hotel in the Dolomite mountains of north Italy

The Week Recommends Detox like a true European in the South Tyrol region of northernmost Italy

By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published 7 May 24

The Week Recommends Have beach time in the Dominican Republic or a spa day in Saint-Tropez

By Catherine Garcia, The Week US Published 2 May 24

Contact Future's experts
Terms and Conditions
Privacy Policy
Cookie Policy
Advertise With Us

The Week is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site . © Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.

The Inventory
Beyond Cars

That Time A Couple Of Drunk British Guys Won The 24 Hours Of Le Mans

The 1953 race winner was at the pub all night before the race.

The 1953 running of the Le Mans 24 is historically significant for many reasons. For one, the winning Jaguars employed Dunlop-engineered disc brake systems for the first time, and that braking advantage allowed the almighty C-Type to run hard from the drop of the flag and set an average lap time over 100 miles per hour for the first time in the history of the race. But as with all races, there are stories much greater than the stats and the engineering and the numbers . The race winners, British drivers Duncan Hamilton and Tony Rolt were allegedly drunk when they got in the car.