British Empire in a 1000 years
Discussion
In 1000 years time, do you think that students will study the British Empire in the same way that the Classical Empires still fascinate us today?
Will the British Empire even be mentioned?
It is impossible to know how the sands of time will change humanity's perspective.
I am of the mind however, that the British Empire will go down in ancient history as "The first truly global empire" and the "Empire that modernised the world".
Am I letting what is left of my patriotism cloud my judgement?
ETA: sorry for putting the "a" in the thread title.
Will the British Empire even be mentioned?
It is impossible to know how the sands of time will change humanity's perspective.
I am of the mind however, that the British Empire will go down in ancient history as "The first truly global empire" and the "Empire that modernised the world".
Am I letting what is left of my patriotism cloud my judgement?
ETA: sorry for putting the "a" in the thread title.
Edited by Martial Arts Man on Tuesday 31st March 11:23
I think you're right.
The British Empire gave the world the industrial revolution and its common language, in addition to standing out for the sheer massive scale of it, especially when put against how tiny we are as a nation.
I think your (and my) patriotism may slightly cloud the level of critical assessment vs pride when we look at it, but I certainly don't think anyone, now or 1,000 years down the line will underestimate its importance.
The British Empire gave the world the industrial revolution and its common language, in addition to standing out for the sheer massive scale of it, especially when put against how tiny we are as a nation.
I think your (and my) patriotism may slightly cloud the level of critical assessment vs pride when we look at it, but I certainly don't think anyone, now or 1,000 years down the line will underestimate its importance.
I'd say the industrial revolution caused quite a fundamental leap in human civilisation, definately should be noteworthy in the far future... Perhaps the English language would still be around, albeit more evolved by that time, considering how widely spoken it is compared to other languages.
Doubt it somehow. More about trade and petty bickerings. Think about it for a moment, British empure mentioned in the same words as the Roman, Greek and Persian empires, to name but three.
In the history of spiteful bickerings between Germany and Russia it will be mentioned, but it has left little standing by way of memories, physical, spiritual or emotional.
Perhaps what will be told will be, just like many others, once it 'fell', it became a mere shadow of it's once great past ...
In the history of spiteful bickerings between Germany and Russia it will be mentioned, but it has left little standing by way of memories, physical, spiritual or emotional.
Perhaps what will be told will be, just like many others, once it 'fell', it became a mere shadow of it's once great past ...
scorp said:
I'd say the industrial revolution caused quite a fundamental leap in human civilisation, definately should be noteworthy in the far future... Perhaps the English language would still be around, albeit more evolved by that time, considering how widely spoken it is compared to other languages.
GR8 BRIT'N WAS GR8
drivin_me_nuts said:
Doubt it somehow. More about trade and petty bickerings. Think about it for a moment, British empure mentioned in the same words as the Roman, Greek and Persian empires, to name but three.
In the history of spiteful bickerings between Germany and Russia it will be mentioned, but it has left little standing by way of memories, physical, spiritual or emotional.
Perhaps what will be told will be, just like many others, once it 'fell', it became a mere shadow of it's once great past ...
I watch many tv documentaries about Ancient engineering and scientific accomplishments. I have books by Plato and Homer on my deak right now as we speak.In the history of spiteful bickerings between Germany and Russia it will be mentioned, but it has left little standing by way of memories, physical, spiritual or emotional.
Perhaps what will be told will be, just like many others, once it 'fell', it became a mere shadow of it's once great past ...
It isn't beyond imagination for there to be similar in the future, concentrating on our engineering and scientific progress, of which there is a great deal.
With regard to architecture.....well we just won't ever know what will remain standing throughout the next millennium.
Remember, we "forgot" most of our classical knowledge for many centuries after the decline of Rome ( we can thank those "evil" muslims for keeping the knowledge circulating).
As I said in my initial post, historical perspective is unpredictable!
My problem is, that if we don't count Britain, what other major, globally significant (something even the Romans couldn't do (for whatever reason)) empire could be classified as having had an impact?
Surely somebody must count?
Or is there nothing between Rome and USA that really matters?
Edited by Martial Arts Man on Tuesday 31st March 11:55
Martial Arts Man said:
drivin_me_nuts said:
Doubt it somehow. More about trade and petty bickerings. Think about it for a moment, British empure mentioned in the same words as the Roman, Greek and Persian empires, to name but three.
In the history of spiteful bickerings between Germany and Russia it will be mentioned, but it has left little standing by way of memories, physical, spiritual or emotional.
Perhaps what will be told will be, just like many others, once it 'fell', it became a mere shadow of it's once great past ...
I watch many tv documentaries about Ancient engineering and scientific accomplishments. I have books by Plato and Homer on my deak right now as we speak.In the history of spiteful bickerings between Germany and Russia it will be mentioned, but it has left little standing by way of memories, physical, spiritual or emotional.
Perhaps what will be told will be, just like many others, once it 'fell', it became a mere shadow of it's once great past ...
It isn't beyond imagination for there to be similar in the future, concentrating on our engineering and scientific progress, of which there is a great deal.
With regard to architecture.....well we just won't ever know what will remain standing throughout the next millennium.
Remember, we "forgot" most of our classical knowledge for many centuries after the decline of Rome ( we can thank those "evil" muslims for keeping the knowledge circulating).
As I said in my initial post, historical perspective is unpredictable!
My problem is, that if we don't count Britain, what other major, globally significant (something even the Romans couldn't do (for whatever reason)) empire could be classified as having had an impact?
Surely somebody must count?
Or is there nothing between Rome and USA that really matters?
Edited by Martial Arts Man on Tuesday 31st March 11:55
This empire does not have the Julius Caesers, the Temarlane's and the Xerxes, the leaders like Ghandi who reunited the peoples or lead them to 'freedom' etc. But it does have it's folk heros of Drake and Nelson and Wellington etc. Perhaps these will be remembered more. History loves successful leaders and fighters - the iconic figures who drive a nation forward, more than it likes developments in culture and science, engineering and medicine.
drivin_me_nuts said:
Doubt it somehow. More about trade and petty bickerings. Think about it for a moment, British empure mentioned in the same words as the Roman, Greek and Persian empires, to name but three.
I would say so, yes.I'd put the industrial revolution, the world's common language and by a huge margin the largest proportion of the World's population outside its own borders controlled by a single nation up there with the achievements of the Greeks, Romans and Persians.
The Greek, Roman and Persian empires were also largely about trade and petty bickering. The difference is that since the British Empire is so much more recent, we have a lot more material documenting not just the stand out achievements but also the every day and the downsides.
Martial Arts Man said:
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Or is there nothing between Rome and USA that really matters?
Good thread MAM! The thing with Rome and Britain is that they started off being the underdogs, Rome was a small city state – even the Greeks thought them backwater barbarians, and Britain was classed a small island with little significance. What’s amazing is that these two tiny dots on the world map managed to hold so much sway for so long. (Calling Drake and especially Nelson as ‘folk heroes’ does them a massive disservice – both potentially saved our country from the very real threat (not the scare mongering threats we get today) of invasion and way of life)Or is there nothing between Rome and USA that really matters?
Edited by Martial Arts Man on Tuesday 31st March 11:55
The USA is a huge country with a lot of natural resources; it would take decades of stupendously inept government to not make it a significant power, likewise Russia.
Got to be kidding right?
The British Empire will DEFINATELY be talked about.
People seem to forget how the empire changed the face of the world forever!!!
Couple of things they did;
Railways across Asia, and Africa,
Brought Western ideals and industry to these continents, as well as the language
The Slave Trade
Zulu wars
Going a bit further back you have the 100 years war and all the trouble with France and a certain Napoleon.
All this happened during the reign of the British Empire!!!
I do however think that Britain will be remember more for the BAD rather than the good.
The British Empire will DEFINATELY be talked about.
People seem to forget how the empire changed the face of the world forever!!!
Couple of things they did;
Railways across Asia, and Africa,
Brought Western ideals and industry to these continents, as well as the language
The Slave Trade
Zulu wars
Going a bit further back you have the 100 years war and all the trouble with France and a certain Napoleon.
All this happened during the reign of the British Empire!!!
I do however think that Britain will be remember more for the BAD rather than the good.
Bad is hardly the word to describe the british Empire. Compare it to the Spanish, french, etc, and their travels abroad, we were bloody lovely folks. Whereas they treated their new colonies as a business venture, and never really set it up as a 'home' they never held it up as such. Britain pretty much took another stance, and made each bit a 'bit of britain' for want of a better phrase. yes, there will always be the occasional moment of nastiness, but in the scale of things, we were hardly barbaric.
350GT said:
Bad is hardly the word to describe the british Empire. Compare it to the Spanish, french, etc, and their travels abroad, we were bloody lovely folks. Whereas they treated their new colonies as a business venture, and never really set it up as a 'home' they never held it up as such. Britain pretty much took another stance, and made each bit a 'bit of britain' for want of a better phrase. yes, there will always be the occasional moment of nastiness, but in the scale of things, we were hardly barbaric.
Maybe that is the difference then between memorable empires and the second tier.Rome and Britain both imparted positive cultural benefits wherever they went. Empires such as Japan, and perhaps even Spain were more concerned with pillaging wealth and resource as an absolute priority.
Essentially leaving a legacy in the places one conquers is the difference.
I think Britain passes that test.
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