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Have you ever learnt about the British Empire?
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Poll: Have you been taught about the British Empire?
Hi all! I am aware that this period of British history is a very controversial one, but it is a period of history nevertheless.
I was rereading some children's classics (A Little Princess etc) and realised how ingrained the Empire is in such books, and this made me realise how little I actually know about the Empire.
And, for that reason, I have no idea what was wrong/right/good/bad about it, other than the general sense that 'Imperialism is bad and racism and slavery that came from it is also bad.'
What with increasing extreme right thoughts being politicised, and issues about Brexit being endless, I can't help but to wonder whether completely ignoring this extensive period of history is a foolish mistake, no matter how controversial. If it's not something that is reckoned with and taught, then there is very little that can be learnt from it.
However, maybe it's just my experience in education and others are taught it.
So, tl;dr: have you ever been taught about the British Empire in your time in education?
I was rereading some children's classics (A Little Princess etc) and realised how ingrained the Empire is in such books, and this made me realise how little I actually know about the Empire.
And, for that reason, I have no idea what was wrong/right/good/bad about it, other than the general sense that 'Imperialism is bad and racism and slavery that came from it is also bad.'
What with increasing extreme right thoughts being politicised, and issues about Brexit being endless, I can't help but to wonder whether completely ignoring this extensive period of history is a foolish mistake, no matter how controversial. If it's not something that is reckoned with and taught, then there is very little that can be learnt from it.
However, maybe it's just my experience in education and others are taught it.
So, tl;dr: have you ever been taught about the British Empire in your time in education?
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#2
(Original post by BuzzyB73)
Hi all! I am aware that this period of British history is a very controversial one, but it is a period of history nevertheless.
I was rereading some children's classics (A Little Princess etc) and realised how ingrained the Empire is in such books, and this made me realise how little I actually know about the Empire.
And, for that reason, I have no idea what was wrong/right/good/bad about it, other than the general sense that 'Imperialism is bad and racism and slavery that came from it is also bad.'
What with increasing extreme right thoughts being politicised, and issues about Brexit being endless, I can't help but to wonder whether completely ignoring this extensive period of history is a foolish mistake, no matter how controversial. If it's not something that is reckoned with and taught, then there is very little that can be learnt from it.
However, maybe it's just my experience in education and others are taught it.
So, tl;dr: have you ever been taught about the British Empire in your time in education?
Hi all! I am aware that this period of British history is a very controversial one, but it is a period of history nevertheless.
I was rereading some children's classics (A Little Princess etc) and realised how ingrained the Empire is in such books, and this made me realise how little I actually know about the Empire.
And, for that reason, I have no idea what was wrong/right/good/bad about it, other than the general sense that 'Imperialism is bad and racism and slavery that came from it is also bad.'
What with increasing extreme right thoughts being politicised, and issues about Brexit being endless, I can't help but to wonder whether completely ignoring this extensive period of history is a foolish mistake, no matter how controversial. If it's not something that is reckoned with and taught, then there is very little that can be learnt from it.
However, maybe it's just my experience in education and others are taught it.
So, tl;dr: have you ever been taught about the British Empire in your time in education?
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I am genuinely interested in a response to this...
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#4
I think I was very vaguely taught a very basic overview of it before GCSE as context for a slightly different topic, but I can't quite recall.
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#5
(Original post by BuzzyB73)
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#6
I learnt about the Liberal government, the suffragette movement and WW1 (home front). We briefly covered the 2nd Boer War (so that would count as the British Empire), but other than that it's very limited.
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These responses all seem to be in line with what I figured.
For me, we even did the slave trade in year 7 without somehow covering the empire. I don't know how...
For me, we even did the slave trade in year 7 without somehow covering the empire. I don't know how...
(Original post by Andrew97)
X
X
(Original post by AxSirlotl)
X.
X.
(Original post by Kallisto)
X.
X.
(Original post by Retired_Messiah)
X.
X.
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#9
I remember doing slave trade... My memories of learning history in the UK are very vague. It's all covered up by what I learned in France.
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#10
(Original post by BuzzyB73)
These responses all seem to be in line with what I figured.
For me, we even did the slave trade in year 7 without somehow covering the empire. I don't know how...
These responses all seem to be in line with what I figured.
For me, we even did the slave trade in year 7 without somehow covering the empire. I don't know how...
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reply
Yeah I get the age thing, but this is exactly why I considered it. I had no concept when I was younger of the imperial mindset which many of these classics were written with. And I just wonder what could be done better to bring further awareness of it?
I could tell you so much about the world wars since we do that endlessly, but nothing about empire.
I could tell you so much about the world wars since we do that endlessly, but nothing about empire.
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#12
It’s funny how india was the largest economy in the world and had a share of 23% of the total worlds wealth and after British rule it was grained down to 4%.
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#13
The film pocahontas probably taught me more than the school.. even though it is widely inaccurate.
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#14
(Original post by Shashyboi)
It’s funny how india was the largest economy in the world and had a share of 23% of the total worlds wealth and after British rule it was grained down to 4%.
It’s funny how india was the largest economy in the world and had a share of 23% of the total worlds wealth and after British rule it was grained down to 4%.
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#15
(Original post by BuzzyB73)
These responses all seem to be in line with what I figured.
For me, we even did the slave trade in year 7 without somehow covering the empire. I don't know how...
These responses all seem to be in line with what I figured.
For me, we even did the slave trade in year 7 without somehow covering the empire. I don't know how...
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#16
(Original post by RickHendricks)
I mean it's been about 70 years since their independence and I don't think India has improved much. Just more corruption.
I mean it's been about 70 years since their independence and I don't think India has improved much. Just more corruption.
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#17
(Original post by BuzzyB73)
These responses all seem to be in line with what I figured.
For me, we even did the slave trade in year 7 without somehow covering the empire. I don't know how...
These responses all seem to be in line with what I figured.
For me, we even did the slave trade in year 7 without somehow covering the empire. I don't know how...
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#18
(Original post by Shashyboi)
Hmmmmmmm it’s not like they’re the fastest growing economy in the world and it is increasing by an average rate of , i think, 8% a year. Ofc, corruption is a problem, but in what other ways has it not improved?
Hmmmmmmm it’s not like they’re the fastest growing economy in the world and it is increasing by an average rate of , i think, 8% a year. Ofc, corruption is a problem, but in what other ways has it not improved?
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#19
Not in school no, as with most things that paint the U.K in a bad light, I had to learn it all outside of class.
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#20
Now I come to think of it, not at all.
At GCSE and A-Level I mainly did the bog-standard curriculum of the Nazis and 20th century USA, Mao's China too (thoroughly interesting) but never Britain. I study the Ancient and Medieval periods at uni so obviously the British Empire was never going to be a module choice, but even my friends in modern history haven't studied it.
Disappointing really as it's an interesting period, especially the Crimean War and 'the Great Game'.
At GCSE and A-Level I mainly did the bog-standard curriculum of the Nazis and 20th century USA, Mao's China too (thoroughly interesting) but never Britain. I study the Ancient and Medieval periods at uni so obviously the British Empire was never going to be a module choice, but even my friends in modern history haven't studied it.
Disappointing really as it's an interesting period, especially the Crimean War and 'the Great Game'.
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