2. Superpower Geographies
What is colonial rule?
Superpower Geographies

3. To know the difference between British imperialism and colonisation
Superpower Geographies 1. Superpower Geographies a) defining superpowers b) influencing power b) changing patterns of power c) theories explaining the growth of superpowers
Learning Objectives:
To know the difference between British imperialism and colonisation
To explain the concept of colonial rule using a specific example
Know basic reasons for the collapse of the British Empire
© Geography Department, London Academy

4. Colonialism – the political rule of a nation by another
Imperialism – a relationship of political, economic or cultural control between geographical areas
Colonialism – the political rule of a nation by another
Colonization – the physical settling of people from a colonial power within their colony.
Which of these represents imperialism, colonialism or colonisation?
The political control of Burma by Britain. The introduction of Christianity in countries. English people moving to live and work in India.

5. “The sun never sets on the British Empire”
What does this famous quote actually mean?

6. TASK:
1) Give your map the title “The British Empire in 1919” 2) Using an atlas, shade the British colonies below onto your map. Use only one colour.
GUINEA (West Africa) CANADA INDIA MYANMAR (Burma) PAPUA NEW GUINEA AUSTRALIA NEW ZEALAND EGYPT SUDAN KENYA SOUTH AFRICA
GUYANA MALAYSIA YEMEN OMAN FALKLAND ISLANDS NIGERIA
Think! What do you notice about these countries? Why do you think these countries were colonised?

7. The British Empire was founded on exploration and sea power
The British Empire was founded on exploration and sea power. The Royal Navy dominated the seas from around 1700 – The Navy provided a link between the home country and overseas colonies. The Navy was also a symbol of MILITARY POWER
TASK:
Add these major trade routes to your map.
Include a key showing i) British colonies ii) trade routes
UK > Guinea Guinea > South Africa South Africa > Kenya Kenya > India India > Malaysia UK > Falkland Islands
Question: Using the knowledge you have so far, give a simple answer to this question.
What was the British Empire?
Click Here for Explanation

8. What does this image represent?
Colonial India What were the benefits of the UK having a colony in India?
Exploit resources
Exploit workforce
COLONISATION

9. India was the largest populated country in the empire and had a larger population than England by two or three times
At the peak of its power, it was often said that "the sun never sets on the British Empire" because its span across the globe ensured that the sun was always shining on at least one of its numerous territories. - The sun still does not set on Britain's 14 remaining sovereign territories.
The steamship and the telegraph, new technologies invented in the second half of the 19th century, underpinned British imperial strength, allowing it to control and defend the sprawling empire. By 1902, the British Empire was linked together by a network of telegraph cables, the so-called All Red Line. (from wikipedia)
By 1921, the British Empire held sway over a population of about 458 million people, approximately one-quarter of the world's population, and covered more than 13 million square miles, almost a quarter of Earth's total land area (from wikipedia)
The British Empire included Canada, Jamaica, India, Pakistan, Australia, Egypt, Kenya, Ireland, Suriname, Afghanistan, Normandy, America, Hong-Kong, New Zealand, Burma, Nepal, Blize, Bahamas and Grenada
After World War II, Britain was left virtually bankrupt, with insolvency only averted in 1946 after the negotiation of a $3.5 billion loan from the United States, the last instalment of which was repaid in 2006.

10. Read p142

11. Why did it develop?

12. Mercantilism and Chartered Monopoly Companies were becoming quite the fashion in the late Sixteenth and Seventeenth century . The king could give permission to explorers to claim lands on his behalf and then authorise certain companies (with the aid of Charters) to exploit the natural resources in that part of the world in return for a fixed income to the Monarch. In many ways it was something for nothing for the ruler. He could provide exclusive (monopoly) rights to certain cronies in return for money, political support or promotion at home.
It invariably, but not always, resulted in ignoring the rights of any indigenous or local peoples that were 'in the way'. If the political entity was too large and powerful then alliances might be entered into or the Monarch might lend the Company the support of his nation's military wings.
Mercantilism

13. Slavery would show just how exploitative this system could be
Slavery would show just how exploitative this system could be. Plantations needed labour and labour was available, relatively cheaply, in West Africa.

14. Technological and Industrial Superiority
Britain would become the first nation to harness the power of steam which in turn would unleash an Industrial Revolution and an avalanche of high quality, mass-produced goods that would flood the markets around the world. They, in turn, would provide a technology gap that non-European nations would find difficult to compete with. Precision-made muskets, rifles, machine guns, train locomotives, steam ships would provide the relatively small and outstretched British armed forces with unparalleled advantages. They could take on vastly larger enemies and yet beat them off, subdue and suppress them. British weaponry was very effective and its communication systems allowed it to shepherd its meagre resources to devastating effect and even its medical resources would improve enough to allow its soldiers and sailors to penetrate deeper and more inaccessible areas.
Britain was not the only nation to enjoy a technological advantage over non-European nations, but its combination of industrial might and maritime power meant that it had a peculiar advantage and one that would not be challenged until the development of guerrilla warfare and tactics in the twentieth century.

15. Strategic Imperatives
The Empire was acquired for a variety of reasons that did not add up to a coherent whole. New colonies were being added in order to defend existing colonies and borders. The best example of this might be the colony of India. It was certainly regarded as the Jewel in the Crown of the British Empire but it also meant that a surprising number of supporting colonies would be added to guard the so-called Jewel itself or the routes to and from the Jewel. For example, the British were keen to take control of the Cape Colony from the Dutch during the Napoleonic Wars to secure the main sea route to India.
Of course, when the Suez Canal was opened in the 1869, it was not long before the British took a controlling interest in the Suez Canal Company and soon became involved in controlling the Egyptian administration itself.
There was a relentless logic to guarding the next valley, river or island that soon got the British involved in places that had little strategic importance except to the colonies that it already controlled.

16. Maritime Advantages
The Royal Navy would undoubtedly become a formidable military institution, but it was not always inevitable that Britannia would rule the waves. Naturally, being an island nation, shipbuilding and sailing would be important skills and industries to a country like England. The battle of Trafalgar in 1805 would become the defining naval battle for the next century. For the rest of the nineteenth century, there was no maritime power who could come close to challenging British domination of the maritime communication and trade routes. This meant that the British could hoover up all the outlying French, Spanish and Dutch colonies in the remainder of the Napoleonic Wars and could then guarantee the safety of all of these isolated outposts from at least maritime threats. Britannia really would rule the waves and this undoubtedly made imperialism easier to implement.

17. Understanding colonialism as a sign of power
Read page Oxford

18. 2) See page 144/145
Prepare a presentation arguing that a certain theory underpinned the rise of British colonialism in the world. Presentations will be in role.
Some groups will be preparing debates to counter each view.
In each case research is needed to support your view – don’t just have information about the background of each theory but actually say why it was true or indeed false.

19. 2) See page 144/145
Prepare a presentation arguing that a certain theory underpinned the rise of British colonialism in the world. Presentations will be in role.
Some groups will be preparing debates to counter each view.
In each case research is needed to support your view – don’t just have information about the background of each theory but actually say why it was true or indeed false.
Jim Mc Nut – Pro Modernism

20. 2) See page 144/145
Prepare a presentation arguing that a certain theory underpinned the rise of British colonialism in the world. Presentations will be in role.
Some groups will be preparing debates to counter each view.
In each case research is needed to support your view – don’t just have information about the background of each theory but actually say why it was true or indeed false.
Reverend Semilina Pudding – Pro Evangelical Christianity and social Darwinism
Jim Mc Nut – Pro Modernism

21. 2) See page 144/145
Prepare a presentation arguing that a certain theory underpinned the rise of British colonialism in the world. Presentations will be in role.
Some groups will be preparing debates to counter each view.
In each case research is needed to support your view – don’t just have information about the background of each theory but actually say why it was true or indeed false.
Reverend Semilina Pudding – Pro Evangelical Christianity and social Darwinism
Lord Henry Blunderbuss-Smythe – Pro Mackinder’s Heartland theory
Jim Mc Nut – Pro Modernism

22. How was it maintained?
See if you can guess what these images indicate in terms of the maintenance of power

31. The current presidential palace in Delhi was built by the British as a symbol of political power. The navy surrounded the ports of India as a symbol of military power.
In order to maximise exploitation the British ‘modernised’ India building an extensive rail network. The British also introduced:
IMPERIALISM
CULTURAL IMPERIALISM
What power was being exerted by introducing these British traditions?

32. Why did it collapse?

33. Patterns of power change over time - Why did the British Empire collapse?
Competition
Rise of the USA and soviet Russia buoyed by massive WW2 investment in industry
Nationalism
Ghandi in India, the Boers in S. Africa and so on. Britain had to contend with better organised nationalist political movement with an ageing infrastructure and outdated means of control.
The second world war
Decimated British industrial capacity with bombing
Massive loans from the USA and expenditure on war (defending the free world!) bankrupted Britain. There was just no money left to afford the means of control, yet not all colonies were given up
The need for reconstruction at home. London and many other major cities were in ruins with millions homeless. Money had to be spent at home.
Which factor do you think is the most important?
What mechanisms of power do you think were undermined?

34. Patterns of power change over time - Why did the British Empire collapse?
Competition
Rise of the USA and soviet Russia buoyed by massive WW2 investment in industry
Nationalism
Ghandi in India, the Boers in S. Africa and so on. Britain had to contend with better organised nationalist political movement with an ageing infrastructure and outdated means of control.
The second world war
Decimated British industrial capacity with bombing
Massive loans from the USA and expenditure on war (defending the free world!) bankrupted Britain. There was just no money left to afford the means of control, yet not all colonies were given up
The need for reconstruction at home. London and many other major cities were in ruins with millions homeless. Money had to be spent at home.
Which factor do you think is the most important?
What mechanisms of power do you think were undermined?

35. Patterns of power change over time - Why did the British Empire collapse?
Competition
Rise of the USA and soviet Russia buoyed by massive WW2 investment in industry
Nationalism
Ghandi in India, the Boers in S. Africa and so on. Britain had to contend with better organised nationalist political movement with an ageing infrastructure and outdated means of control.
The second world war
Decimated British industrial capacity with bombing
Massive loans from the USA and expenditure on war (defending the free world!) bankrupted Britain. There was just no money left to afford the means of control, yet not all colonies were given up
The need for reconstruction at home. London and many other major cities were in ruins with millions homeless. Money had to be spent at home.
Which factor do you think is the most important?
What mechanisms of power do you think were undermined?

36. Patterns of power change over time - Why did the British Empire collapse?
Competition
Rise of the USA and soviet Russia buoyed by massive WW2 investment in industry
Nationalism
Ghandi in India, the Boers in S. Africa and so on. Britain had to contend with better organised nationalist political movement with an ageing infrastructure and outdated means of control.
The second world war
Decimated British industrial capacity with bombing
Massive loans from the USA and expenditure on war (defending the free world!) bankrupted Britain. There was just no money left to afford the means of control, yet not all colonies were given up
The need for reconstruction at home. London and many other major cities were in ruins with millions homeless. Money had to be spent at home.
Which factor do you think is the most important?
What mechanisms of power do you think were undermined?

38. India became independent from Britain on 15th August 1947.
After the second world war the UK was bankrupt and could not support countries in its empire. Anti – colonial movements began and many countries pushed for independence. Most countries became independent by 1970.
India became independent from Britain on 15th August 1947.

39. The public face of Empire loss, a significant moment in History.
In 1951, the Conservatives returned to power in Britain, under Winston Churchill. He believed that Britain's position as a world power relied on the continued existence of the Empire, with the base at the Suez Canal allowing Britain to maintain its position in the Middle East in spite of the loss of India.
However, Churchill could not ignore Nasser's new revolutionary government of Egypt that had taken power in 1952, and the following year it was agreed that British troops would withdraw from the Suez Canal zone and that Sudan would become independent by 1955.
In 1956, Nasser nationalised the Suez Canal.
The response of the new British Prime Minister, Anthony Eden, was to collude with France to engineer an Israeli attack on Egypt that would give Britain and France an excuse to intervene militarily and retake the canal. Eden infuriated his US counterpart, President Dwight D. Eisenhower, by his lack of consultation, and Eisenhower refused to back the invasion.
Eisenhower’s concern was the possibility of a wider war with the Soviet Union after Khrushchev threatened to intervene on the Egyptian side. Eisenhower applied financial leverage by threatening to sell US reserves of the British pound and thereby precipitate a collapse of the British currency. Though the invasion force was militarily successful in its objective of recapturing the Suez Canal, UN intervention and US pressure forced Britain into a very humiliating withdrawal of its forces, and Eden resigned.
This is the point at which Britain's capacity as a superpower was publicly shattered.

40. The legacy British overseas territories
Football, rugby, Hockey, Golf, Tennis
Anglicised legal systems, parliaments and rule of law
Well developed civil service structures
Physical infrastructure in most countries
Christianity
Science
Speaking English
Driving on the left?!?!
Religious conflict e.g. N Ireland, Malaysia, Middle east, India
Poverty resulting from domination of the natives/ slaves
Instability from power vacuum with opened up in e.g. Afghanistan, African nations e.g. Uganda Idi Amin etc
LEDC resources issues
Loss of cultures/ homogenised cultures/ globalisation
slavery

41. The legacy