Empire Notes - 3827 Words

Empire Niall Ferguson Introduction * To the British, as to people in the rest of the world, imperialisms golden age is now considered a stain on human history, an era of slavery and racism and the plunder of native lands and peoples. The notion that imperialism is inherently evil, and that no empire can be a good empire, is an axiom in todays geopolitics. * Examines the British Empire from an economic perspective, controversially concluding that the British Empire was, on balance, a good thing * Globalisation is the biggest thing that Ferguson thanks the British for * English language and ties to London made it possible * The Leftist opponents of globalisation naturally regard it as no more than the latest†¦show more content†¦* However, this was not all done ‘in a fit of absence of mind’ since from the reign of Elizabeth I onwards, there had been a sustained campaign to take over the Empires of others * ‘They had robbed the Spaniards, copied the Dutch, beaten the French and pl undered the Indians. Now they ruled supreme’ – Notion of imitation, founded on the premise of copying others White Plague * Commerce and conquest by themselves would not have been enough to achieve an Empire no matter what the financial strength or naval power of the British – there had to be colonization * Ferguson is disinclined to believe in the authorised American view of 1776 as a struggle for liberty against an evil empire. * The imperialists were already experimenting with schemes for devolution, and politicians at Westminster imagined that American colonies might settle down into membership of a prototype Commonwealth, with the monarch as a unifying figurehead. * The battles across the Atlantic merely extended a conflict at home between Whigs and Tories. This, Ferguson argues, really was the second British - or perhaps the first American - Civil War. * Some myths about the American War of Independence are shattered * Ferguson argues that the ‘revolution’, contrary to the conventional revisionist modern American narrative of ‘freedom’ andShow MoreRela tedA Brief Note On The Mongolian Empire And The Golden Horde870 Words   |  4 PagesFiona Panther Ms. Hetler World Studies Block 8 30 September 2014 Mongols Essay The Mongolian empire thrived and conquered throughout the 12th and 13th centuries in Asia and are the largest empire in the history of the world (Document A and Backround Essay). By modern standards they are viewed as brutal barbarians, but in reality they were a thriving civilization that accomplished great feats even though they had to be barbaric when it came to war. They created new innovations within AsianRead MoreEmpire Notes3812 Words   |  16 PagesEmpire Niall Ferguson Introduction * To the British, as to people in the rest of the world, imperialisms golden age is now considered a stain on human history, an era of slavery and racism and the plunder of native lands and peoples. The notion that imperialism is inherently evil, and that no empire can be a good empire, is an axiom in todays geopolitics. * Examines the British Empire from an economic perspective, controversially concluding that the British Empire was, on balance, a goodRead MoreNotes On THe Roman Republic: City-State to World Empire956 Words   |  4 PagesHistorians divide Roman history into 2 broad periods: the Republic began in 509 B.C., w/ the overthrow of the Etruscan monarchy; the Empire began in 27 B.C., when Octavian (Augustus) became the 1st Roman emperor, ending 500 years of republican self-government. The Republic initiated the trend toward political legal universalism, which reached fruition in the 2nd period, the Empire. EVOLUTION OF THE ROMAN CONSTITUTION: * The Romans, like the Greeks, came to view law as an expression of the public willRead MoreThe American Of New Canada853 Words   |  4 Pages Welcome good friend to the brand new state of New Canada! What once was a corrupt country north of the center of the world (U.S.) is now the 55th state to the American Empire. The year is 2050, and almost five years since the ending of the Third World War. Five years post war and civilization is still in a state of recovery, which is why we bring Americans a piece of the past and a bit of familiarity with the grand opening of New Canada’s capitol building. We do this to honor the fallen and helpRead MoreAmerican Imperialism797 Words   |  4 Pagesfollowing: Identify the countries or areas where the United States engaged in countries or areas where the United States engaged in imperialistic actions during the period from about 1870 to 1914. Discuss why each area was important to American empire building—political, economic, and social. Explain America’s expansionist ideals. What were some factors that justified American imperialist actions? Identify the current political status of these places in relation to the United States. Age ofRead MoreThe City Of Babylon : An Overview1112 Words   |  5 Pagesthrive; especially, through the revenues brought by lands, houses, and slaves. These transactions where dealt through contracts called promissory notes: a signed document containing a written promise to pay a stated sum to a specified person or the bearer at a specified date or on demand (Sasson 1476). Every economic situation could be handled with a promissory note. Thus, contracts following the same formal scheme where created for every situation. Silver, along with other precious metals, was used asRead MoreCritical Analysis Of Shooting An Elephant1165 Words   |  5 Pagesgiven into the life of an oppressor in the British Empire. Orwell, having undergone a significant personal experience, illustrates his experience of imperialism and the resounding effects is has on the ethical conduct and ideals of man, not only of the oppressed but also in regards of the oppressor. Orwell’s ‘Shooting an Ele phant’ attempts to convey the sacrifice of one’s morality in service of imperialism. Through the spread of the British Empire and the colonialization of the Burmese people, weRead MoreKenya s Independence From The British Empire895 Words   |  4 PagesThe Pipeline In the years leading up to Kenya’s independence from the British Empire, a violent uprising later known as Mau Mau plagued the colony. From1952 to 1960, African forest fighters waged a war against the British who had little experience fighting against guerilla warfare. In an effort to bring the crime wave, as the British called it, to an end, colonial officials housed those who they believed to be working for or in collaboration with the Mau Mau fighters in detention camps. The KikuyuRead MoreAnalytical Summary Shooting an Elephant by George Orwell Essay1064 Words   |  5 Pagesdeclares that imperialism is evil. This is because during the many years of service, he has witnessed the inhumane treatment of prisoners and numerous other dirty works done by the British Empire. However Like every other Englishmen in the East, there is nothing he can do since he is stuck in the middle between the empire he hates and the natives who hate him. One day, an incident shakes up his monotonous life. Orwell receives a desperate call from a Burmese sub-inspector at the other end of the townRead MoreAnalysis Of George Orwell s Orwell Shooting An Elephant 1189 Words   |  5 Pagesgeographical location in the world. 1. Evidence of the existence of empires dates back to the dawn of written history in Egypt and in Mesopotamia, where local leaders extended their realms by conquering other states and holding them, when possible, in a state of subjection and semi subjection. Imperialism was reborn in the west with the emergence of modern nation-state and the age of exploration and discovery. It is to this type of empire building that the term imperialism is quite often restricted. To