The British Cultures: The History Of The British Empire

1235 Words3 Pages

It is the goal of the author in this book to convey the cultural and historical importance of captivity overseas. Even more so than that, I believe the author goes even further by claiming that; regardless of the various forms and locations around the world that captivity took place it still hold a special place in the history of the British Empire between 1600 and 1850. In order to truly understand the impact the British Empire had on the world and vice versa. One must explore the cultural interactions between the British colonists with the foreign lands they were forcing themselves upon. As the author puts very simply, the cultural interaction of taking captives in this era was not a linear process. Those Britons who came to the colonies slaving out other cultures for their benefit one day, may find themselves calling another culture master the next. This history of the British Empire is a history of social futility. Because, despite its small size this collection of English, Welsh, Scottish, and …show more content…

They reached a point of power where they could look back on their own history and laugh at the thought of being taken captive in the current epoch. All of the past Corsairs, Privateers, Native hoards, or India masses no longer seemed a constant threat to glorious Christian empire, that the British have succeeded in creating. This poky little rock in the Atlantic, who at one time was a victim to anyone, now had the power to be a victim to no one. This is a testament to development of the British self-perception through the eyes of captives that took place over many years in many places. This once small country now bigger than anyone no longer compelled by fear, but by conquest. Although, a country that knows only gain has yet to discover what it means to loose. Those who lived out the rest of their lives as captive, till the end of their days, know only what it means to

Open Document