Hi there, I'm Mr. Roberts, and thanks for joining me for today's history lesson where my job will be to guide you through our history resources.

I'll be making sure that by the end of today's lesson, you'll be able to securely meet our lesson objective.

By the end of today's lesson, you'll be able to explain that different sources can tell us different things about the impact of the expansion of empire, which has been debated by historians.

There are two key terms which we need to make sure we're comfortable with before we move on.

Interpretation refers to the process by which we analyse and explain past events, and provenance is a term used to describe a source's background.

In other words, its nature, origin, and purpose.

Our lesson on what sources can tell us about the expansion of empire is separated into three learning phases, and the first one is dedicated to examining the concept of empire through the lens of contemporary cartoons.

That is to say cartoons that were produced during the time of the British Empire's expansion.

Historians draw upon a range of sources and interpretations to study the expansion of the British Empire, providing insights into the political, social, and economic landscape of the period.

These sources often include letters, official documents, personal diaries, newspapers, and notably cartoons that depict the activities and impacts of the empire's expansion.

During the era of British imperial expansion, these varied sources flourished, each contributing a unique perspective.

Scholars interpret these sources to understand the motivations behind imperial policies, the experiences of both the colonisers and the colonised, and the consequences of British rule.

These sources portray the empire in various lights: as a civilising force, a ruthless conqueror, a benevolent ruler, or a profit-driven oppressor.

They also illustrate Britain's interactions with other world powers and its relationships with indigenous populations.

By analysing these sources, historians can gain a detailed understanding of the different views on British imperialism and its role in global history.

So let's make sure we've secured some key information now.

Which of the following statements is correct based on what we've heard so far? A, historians use a variety of sources, for example, cartoons, to gain insight into the British Empire.

B, historians can only limit themselves to a particular type of source to gain insight into the British Empire.

Or C, historians solely rely on official documents and letters to understand British imperialism.

Pause this video while you decide on the correct answer and then press play when you're ready to resume.

Welcome back, and well done if you said A, historians use a variety of sources, for example, cartoons, to gain insight into the British Empire.

Some historians argue that the expansion of the empire did have some positive impacts, particularly in India, such as the development of infrastructure and administrative systems. However, many historians criticise the British for the cruel and violent treatment of indigenous peoples in the colonies, highlighting the darker aspects of imperial rule.

So let's try another quick learning check.

Which of the following statements is correct? A, sources always provide consistent information about the expansion of empire, regardless of their origins.

B, sources offer varying perspectives on the expansion of empire, depending on where they come from.

Or C, sources that are from colonising countries such as Britain are too unreliable to be useful for historians.

Pause the video while you decide on the correct answer and then press play when you're ready to continue.

Welcome back, and well done if you said A, sources offer varying perspectives on the expansion of empire, depending on where they come from.

Next on the screen, you can see a contemporary cartoon of Cecil Rhodes from 1892.

He's in a British Army uniform astride the African continent.

He's shown holding telegraph wire, since Rhodes planned to link all British colonies in Africa by telegraph.

Study the source and answer the following question: what does this source suggest about British imperial power in Africa? As ever, pause the video while you complete this task and press play when you're ready for some feedback in the form of a model answer.

Welcome back.

Well done if you managed to include any of the following in your paragraph.

The cartoon of Cecil Rhodes provides insight into British imperial expansion and contemporary attitudes during the time it was produced.

Cecil Rhodes is shown as a giant statue-like figure, astride the entire African continent.

He has one foot at the top and the other at the bottom of Africa, demonstrating Britain's power over the continent.

He's also dressed in military uniform, suggesting that Britain conquered Africa through force.

He holds telegraph wires in his hands, suggesting Britain has brought new technology to the continent and reinforces the extent and impact of British imperialism during the time the cartoon was created.

Well done for your hard work there.

And now it's time to move on to the second learning phase of our lesson today where we'll be examining the importance of establishing source provenance.

Establishing the provenance of sources related to the British Empire is crucial for understanding their historical significance and interpreting them accurately.

Provenance may contain information about the nature, origin, and purpose of the source.

Nature refers to what type of source it is, for example, a cartoon, a newspaper article, a letter, or a government record.

Origin refers to who created the source, when it was created, where it was created, and in what historical context it was created.

Purpose refers to why the source was created and for what audience.

Once a historian has established the provenance of a source, they can form an opinion on its purpose or the intent of its creator.

This is important because knowing who created the source and why it was made helps historians understand its message.

Was it propaganda, criticism, or simply an observation? This helps to put the source into context and to see what people were thinking at the time.

Understanding where the source came from helps historians know if it's trustworthy and how useful it is for understanding history.

Knowing who created it and for whom helps historians judge how accurate and meaningful it is as a historical source.

So before we move on again, let's just check the following.

True or false? Provenance is crucial for understanding the historical significance of sources related to the British Empire.

Pause the video while you decide on the correct answer, and then press play when you're ready for the answer to be revealed.

Welcome back.

Well done if you identified the correct answer as true.

Now let's justify that answer.

Which of the following provides the correct justification for that? A, provenance helps interpret a source's intended purpose and message and confirm this using contextual knowledge, or B, provenance allows historians to eliminate any doubt about a source's purpose and message, regardless of its context.

Pause the video while you come to a decision on the correct justification, and then press play to continue with the lesson.

Welcome back, and well done if you said the answer was A, provenance helps interpret a source's intended purpose and message, and confirms this using contextual knowledge.

Establishing source provenance is essential for understanding the extent to which a source offers a reliable interpretation of events or a reliable reflection of popular opinions during the expansion of the British Empire.

Sources may tell us different things about the expansion of the empire, depending on their provenance.

For example, a British official's report might emphasise the benefits of colonial rule, while a local newspaper from India might highlight the negative impacts on indigenous populations, or a European illustrator might draw a satirical cartoon about the ambitions of British colonisers.

Understanding the origins of these sources helps historians to critically evaluate their content and significance.

So before we move on again, let's just check that we're retaining key information by completing the sentences on the screen using the same keyword in both gaps.

Pause the video while you do this, and then press play when you are ready for the answer to be revealed.

Welcome back, and well done if your sentences look like this.

Sources may tell us different things about the expansion of the empire, depending on their provenance.

Understanding the provenance of these sources helps historians critically evaluate their content and significance.

Next on the screen, you can see a contemporary cartoon depicting Cecil Rhodes as greedy, with the Dutch flag indicating he's close to Boer territory.

Study the source and complete the following task.

Suggest what provenance information would be needed in order for this cartoon to be a useful source for a historian studying the expansion of the British Empire.

Pause the video while you complete this task, and press play when you're ready for some feedback in the form of a model answer.

Welcome back, and well done if you managed to include any of the following.

In order for this cartoon to be a useful source for a historian studying the expansion of the British Empire, a historian would need to know the source's provenance, for example, who created the source, what their nationality was, and whether that would make them likely to be supportive or hostile to the British Empire's expansionism.

Furthermore, knowing the purpose of the source, for instance, whether it is a satirical cartoon or not, would also help a historian form an accurate interpretation of the source's message and utility.

Really well done there.

And with that task complete, we can now move on to the final phase of our learning today, where we'll be looking at determining contrasting opinions in terms of how people interpreted British imperial expansion at the time.

Sources from the era of British imperial expansion offer a nuanced view of the diverse and changing opinions on British rule from both contemporary observers within and outside the empire, as well as from historians since then.

Some contemporary sources highlighted positive impacts, such as economic enrichment through trade and access to resources from India and Africa, while others criticised the British for the cruel treatment of indigenous peoples and resource exploitation.

Sources from within Britain often portrayed imperial expansion favourably, celebrating economic gains and cultural spread.

They often served as propaganda to legitimise British rule and garner public support.

However, not all sources from within the British Empire supported imperial actions, as many British people were critical of the negative consequences of imperial rule.

Similarly, sources from outside the empire could be critical of British expansion.

Historians must consider these diverse perspectives to understand the full range of public opinion during the era of British imperial expansion.

Some historians have argued that the empire had positive impacts through infrastructure and administrative development, although this is generally recognised as having been very much to the benefit of British control and economic exploitation.

Most recent history of the British Empire, especially that produced by people from the formerly colonised countries, details the exploitation and mistreatment of colonised peoples and the long-term consequences of colonisation for their countries and for Britain, even after independence was achieved.

The British Empire's legacy continues to be an active area of study, highlighting the importance of considering a wide range of sources and perspectives to understand this pivotal period in global history.

So before we move on again, I'd like you to complete each sentence on the screen by matching the correct parts together.

Pause the video while you do this and press play to check your answers.

Welcome back, and well done if you identified that sources created within Britain often highlighted positive impacts of imperial expansion.

But not all sources created within Britain supported imperial actions, as many British people were critical of imperial rule.

Finally, well done if you knew that historians continue to debate the impacts and ethics of British imperialism.

Next, based on our learning throughout the entirety of this lesson so far, put the following steps involved in source analysis and evaluation into the correct order.

Pause the video while you complete this task using your learning today, and then press play when you are ready for the answers to be revealed.

Welcome back, and well done if you recognised that the first thing you should do in the process is to establish source provenance, followed by using this to establish the source's purpose, followed finally by cross-referencing your source with other sources in order to confirm whether the interpretation you are concluding from the source is accurate.

Finally, now I'd like you to write one paragraph to answer the following question.

How do historians use sources to study the expansion of the British Empire? Try to consider British attitudes to their own imperial expansion, attitudes to Britain's imperial expansion held by their European competitors, and the debates these sources have caused among historians.

Pause the video while you complete this written task, and when you're done, return here for some feedback in the form of a model answer.

Hello again.

I asked you to answer the question, how do historians use sources to study the expansion of the British Empire? Well done if you managed to include the following in your answer.

Historians use various sources, including cartoons, to study the British Empire's expansion, gaining insights into its politics, society, and economy.

These cartoons vividly show both positive narratives of British progress and darker aspects like exploitation.

Additionally, they reveal European criticisms, helping historians understand the era's complexities and consequences.

Through thorough analysis of source provenance and verifying subsequent interpretations through comparison to contextual knowledge, historians can piece together a detailed account of British imperial expansion.

Really well done today.

With that task finished, we've arrived at the end of our lesson.

The following is a summary of our key learning points, and it would be great if you could remember these going forward.

Firstly, historians utilise various sources and interpretations to study the expansion of the British Empire.

These sources can provide different perspectives on the empire's expansion.

Some historians contend that the British Empire had positive effects for the colonised, though most sources suggest otherwise.

Many historians criticise the brutality and discrimination of the British Empire and its lasting negative impacts.

And finally, it is important for a historian to use a source's provenance and to compare it against other sources to understand its usefulness.

Thank you so much for joining me for our lesson today.

It's been a real pleasure to guide you through our history learning resources, and I very much look forward to seeing you again during future history lessons.