New
New
Year 9

New imperial history

I can explain how historians' interpretations of empire differ and how this has evolved over the course of the 20th century.

New
New
Year 9

New imperial history

I can explain how historians' interpretations of empire differ and how this has evolved over the course of the 20th century.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. New historical perspectives on the British Empire have emerged in recent decades.
  2. 'New imperial history' emphasises the relationship between the metropole (Britain) and the colonies.
  3. 'New imperial history' explores how the colonies have shaped the metropole (Britain).
  4. The end of the 20th century saw a trend of scholarship from non-British perspectives such as Said and Bhabha.
  5. The significance of the impact of Britain on the colonies has also been debated by historians.

Keywords

  • Historiography - historiography is the study of the writing of history and of written history

  • Postcolonialism - postcolonialism is a theoretical approach that is concerned with the impact of colonisation in colonies and former colonies

  • Metropole - a metropole is the parent state of a colony

Common misconception

It is possible to view the British Empire as either a force for good or bad.

The enormity of the British Empire and number of individuals involved means that to attach a simple label to the British Empire is an impossible task.

When explaining Said's ideas in the first learning cycle, you can ask students to describe different colonies within the British Empire. You can then address the misconceptions that may arise and explain that these have contributed to the development of postcolonial thinking.
Teacher tip

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
  • Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
  • Depiction or discussion of serious crime

Supervision

Adult supervision required

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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6 Questions

Q1.
This keyword is an international organisation consisting of states which once belonged to the British Empire.
Correct Answer: Commonwealth, The Commonwealth
Q2.
In which year was the Atlantic Charter signed?
1945
1939
Correct answer: 1941
Q3.
In which year was the Indian Independence Act signed?
1946
Correct answer: 1947
1948
Q4.
Which of the following countries were partitioned after independence?
Kenya
Barbados
Correct answer: Palestine
Correct answer: India
Q5.
In which year did the British government create the 'two-power standard'?
Correct answer: 1889
1906
1911
Q6.
Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee celebrated how many years of her reign?
Correct answer: 60
50
70

6 Questions

Q1.
Traditional historiography of the British Empire is from the perspective of the __________.
Correct answer: British
colonies
colonised people
Q2.
The study of the writing of history and of written history is .
Correct Answer: historiography, Historiography
Q3.
is the parent state of a colony
Correct Answer: Metropole , metropole
Q4.
New imperial history explores __________.
the role of the British and their achievements
Correct answer: the relationship between the metropole and the colonies
the impact of colonisation from the perspective of the colonised
Q5.
Which of the following is an example of how the colonies shaped the metropole?
the British building schools in India
Correct answer: the influence of Caribbean music in Britain
Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee
Q6.
Which of the following is an example of a question that a postcolonial historian might ask?
How did British books change Indian stories and poems?
What was the impact of British policies on the preservation of Indian festivals?
Correct answer: How do Indians today view and use British-built buildings?

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