The Victorians: Empire and Race - Professor Richard Evans

TL;DR

Victorians believed in the superiority of the British Empire over other cultures, including Europeans, and justified imperialist intervention based on notions of progress, Christianity, and racial hierarchies.

Transcript

this is the last of these uh this series of six lectures on the victorians the Victorian experience and it's on um it's on Empire and race and the starting point is really that uh when one thinks back to the victorians from the vantage point of the 21st Century one of their most ridiculous and annoying traits I think is their obvious sense of the s... Read More

Key Insights

• 💪 Victorians had a strong sense of British superiority over other cultures and believed they were appointed to do great work for mankind.
• 💡 The belief in progress and the idea of political progress towards democracy and equality were central to Victorian ideology.
• 🐎 Imperialism was justified based on notions of progress, Christianity, and the need to uplift and civilize "inferior" races.
• 🫵 Victorian views of race and racial hierarchies were influenced by scientific theories of the time, such as social Darwinism.
• 😮 The expansion of the British Empire in the late 19th century was accompanied by a rise in racist and imperialist ideologies, leading to the justification of exploitation and oppression of subject peoples.
• 🗯️ There were contrasting views within Victorian society, with some individuals criticizing imperialism and advocating for the rights and welfare of subject peoples.

Questions & Answers

Q: How did Victorians view the inhabitants of European countries compared to themselves?

Victorians believed that Europeans, especially the French, Italians, and Spaniards, were lazy, backward, and inferior, in contrast to the superior Anglo-Saxon race.

Q: How did travel and tourism contribute to the Victorian sense of superiority?

Travel allowed Victorians to confirm their sense of superiority over other parts of Europe, as they observed what they perceived as backwardness and decay in other countries. They romanticized medieval ruins and quaint customs, further reinforcing their belief in their own superiority.

Q: How did Victorians justify imperialism based on notions of progress?

Victorians believed that the British Empire was more advanced and progressive than other cultures, and they saw it as their mission to civilize and uplift "inferior" races through colonization and evangelism.

Q: How did Victorians view races and racial hierarchies?

Victorians believed in racial hierarchies, viewing races as either superior or inferior based on genetic and cultural factors. They believed in the improvement of races through eugenics, but also saw some races as too primitive to be uplifted without British guidance.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Victorians viewed themselves as superior to inhabitants of other countries and believed they were appointed to do great work for mankind.

• The British sense of superiority over other parts of Europe grew as Britain industrialized and expanded its empire.

• The growth of Empire was justified by notions of progress, Christianity, and the belief that the British were destined to lead the world into the future.

• Victorians sought to convert and educate inferior races, while also exploiting and oppressing them.