Role And Influence Of Individuals - 1850-1870 Flashcards
Was there a plan for the empire?
Not really, it is often suggested to have been acquired ‘by accident’
How did explorers promote the idea of British empire?
Tales of discovery and exoticism made the empire seem an adventurous achievement for Britain
How were explorers influential to the British empire?
. Their bravery in facing the unfamiliar made the empire seem a brave, honourable task
. Developed Victorian understanding of the interior of Africa, in good ways and bad ways
- lectured and published findings, producing maps etc.
How did David Livingstone start up his exploration career?
1841 - As a missionary doctor in South Africa (familiar territory)
- from then on, he entered uncharted end territories
When did Livingstone return to Britain after first exploring and how was he greeted?
1856 to 1857 - greeted with huge acclaim, clearly he was the first very influential explorer to promote the empire
What did Livingstone report back to Britain after his first set of exploration?
Series of lectures at Cambridge on the geography, diseases, languages and cultures he encountered in Africa
How was it clear that Livingstone’s return to Africa in 1858 was heavily supported by British government?
They funded his idea to spread ‘commerce and Christianity’ in Africa
- clearly these explorers feel they need to instil the ‘wisdom’ and ‘humanity’ into the African people
(Doing things the ‘right’ way)
What title did Livingstone have when he went back to Africa in 1858 and what did he do?
. Consul for the East Coast of Africa
. Explored along Zambezi river with team of Africans, Indians and formerly enslaved people
How was Livingstone presented by the British public?
. As a martyr and saint
- 2000 letters from Africa to Britain fuelled British imagination
- his mission to find the source of the Nile was illustrated as an amazing quest to confirm Livingstone’s saintliness
- dramatic disappearance and rediscovery by Henry Stanley in 1871 cemented idea of him as a martyr who sacrificed his life for Africa and the empire
. Clearly the public are extremely proud of the empire
What were John Kirk’s motives for exploration?
Science, adventure, Christian duty and desire for a colonial position
How did John Kirk’s interests kickstart his career?
Interested in botany (study of plants)
- appointed chief medical officer and economic botanist for Livingstone’s Zambezi expedition
How was John Kirk significant in his expedition with Livingstone?
. Explored waterways
. Nearly drowned in rapids in 1860 (brave)
. Collected aquatic specimens, including mussels which he sent back to Britain and wrote about (portraying exotic excitement of empire)
After Kirk’s expedition to Zambezi, where did he go, when, and to do what?
. 1868 to sultanate of Zanzibar
. Medical officer and vice consul there
- lived out remainder of career as a diplomat (represents Britain in Zanzibar)
Why were Kirk’s efforts as a diplomat applauded by British?
. Zanzibar was commercially of interest due to its clove and ivory exports (exploiting materials)
- commerce grew under Kirk’s diplomacy and British aid
. It was a wealthy state and had East Africa’s first steam railway (status)
. Kirk made sure Zanzibar was a client state to Britain (bringing that status and trade potential to Britain’s side)
These efforts gave Britain strong hold over Africa’s East coast which would grow into BEA in 1895
How did Kirk’s diplomacy in Zanzibar show Britain’s somewhat moral good in bringing Britain to the empire?
. British initiated treaties with Zanzibar to get the Sultan to outlaw the Zanzibar slave trade
. Commerce grew in Zanzibar due to British
Significance: British exploration and colonialism wasn’t always for bad reasons such as exploitation only for Britain themselves.
How did Sir Richard Burton become famous?
. Stories of Muslim life and manners in 1850s
- visited Mecca etc as a disguised Muslim
. This was reacted to in a mixed way back in Britain:
. Many British saw it as extremely brave to go to these Muslim cities
. Muslims saw his disguising as blasphemous (not very considerate of religion)
What did Richard Burton’s visit to Muslim cities imply about the feeling of entitlement among explorers in the British empire?
They felt as though they could explore anywhere in any way they wanted just to impress Britain back at home with interesting findings. However, many of the explorations such as burton’s were inconsiderate of religion as British in Victorian society viewed Christianity as the superior religion (single-minded)
What was Burton and Speke’s relationship like?
. Took part in expedition together from Zanzibar inland (1857-58) to find the source of the Nile
. Burton had to abandon due to malaria
. Speke discovered lake Victoria without him, claiming it was the source of the Nile
. Burton didn’t accept this theory and were set to debate in 1864 at the British association for the advancement of science (disagreement)
. Speke’s death prevented this debate from happening
How was Burton an extremely wild and controversial explorer?
Bravery: produced 43 volumes on his explorations, including five books on West Africa’s tribal rituals, including cannibalism.
Controversial: daring essays on pornography, sexual education of women (often rejected by editors)
How did Richard Burton encompass a nice element of exploration in bringing his explorations back to Britain to show excitement?
Produced a 16-volume translation of the Arabian nights
Which significant lake did burton and Speke find together on their expedition inland?
Lake Tanganyika, six months into expedition (February 1858)
Was it only burton who disputed Lake Victoria as the source of the Nile?
No, many in Britain disputed it too
When did Speke reach lake Victoria?
July 1858
What happened on Speke’s second expedition and how were his findings influential?
1860 - Speke mapped parts of Lake Victoria and found the exit at ‘Ripon Falls’
- followed the course of the river and found South Sudan, meeting Samuel Baker and von Sass (other explorers), to tell them of another lake west of lake Victoria
- Baker’s group found another source from this, Lake Albert
. Accounts published in 1863 to 64 - shows the vastness of Africa and tales of adventure to be told to make empire seem appealing
How was Speke’s death mysterious?
Killed by his own gun while hunting, so it was probably suicide (why?)
What were the ‘typical’ traits of Victorian colonial administrators?
. Single-minded and inflexible
. Condescending towards those he saw as inferior
. From a public school and university background (educated)
. Need for things to be done a ‘British way’
. Always had the benefit of Britain in mind
When did Baring become Earl of /Lord Cromer?
1901
Where was Baring’s second, most significant post?
Egypt in 1877
Why was Baring sent to Egypt to administrate there?
To help Isma’il Pasha out with his financial difficulties (was Baring being good here and trying to help Egyptians, or was there a British motive of the importance of Egypt in the background?)
Why did Baring’s first post in Egypt not last long?
His advice was ignored so he felt there was no point in administrating
When did Baring return to Egypt and with what role?
1882 as consul general
How did Baring try and help Egypt out in a ‘British way’ in 1883?
Approved the Dufferin Report - created a powerless Egyptian puppet parliament which created a ‘veiled protectorate’ of British control
- Baring asserted needs for British supervision of reforms in Egypt as it was a bankrupt country (this probably wasn’t a bad idea)
Was Baring’s administration really that imperialistic?
Somewhat:
. He was very doubtful of the abilities of local Egyptians
. However, Egypt were in an awful financial situation so it is fair to think that Britain’s experience was needed
. On the other hand, Britain may just be helping out Egypt purely out of the importance of Egypt to the empire e.g Suez Canal
Where did Bartle Frere begin his career?
In the Indian civil service
How was Frere’s rewards in helping crush the Indian rebellion typical of the empire?
Got a knighthood because of it and a place on the Viceroy’s council at Calcutta
- Frere being rewarded for maintaining empire in Britain despite the exploitation and carelessness towards the indigenous Indian population
How did Frere build up his ‘CV’ of experience following his knighthood?
. Became governor of Bombay
. Became member of India Council in Britain (1867-1877)
. Became a baronet (lowest title of honour in British order)
