The Victorians: Empire and Race

This module explores the Victorian concepts of empire and race, examining how scientific and religious attitudes shaped views of colonial subjects. Key discussions include:

• The perception of non-Europeans as socially inferior.
• The growth of British Empire and its governance.
• Consequences of these attitudes for politics and ideology, including Social Darwinism and racism.

We will analyze how these beliefs contributed to extreme nationalism and led to significant societal upheaval by the start of the First World War.

Course Lectures

• The Victorians: Time and Space

  Richard Evans

  Play

  This module explores how advancements in communication transformed Victorian society. At the start of the nineteenth century, communication was slow and travel uncertain. Key developments include:

  • The expansion of the railway network.
  • Inventions such as the telegraph and telephone.
  • The impact of steamships and motor-cars.

  We will analyze how these innovations affected people's perceptions of time and space, altering not just physical journeys but also the social fabric of the era.

• The Victorians: Art and Culture

  Richard Evans

  Play

  This module delves into the evolution of Victorian art and culture, beginning with realism in literature and art, and romanticism in music. By the century's end:

  • Victorian culture faced challenges from modernism and abstract art.
  • Music began to explore disintegration of tonality.
  • Cultural styles started to incorporate primitive elements.

  We will examine the characteristics of Victorian culture and investigate the reasons behind its decline towards the end of the century.

• The Victorians: Life and Death

  Richard Evans

  Play

  This module focuses on the dramatic demographic changes of the nineteenth century in Europe, marking a transition from high birth and death rates to lower figures. Key aspects include:

  • Improvements in public health and hygiene.
  • Disappearance of epidemics such as smallpox and cholera.
  • Changing societal attitudes towards death and suffering.

  We will explore how these changes influenced cultural expressions and societal norms, especially regarding the concept of survival and Darwinian theories.

• The Victorians: Gender and Sexuality

  Richard Evans

  Play

  This module challenges the notion of sexual repression in Victorian society by exploring the complexities of gender and sexuality during the era. Key topics include:

  • The rigid rules governing personal behavior and relationships.
  • The place of women in Victorian culture and their roles.
  • Recent research that reveals contradictions in Victorian attitudes toward marriage and sexuality.

  We will discuss how these complex dynamics began to shift towards the fin-de-siècle, revealing a more nuanced understanding of gender roles.

• The Victorians: Religion and Science

  Richard Evans

  Play

  This module investigates the interplay between religion and science during the Victorian era, a time when Christian belief dominated social and political life. Key points include:

  • The impact of scientific discoveries such as Darwin's theory on traditional beliefs.
  • The emergence of secularization and the decline of religious adherence.
  • How religion influenced societal norms and values amidst scientific progress.

  We will analyze the tensions between faith and science, exploring how these dynamics contributed to broader societal changes.

• The Victorians: Empire and Race

  Richard Evans

  Playing

  This module explores the Victorian concepts of empire and race, examining how scientific and religious attitudes shaped views of colonial subjects. Key discussions include:

  • The perception of non-Europeans as socially inferior.
  • The growth of British Empire and its governance.
  • Consequences of these attitudes for politics and ideology, including Social Darwinism and racism.

  We will analyze how these beliefs contributed to extreme nationalism and led to significant societal upheaval by the start of the First World War.