Going back in ‘Maritime’

A Major part of our study in A Level History at Barnhill is with the course "The British Empire 1857-1965" where we make an introspective and detailed exploration of the Empire that has come to define our very lives in a myriad of clear and unclear ways and of which it's effect can be seen even today. What built this empire, unlike others before it, was it's mastery of the high seas from the 1700s to the very end of the second world war which gives us the saying "Britannia rules the waves".

Our teacher, Mr Khan, took us to the Greenwich maritime museum to further our understanding of the ways in which the Empire functioned throughout various ages and the acts that came to define it. In the museum we explored a diverse array of exhibits which ranged from which ranged from the tragic history of the transatlantic slave trade, highlighting the cruel and systematic transportation and enslavement of Africans to the New World. Another exhibit highlighted the triumph of Admiral Nelson at Trafalgar where the museum vividly portrayed the horrific conditions endured during this period; offering insight into the harsh lives of sailors during the Napoleonic Wars, both in their living conditions and the challenges of naval combat. Lastly, we explored the mercantile nature of Empire, where hands-on interaction with replica artefacts provided a uniquely informative and valuable experience.

Another excellent aspect of the trip was the hosts' use of the auditorium where information was not only presented but we were encouraged to discuss and debate matters relating to Empire such as over the slave trade and the West Africa Squadron. It let us as historians hone our skills in debate with a wide array of knowledge we had received in the Empire course over the past year-and a-half.

To conclude, the group found the trip highly enjoyable and informative for our understanding of Empire as historians, who are dedicated to study and unravel of it's past which was complex and multifaceted and one in which we are impacted by in many ways.

Phoenix 13E