From Blackguards to Imperial Heroes: Perceptions of the Victorian Army

See the rest of Project Revolution here!

When studying the past, it is very easy to take our modern perceptions of institutions and assume that they have been standard throughout history. Often times this is not the case,

however, and particularly so when it comes to military history.

Modern Western culture generally views the military in a positive light. We see the soldierly class as an honourable and dignified one, and it is very easy to assume that this was always the case.

To the contrary, however, this widespread lauding of the military classes (if not their leaders!) is a very modern idea- and was most certainly not the case before the 19th Century!

This video offers a brief look at the nature of the changing perception of the armed forces from the Early Modern period up to the Modern, primarily through the lens of the Scramble for Africa and the age of New Imperialism during the Victorian Era.

If you would like to learn more, I would recommend first looking into the book "Heroic Imperialists in Africa," by Berny Sebe. You can find a link to this text, and other recommendations by me, by visiting this page

You can also follow me on Twitch, where I play all sorts of historical games and complain about them!

or, visit me on Facebook!

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