Topic title: What is the legacy of the British Empire?

Year group: 8

When taught: February to April

What are we learning?

• The origins, development and fall of the British Empire
• A case study of the British Empire in India (East India Company, Clive of India, Indian Mutiny 1857, Amritsar Massacre, Gandhi’s independence campaign, independence and division)
• The ‘scramble for Africa’ and Cecil Rhodes, with a focus on the British rule of Zambia, where we have a partner school.
• The legacy of the Empire, asking how it should be remembered and understood today as well as its impact on our current lives.
• Changing historical views on the Empire.

Why is this important to know? 

• Empire is a key part of British history and our relationship with the rest of the world
• It helps students to understand our development to become a leading nation and the impact that imperialism had
• It asks important moral questions and to explore key debates around legacy
• It expands our understanding of other cultures and nations, including different perspectives

Where does this link into our past and future learning? 

• This links to recent learning on the industrial revolution and 18^th and 19^th century changes in Britain and the wider world
• Our next topic looks specifically at the slave trade and black American history, which is closely connected
• In Year 9 and beyond, concepts of imperialism and nationalism are needed to better understand topics such as the causes of World War One
• This topic deepens skills such as identifying and analysing causes and consequences as well as evaluating historical interpretations

How will we be assessed on this topic?

• The Year 8 exam will contain recall and extended writing questions on the British Empire

What makes a strong piece of work in this topic?  What are teachers hoping to see?  

• Attention to detail and use of specific examples
• Using correctly key terms such as imperialism (see below)
• Giving balanced answers that look at different viewpoints
• At the highest level, pupils will begin to see that experiences of the Empire were complex and different for different people, places and time periods
• A willingness to explore complex moral debates and arguments

What key words are there in this topic?

Quizlet: click here

What can I try if I want to stretch and challenge myself on this topic?

• Study more about the British Empire in other parts of the world, such as Australia and New Zealand
• Read more in depth on key individuals such as Cecil Rhodes, Clive of India, Ghandi or key events such as The Indian Mutiny, Amritsar Massacre, Indian Independence and the partition of India. There are some great documentaries on this topic on YouTube.

What wider reading can be done on this topic?

Stolen history : the truth about the British Empire and how it shaped us by Sathnam Sanhera (available in the Aird Library), click here

Supporting document/links:

• Knowledge organiser