What Made Britain Great?

[I_Hate_Infinity]

I watched the BBC series 'Genius of Invention' recently and it got me thinking of how Britain came to rule the seas, how we started and dominated the industrial revolution, and how we came to create the largest Empire the world had ever seen. Everything just seemed to fall into place...

~ Centuries of British innovation and invention; spearheading industry allowing Britain to manufacture on a scale unimaginable at the time.
~ Successful Military and Navy campaigns; leading to domination of the waters off our coast and seas further afield.
~ Scientific approach to global exploration; discovery of trade winds and invention of maratime clocks.
~ Vast financial and mineral resources; a rich treasury and plentiful supply of metal ore's and coal.

What would you choose as its defining moment in the evolution of Her empire? And why?

Infinity

[I_Hate_Infinity]

Great thread posts :)

I'll say about jake, as they are getting reprimanded by all, that I valued jake's input highlighting an unsightly factor to Her empire growing, oppression in the persuit of wealth. Perhaps it is still true to this day? Western society's dependence on oil and it's combined military operating multiple theatres of war in the Middle East? (Another question for another time)

@Dolly1308
Correct!! Well done. The British occupied the Maori islands of New Zealand but their attempts to subdue the fierce tribes using standard European military tactics failed and a long sustained guerilla war ensued, resulting in Queen Victoria signing the 'Treaty of Waitangi' to restore peace to the furthest corner of the empire.

IHI

[Terino000]

I was educated in England and thought all the inventors came from the British Isles. I happened to get hold of a Russian textbook only to find all the inventors were actually Russian. German textbooks have a similar problem. Perhaps people become great by blowing their own trumpets!!

[I_Hate_Infinity]

Perhaps, but although European societies often had individuals enlightened by innovation at similar times in many countries (and let's not forget the Chinese, Arabic and Indian philosophers), no single country married the theoretical with the practical in the form of inspired invention, like the modestly populated Britain.
It was the joining of the idea and the object that sets the British contribution to modern humanity apart from it's neighbours.

But yes, maybe a little bit of trumpet blowing involved :)

[con-amca]

A very good book on this subject is Harry Bingham's "This Little Britain". You can find it on Amazon for a penny, plus postage. Or there is a Kindle version.