What Made Us British?
Hugh Williams describes how he and his colleagues set about compiling a list of fifty significant ‘things’ that have helped to shape Britain and the British.
History’s ten worst days, fifty greatest leaders, 100 most famous battles, 1001 days that changed the world: the lists just keep on coming. This autumn sees a new one with the launch of a television series on the History Channel entitled Fifty Things You Need To Know About British History. The phrase ‘need to know’ is a deliberate attempt to inject a sense of urgency into the national debate about who the British are. History is our guide. It doesn’t necessarily provide conclusive answers, but it does offer the insight and knowledge upon which to build a better understanding of the country we live in today.
Human life is a continuum, not a vacuum. But the trouble with history is that it is about everything that has happened – and learning all of it can be a rather daunting prospect. The fifty events we have chosen tell stories we consider to be central to the development of Britain. Through learning about them, and their connection with one another, we hope that viewers and readers will be able to build a picture of the history of Britain as a whole.
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