History questions not worth their own thread III

[Plotinus]

How did a miserable little island off the north west coast of Europe transform itself into the largest and greatest Empire the world has ever seen? The more pro-British patrotism the better

A more robust gene pool and rich culture, caused by massive, non-stop immigration from the Bronze Age onwards.

 

[Linkman226]

Some chance too, i.e., beating the Spanish Armada

 

[GoodGame]

Strong culture despite regime changes, and with much effort they managed to dominate their naval competition (the Spanish and French) navally, and had a large population that favored getting off of the island for better dining and elbow room. They probably also benefited from continental influences (Norman and Roman invasions)---exchange of technology and all that.

 

[Cheezy the Wiz]

Whiggishness.

 

[Traitorfish]

Heavily armed men in kilts.

 

[SeekTruthFromFacts]

But then again, there's never been a particularly good answer for why certain religions spread and others don't.

I thought Rhye wrote it all in Religions.py?

 

[LightSpectra]

A more robust gene pool and rich culture, caused by massive, non-stop immigration from the Bronze Age onwards.

I see what you did there, and I approve.

 

[Ajidica]

When I was at the Smithsonian Museum in the Exhibit on the American Revolution, they said that the British troops had red coats because of the desire of the King and Government to impress on their enemies how good British troops were. This completely clashes with what I know of why the Brits wore red: It was the cheapest dye available when the New Model Army was created. Normally I would dismiss the assertion otherwise out of hand, but it is the Smithsonian. Were there other reasons for choosing the color red, or was the fact it looked epic a happy coincidence?

How did a miserable little island off the north west coast of Europe transform itself into the largest and greatest Empire the world has ever seen?

Just default to the plucky Brits mythos and fetish up the Royal Navy a bit, while leaving out the "rum, buggery, and the lash". That, with a good helping of the Protestest work ethic, a misinterpretation of what the Magna Carta did and its effects with a garnish of "Civilizing mission" and "free trade" should be sufficient.

 

[LightSpectra]

When I was at the Smithsonian Museum in the Exhibit on the American Revolution, they said that the British troops had red coats because of the desire of the King and Government to impress on their enemies how good British troops were. This completely clashes with what I know of why the Brits wore red: It was the cheapest dye available when the New Model Army was created. Normally I would dismiss the assertion otherwise out of hand, but it is the Smithsonian. Were there other reasons for choosing the color red, or was the fact it looked epic a happy coincidence?

Could be both. They're not mutually exclusive.

 

[ParkCungHee]

How did a miserable little island off the north west coast of Europe transform itself into the largest and greatest Empire the world has ever seen?

Through the unyielding faith of Brian Boru.

 

[civ_king]

I see what you did there, and I approve.

do explain

Through the unyielding faith of Brian Boru.

Obvious answer is that it wasn't brutally subjugated under the Pope and the supremacy of the Anglican Church made it great.

 

[spryllino]

do explain

Plotinus was replying to Quackers.

 

[Quackers]

Just default to the plucky Brits mythos and fetish up the Royal Navy a bit, while leaving out the "rum, buggery, and the lash". That, with a good helping of the Protestest work ethic, a misinterpretation of what the Magna Carta did and its effects with a garnish of "Civilizing mission" and "free trade" should be sufficient.

You missed out key buzz words like redcoat, industrial revolution, common law system, habeaus corpus, a few enlightenment scholars, first parliamentary democracy.
I wanna see a few more of these people!

Hehe, i like responses so far tho

 

[Ajidica]

You missed out key buzz words like redcoat, industrial revolution, common law system, habeaus corpus, a few enlightenment scholars, first parliamentary democracy.
I wanna see a few more of these people!

Hehe, i like responses so far tho

I thought I got redcoat by mentioning the 'civilizing mission', industrial revolution as 'Protestant work ethic' and 'free trade', and the rest through the mention of the Magna Carta.
It looks like I have to hit the drawing boards on how proper British jingoism. It is a pity we don't have any traditional British nationalists around here much. You're the closest we have!

 

[Quackers]

Well, this is an essential poem for British Empire fandom:

Whatever happens, we have got
The Maxim gun, and they have not.

Even though it's terrible

and of course one one of my absolute favourites:

We don't want to fight,
But. by Jingo, if we do,
We won't go to the front ourselves,
We'll send the mild hindoo.

 

[Tee Kay]

Were there other reasons for choosing the color red, or was the fact it looked epic a happy coincidence?

Visibility. Makes it easier to identify your own side through all that smoke.

Protestest work ethic

 

[Leoreth]

I thought Rhye wrote it all in Religions.py?

Unless you're talking about Christianity, CvRhyes.cpp has a much larger impact on that

 

[Virote_Considon]

It looks like I have to hit the drawing boards on how proper British jingoism.

Just so you know in advance, "Fish and Chips" means "Fish and Freedom Fries".

It is a pity we don't have any traditional British nationalists around here much. You're the closest we have!

Well, I'm a Euronationalist, if that helps?

I see a Papist agent is attempting to subvert the righteousness of the Protestant Work Ethic via acts of slander!

What would Cromwell do in light of such heinous acts?

 

[Ajidica]

What would Cromwell do in light of such heinous acts?

I would say persecute Irish, but that is the default response by just about all Brits and English to just about anything.

 

[Lord Baal]

I would say persecute Irish, but that is the default response by just about all Brits and English to just about anything.

Correct. Blaming the French would also be acceptable.