Empires has a huge role in developing the most advance
cities of today. The inspiration of
empires since the time of the Egyptians are always an inspiration to the modern
cities of today. Rome is always in the
history of building great cities. But
the book of Tristram Hunt focus more on the colonies of England around the
world and how they embrace the system of the English Empire specifically the
process of building the most advance cities in the world. Without England these famous cities today are
not part of the Great and Modern Cities of the 21st Century. But first what is the purpose of urbanizing a
part of a nation to be called a city. A
city is where the economic and cultural power house is made by the city
capital.
Thus, in ancient times until
today if war time will come central cities or the nation’s capital is always
the number one threat for any attack during war time. But on a brighter side, cities are also the
center for business and trade and even entertainment and fashion that from then
and now Paris is always the center for Fashion with the adjacent “tag” in Tokyo
that in Asia Tokyo is always the center for trendy fashion and innovation. We can currently observe that in any fashion
event for example Paris, Italy, and Tokyo are the most redundant venue for the
business of fashion. But other countries
are also holding same event but these three cities are famous in terms of
fashion. In an academic point of view the
fashion events being held in famous cities are creating the wave of new culture
and the culture of the whole nation echoing to other empires and nations.
Indeed, we can say that cities are the center of knowledge in molding the
future trends of the civilization.
Take for example the style of clothing and
the taste of food are all influenced by the trend setters and the urban
lifestyle showed in the most modern countries today. As such, Empires from then and now are
gaining more control of their respective civilizations from their capital
cities. Education and research are also
available in the central cities available were business and logistics is
accessible for neighboring countries to trade and make business. But just imagine how England extend their
power through their Naval might in the seas and extending their culture and
integrate with other nations by colonialism.
In the book there are about 10 cities mentioned that are deemed
important in the great colonization of England but I will just take a few to
discuss the core context of the thesis of the book. The most famous and controversial is the
colonization of Hong Kong that by the present time it was turned over to
mainland China.
But in my previous blog
(https://avantgardebyryanf.blogspot.com/2018/09/the-enlightenment-of-consumption-from.html)
I impart the importance of the values in business that England and the ideology
of modern capitalism is giving a huge impact to the whole economic status of
Hong Kong. Capitalism was observed as
the pattern of governance since the colonization started with a very poor economic
performance of Hong Kong but as mobility and the observance of free market Hong
Kong became and influencial city not only
in asia but through out the world. Stock
market data and real time information in Hong Kong market are all quoted in
other famous markets in London, Dubai, and New York these days. Indeed, we can say that cities are the
melting pot of knowledge and the produced value and technology for
business. Without the urban civilization
free market is very slow in growth.
Central capital cities allow more competition that it allows more competition
and mobility that will eventually define the fundamental definition of
capitalism.
Another city that is also
famous in British colony is the city of Calcutta were the influence of Rome and
Persia is also in the inner culture of the people in Calcutta. The city of Calcutta with its mighty river of
Hooghly that allows the movement of the city’s inner spirit and life like the Nile
in the Mediterranean. Moreover, Augustan
swagger was to define the ethos of Wellesley’s Calcutta, a colonial citadel which
cemented Britain’s “Swing of the East”.
The growth of Calcutta was both a symbol and signal of the expanding territorial
might of British Empire in India. One of
the best benefit that the British Empire harvested from the country of India
besides the city of Calcutta is the Agricultural products. Just imagine how many tons of spices are
being harvested in the rich land of India and brought back to London and other
colonies. Trade and international
business during the colonial times are so rapid that education and the system
of government also was introduced in the cities being colonized by England for
example.
Agriculture is indeed a huge
part of India that feed the needs of the empire of England in my previous blog
I narratively portray how empires is on huge hunger when their capitals are
starting to get urbanized and the cities are increasing in population and
natural agricultural products are starting to get in scarcity. Even today China is starting to feel the need
of food when their previous farmlands are being converted into industrial cites
for technology production for example. As
such in the case of England and its colonial city of Calcutta and other parts
of India, in a positive view not mentioning the cultural frictions and differences
from the past that create a huge cultural conflict between the two nations has
molded the city of Calcutta into a more urbanized and civilized city. Today in Calcutta, Government House is the Raj
Bhavan, the governor’s official residence, and the writers’ building is base
for the chief secretariat of West Bengal.
But the history of England and India is not all business and colorful cultural
and agricultural exchange. War and civil
war are also part of the history between the two cities that the normal shift
of cultural values and integration of values and practices among the two
countries.
Likewise, Oxford is having
double time in mobilizing their research man power to execute their advance
research findings in India that during that time exchange professorship from England
and India vice versa is famous in exchanging knowledge. Thus, Research centers in London now a days
like the London School of Economics are having a huge teaching staffs from India
and not only the working professors but also the curriculum are integrated in
the concepts through the social science of India in particular. As a fact it is not only England that is giving
knowledge to the various colonized cities but to London itself. By gathering information and real data
evidences just what like Charles Darwin is doing during his voyage, London and
the Empire of England as a whole is getting more than what they are giving to
their colonies.
Just like the Victoria Harbor in Hong Kong were the Royal Navy
Ship docked when they first controlled the Harbor of Hong Kong until their last
stay in 1997. The city hall of Hong Kong in front of the Victoria Harbour are still enjoying the
breeze of the waters of the habour while the personnel in the City Hall are
enjoying the Hong Kong Club facilities with the mixed culture of Chinese and
British inspired culture and daily lifestyle.
How could you define the presentation of the Madarin Oriental Hong Kong with
the inspiration of the British Tea drinking just like what they influenced the
Boston elites in their Boston Tea Party.
Though Hong Kong today and Calcutta on the other hand has its own
destiny of their distinct urban lifestyle but still the influence of British
Colony is already part of the urban culture that as you consider the
integration of ideologies influencing the world and its colonies are still
driving the main political machines of the various urban cities and the world
at large. As England, France, and United
States are the famous driver of world culture and colonization, when can China
be part of the big three in terms of Colony and world political influence?
British in Hong Kong
British in India
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