Crosbie Smith - Unlocking the Secrets of Victorian Steamships
Duration: 1 hour 40 mins
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| Description: | This talk will consider the ways in which insights from the recent history of science and technology can help to unlock the secrets of Victorian steamships in the context of an age of faith in engineering and empire. |
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| Created: | 2014-02-20 02:21 | ||
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| Collection: | Clare Hall Colloquium | ||
| Publisher: | Clare Hall | ||
| Copyright: | Clare Hall | ||
| Language: | eng (English) | ||
| Keywords: | Victorian; empire; steamship; | ||
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| Abstract: | In recent years, maritime historians have spoken with a variety of voices. Some have elevated engineers such as Isambard Kingdom Brunel and ship-owners such as Samuel Cunard to the status of lone genius. Others explain the rise of Victorian ocean steam navigation in terms of wise company management and business practices, the progress of technology, or simply to sheer good luck.
This talk reflects on the strengths and weaknesses of these explanations. It will consider, through case studies drawn from the early decades of ocean steam navigation, the ways in which insights from the recent history of science and technology can help to unlock the secrets of Victorian steamships in the context of an age of faith in engineering and empire. |
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