charles wrote
Rod Speed wrote:
"Steve Walker" wrote in message
...
On 12/02/2021 22:20, T i m wrote:
On Fri, 12 Feb 2021 13:12:18 +0000, Steve Walker
wrote:

On 12/02/2021 11:02, Theo wrote:
Steve Walker wrote:
Most of us know quite well that the "Great" in "Great Britain"
refers
to
being bigger than "Brittany" and nothing more.

The government seem rather keen on emphasising otherwise:
https://www.greatbritaincampaign.com/

There's nothing wrong with using great in other senses too -
especially
when it ties in with the title of the mainland part of the UK, the
Olympics team, etc. Any country that had Great in its name would
likely
take the opportunity for "advertising" in such a way.

Only if it didn't have a history of using that as a lever against
other nations and in so doing build up a reputation that most are glad
they don't have?

Look as us, we are 'Great' from Great Britain. Have his mirror in
exchange for your land / produce / minerals / oil / people to enslave
...

Perfectly normal for developed nations of the time.

Yeah, specially during the mega colonial empire
building era where most european countrys were
grabbing anything that hadn't already been grabbed.

The main exception was germany but that was only because
it was about the last of the majors to become a nation.

They had a few footholds in Africa, though

And in the pacific, and even in china. Interesting
reading Tirpitz memoirs in that regard.

Judging historical actions against modern morals makes no sense.

But the opium wars still leave a very bad taste even now.

The people taking those actions were living in a totally different
moral environment and acted according to it.

Yep, and britain itself was in fact invaded and enslaved by plenty.

France, Germany, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Turkey, Greece, etc. all had
there own empires. As did middle Eastern nations. African "nations"
conquered, killed and enslaved others, but did not have the advantage
of the industrial revolution.

Same with the polynesians.

Simply, that was the way it was.

Same with slavery.