The Victorian belief that the English were a chosen people of history
In short: For the Victorians, travel was not just about seeing the world; it was about confirming a hierarchy. By comparing the industrial progress of Britain to the perceived decay of the Continent, they constructed a narrative of inherent superiority that blended religion, science, and a deep-seated sense of destiny.
Victorian attitudes toward non-Europeans were rooted in a profound sense of superiority that manifested as systemic racism. This worldview was constructed through a synthesis of science and religion, leading the British and other Europeans to view the rest of the world as socially inferior and spiritually ignorant. Central to this was the binary of 'civilised' versus 'uncivilised,' a framework used to justify imperial expansion and racial hierarchies.
This sense of superiority began as early as the British first stepped onto the European Continent. Figures like Thomas Arnold argued in 1839 that the English were a 'chosen people' appointed to perform a 'great work' for humanity. Similarly, Charles Kingsley described the English race as having a divine mandate to 'replenish the earth and subdue it.' These beliefs were reinforced by a specific view of other European nations—such as the French, Italians, and Spanish—as being inherently lazy, backward, or unstable.
The Victorian perspective was also shaped by the transition from the Grand Tour to modern commercial tourism. While the 18th-century Grand Tour inspired a fascination with the decline of the Roman Empire, 19th-century travel fueled a sense of national pride. As Britain underwent the 'sanitary revolution,' industrialized its cities, and expanded its railway network, travelers felt they were stepping back into a primitive past whenever they left British soil. This contrast between British modernity and the perceived 'desolate state' of the Continent solidified the myth of Anglo-Saxon superiority.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: The Victorian view of Non-Europeans - Professor Richard J Evans, Gresham College
- Also: The Victorians: Empire and Race
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