Is the UK following the standard historical pattern of decline for maritime empires?

[vetran]

Pretty sure that Greece & Rome hit a low point when they were invaded by Foreigners (Romans,Barbarians)

The Moors effectively Invaders were ousted by the Natives when they wanted their country back.

The Portuguese lost to the Dutch & French in various territory squabbles.

Span of course Britain put paid to when they aggressively tried to invade.

Not quite sure where your point is going? Are we fighting invaders or demanding our country back?

[CretinWatcher]

They all followed steps 1-3 though - the fighting to establish empires and keep them, finally losing them, is a common theme. After the loss all empires had a period of prosperity while they became soft and declined. All 4 empires mentioned after a period of tolerance became insular. In modern times Spain and Portugal and Greece all had right wing dictatorships right up till the 70s. So I think we're in the early stages, although bad decisions can accelarate the process...

Anyway I'm no historian, just finding commonalities in my reading ...

[NigelJK]

Yeah our space program

The one killed off by Harold Wilson which was showing significantly better results than the Nazi equivalent and was 'Greener' to boot? That one before we joined the EEC?

[CretinWatcher]

The one killed off by Harold Wilson which was showing significantly better results than the Nazi equivalent and was 'Greener' to boot? That one before we joined the EEC?

Yes that's the one. The one we couldn't afford. Right before we teamed up with the French to make Concorde because no single medium sized country can afford to have a space program and make new large planes.

[BrilloPad]

In Victorian times the UK was the greatest country on earth.

Of course, very few of its citizens shared in that wealth.

[CretinWatcher]

In Victorian times the UK was the greatest country on earth.

Of course, very few of its citizens shared in that wealth.

Well we're going back to Victorian times - minus the power, influence and wealth (except for the elite of course)

[vetran]

Well we're going back to Victorian times - minus the power, influence and wealth (except for the elite of course)

yeah because being a hated member of a pan Global Empire was so much better for us.