Your knowledge of British history / culture

[VelvetTrews]

I live abroad and have done so since I was 20. My friends and acquaintances always have so many questions for me about British culture, the royal family, politics, the commonwealth etc. I have to admit i don’t always know the answers and everyone always seems so surprised.
DH (not British) says I am lacking in general knowledge about my own country. I feel quite far from the UK having lived abroad for nearly 20 years but still a bit stupid when people ask me things about my own country and I can’t answer .

A few examples of questions:

• The history of South Africa and the Commonwealth
• How many siblings Prince Phillip had
• What was the exact relationship of Lord Mountbatten to Prince Charles

That was just last night! I clearly need to go on a crash course in British history

The Life in the UK test for migrants applying for British citizenship may be of help to you.

Haha, maybe! Good job I’ve already got my passport!

I could answer 2 and 3 but not 1!

British history goes back to Stone Henge so there’s a lot of ground to cover.

I meant to say, if you’re British and living in the UK (or abroad) do you feel you know a lot about British culture / history? When I’m with my British friends we don’t talk about the subjects that seem to fascinate my local friends!

I'm ok on 1 but haven't a clue about 2 or 3. I know a fair bit of British history but the current Royal family makes up only a tiny part of our history, and not a part that I'm very interested in.

I could say a bit about the first, but couldn't guess at the other two. I have a history degree!

Tell them to watch the Crown!

I could give a reasonable but not very nuanced answer to 1, know 2 and a similarly vague answer to 3.

I think he was Prince Philips uncle, but is also related to the Queen in some way.

I could answer lots of questions on the reformation, industrial revolution and the gothic revival. There's a lot of history and I'm sure most people's knowledge would be similarly patchy.

It seems a lot of the questions being asked are about the monarchy from your examples - so something other people associate with 'Britishness' but not something British people themselves are necessarily that interested in on a personal level?

I have “A” level in history and I’ve been on a couple of archeological digs so yes, I’d say I was pretty clued-up on British History.

Just look at Wikipedia

I'm very knowledgeable in one thing over aprox 600 years.
Average on other parts, but love learning new historical facts.

I too was going to suggest buying a 2nd hand copy of the book you read when preparing for the life in the Uk test. I passed it years ago. My British DH leant alot when I'd ask him to test me!

Start asking them similarly obscure questions about their own history and ruling parties. If you're in America, I'm sure they'll know a fair amount as they do seem to be taught patriotism at school, but yes their history is a lot shorter than ours so much less material to cover. I bet the average American doesn't know much about George Washington's siblings or lineage?

I only know some answers to what you said from watching the crown 😂

My friends who now live in the U.K. ( not from here ) no more about that stuff than me tbh . Am interested in old photos though the buildings and the social context of what’s going on - I could prob date a picture within a couple of years by the clothes etc but in terms of more “ important “ stuff am
Sort of clueless / un interested

I think I know a lot about British history but could only maybe have a go at question 3 and a guess at 2 (3 or 4? I know most of them were nazis and one died in a plane crash...) They are very specific questions set around a specific theme (royalty/mainly 20th century)....as others say British culture and history is pretty vast as a topic!

Would your DH and friends be able to answer similarly esoteric topics on their own history? I suggest you look up and remember one or two facts to throw back at them - e.g. if American ask how many siblings President Carter had (someone born within 2 years of PP), or ask them questions about their presidents great uncle!

I mean I agree there is a lot of british history that people could be expected to know but often don't but wouldn't include those three examples within that!

It’s funny that I don’t even remember learning about British history at school. I know much more about French history as I studied that at Uni.
I might have a look at that citizen test! I often feel a bit embarrassed as my lack of knowledge although i am sure my fellow compatriots wouldn’t know all the answers to all the questions either (but the South Africa one did make me feel silly because my DH knew more about the subject than me...).

I could talk a bit about Q1. Had no idea about Q2 until yesterday when I watched the BBC documentary about Prince Philip. I think I might have said “uncle” to Q3 but not entirely sure if that’s because I read this thread...

I have a history degree from a very good university!

Yes those questions all came up last night because we were talking about recent events but every time we socialize I get a lot of UK centric questions. Same about London, I lived there for 6 months ageees ago but everyone expects me to know it really well. I suppose I was just wondering what regular British people would make of these subjects; are they common knowledge or not.
Thanks for inputs everyone. British citizen test here I come

@thevassal

I think I know a lot about British history but could only maybe have a go at question 3 and a guess at 2 (3 or 4? I know most of them were nazis and one died in a plane crash...) They are very specific questions set around a specific theme (royalty/mainly 20th century)....as others say British culture and history is pretty vast as a topic!

Would your DH and friends be able to answer similarly esoteric topics on their own history? I suggest you look up and remember one or two facts to throw back at them - e.g. if American ask how many siblings President Carter had (someone born within 2 years of PP), or ask them questions about their presidents great uncle!

I mean I agree there is a lot of british history that people could be expected to know but often don't but wouldn't include those three examples within that!

I weirdly only just watched a documentary on President Jimmy Carter (that James Earl Carter, Jr. to you! lol) about an hour ago. So, yes, this American knows that he had three siblings and four children.

I think PP had 4 sisters who all married German princes?
I know diddly squat about SA and the Commonwealth except knowing there was apartheid and SA wasn't allowed to compete in the Commonwealth games for some years. Everyone knows about Mandela I think.
Dickie Mountbatten was Charles ' uncle or great uncle, I forget which. The Battenburgs (PPs family) changed their name to Mountbatten so I assume Dickie is from PPs side of the family.
British history isn't covered in any great detail at school (as I am discovering) so knowledge can be patchy. I never took an interest in my youth but now I read historical biographies and watch documentaries about history so I'm improving, slowly !

Well, I’m not British, though I lived in England for years, and I can answer those.

1. Did it briefly in gcse history. Dont remember much. Baden Powell was at Mafeking (sp?) which was part of the inspiration for Scouting for boys.

2 and 3 learned by watching the crown the last few years. Ive learned quite a lot by watching the crown.

I know bits of history but there are some big gaps that get filled by reading around whatever is on netflix eg the crown, outlander...

I have reasonable knowledge, but it depends on the era. Did know 2 and 3. Also knew Prince Philip's mum (Alice) his Jews during WW2 and is recognised in the righteous among nations at Yad Vashem. A bit of trivia there.

I like the Tudors, Hanovers and Stuarts... not so great on early English (Stephen / Matilda etc....)

The education system in the UK is spectacularly shit at teaching general knowledge.

My dc are in their early 20's now, and I'm continually amazed at what they have never been taught.