5.2.4

Historic Influences on Places

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Historic Influences on Places

Current national and international influences can affect the nature and function of a place. But historic influences are also important in affecting places:

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Historic ethnic composition

  • Communities that saw large inflows of immigrants from the Commonwealth in the 1950s and 1960s will be affected today from the historic migration flows.
  • After World War 2, UK governments encouraged West Indian and India/Pakistani people to migrate to the UK to work in service industries like the NHS and London Underground. This has been called the 'Windrush generation' (named after the first ship bringing West Indian workers to the UK in 1948).
  • In the 1930s and 1940s, many European Jews moved to the UK or USA.
  • In the Irish Potato Famine, many Irish people moved to the USA and this still shapes Irish communities in the USA today.
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Historic features

  • Historic street names, old buildings, the place's name and street names can all affect places.
  • William Shakespeare's presence in Stratford-upon-Avon is still recognised today.
  • Old historic buildings like St Pauls' Cathedral in London can still shape areas and regions today.
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Perception and image of a place

  • Past and present influences can create a perception or image of a place.
  • Ricky Gervais' 'The Office' portrayed Slough as an undesirable place. This is partly because of the image of industrial buildings and secondary economic activities.
  • Sacha Baron Cohen's Ali G used Staines as the location for his film, again to use the perception of the place for dramatic effect.
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Influence people's identity

  • Past and present connections can combine to affect someone's identity and sense of belonging to a place.
  • In the UK, people from the North, 'Northerners', are often proud of their Northern roots when they meet people from the South. Likewise, people from the South are often proud of their roots.

Jump to other topics

1Tectonic Processes & Hazards

2Option 2A: Glaciated Landscapes & Change

3Option 2B: Coastal Landscapes & Change

4Globalisation

5Option 4A: Regenerating Places

6Option 4B: Diverse Places

7The Water Cycle & Water Insecurity (A2 only)

8The Carbon Cycle & Energy Security (A2 only)

9Superpowers (A2 only)

10Option 8A: Health & Human Rights (A2 only)

11Option 8B: Migration & Identity (A2 only)

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