Greater Greece and Greater Britain; and, George Washington, the Expander of England. Two Lectures with an Appendix

In this thoughtful pair of lectures, the speaker traces the shifting meanings of “Greater Britain,” showing how a term once used to distinguish the island from its continental counterpart has been revived to describe an empire of overseas dominions. By drawing a parallel with the ancient notion of “Greater Greece,” he highlights a long‑standing pattern in which a cultural “mother‑land” redefines itself through the lens of expansion and settlement. The first discourse weaves together linguistic history, medieval geography, and 19th‑century imperial rhetoric, inviting listeners to reconsider the roots of modern British identity.

The second lecture turns its focus to George Washington, presenting him not merely as an American revolutionary but as an unexpected “expander of England” whose actions reshaped the balance of power within the Atlantic world. It examines Washington’s diplomatic choices, his vision of a federation of states, and the ways his legacy intersected with British imperial ideas of the day. An appended essay adds a more detailed, argumentative layer, offering scholars a richer context for the themes introduced in the spoken presentations.