Present-day Names (AQA A-Level History): Revision Notes
Present-day Names
Understanding historical nomenclature
When studying the British Empire between 1857 and 1967, historians encounter territories and cities under their colonial-era designations. These names differ from those used today, reflecting the political transformations that occurred during decolonisation. Academic sources, primary documents, and historical accounts from this period employ colonial terminology, making it necessary for students to recognise both the historical and contemporary names of these places.
The names given to territories during British rule often reflected colonial perspectives, administrative convenience, or European linguistic preferences. Following independence, many nations renamed themselves to assert sovereignty, reclaim pre-colonial identities, or establish new national identities distinct from their imperial past.
Colonial and present-day name correspondences
The following table provides essential reference points for navigating historical documents and understanding the geographical scope of British imperial influence:
| Colonial-era name | Present-day name |
|---|---|
| Basutoland | Lesotho |
| Bechuanaland | Botswana |
| Bombay | Mumbai |
| British Guiana | Guyana |
| Burma | Myanmar |
| Calcutta | Kolkata |
| Ceylon | Sri Lanka |
| Gold Coast | Ghana |
| (British) Malaya | Malaysia |
| Mesopotamia | Iraq |
| Northern Rhodesia | Zambia |
| Persia | Iran |
| Portuguese East Africa | Mozambique |
| South-West Africa | Namibia |
| Southern Rhodesia | Zimbabwe |
| Tanganyika | Tanzania |
| Transjordan | Jordan |
Patterns in name changes
Several distinct patterns emerge from these transformations. African territories often bore European-derived names during colonial rule—such as Rhodesia (named after Cecil Rhodes) or descriptive geographical terms like Gold Coast—which were replaced with indigenous or newly chosen names upon independence. Basutoland, Bechuanaland, and Tanganyika adopted names reflecting local languages and identities.
In Asia, some territories reverted to traditional names or variants thereof. Ceylon became Sri Lanka, whilst Burma adopted Myanmar. The Indian subcontinent saw cities rename themselves: Bombay became Mumbai and Calcutta became Kolkata, reflecting local pronunciations and linguistic heritage rather than anglicised versions.
Certain territories, like Mesopotamia and Transjordan, were never formally British colonies but fell under British control through mandates following the First World War. Their name changes reflect the establishment of independent nation-states from these mandate territories.
Portuguese East Africa (Mozambique) was not a British territory, though it appears in British imperial studies due to its geographical proximity to British possessions and its relevance to understanding regional dynamics in southern Africa.
Key Points to Remember:
- Colonial-era names appear throughout historical documents and academic sources covering 1857-1967; familiarity with both old and new names is essential for understanding primary and secondary sources.
- Name changes following independence represented assertions of national sovereignty and efforts to establish post-colonial identities distinct from imperial rule.
- Some changes involved cities (Bombay, Calcutta) whilst others involved entire nations; this distinction matters when discussing geographical and political contexts.
- Not all territories listed were formal British colonies—some, like Mesopotamia and Transjordan, were League of Nations mandates administered by Britain after 1918.
- Recognising these name correspondences allows students to navigate historical sources accurately and understand the geographical scope of British imperial influence across Africa, Asia, and the Middle East.