Hi,
I've become a bit stuck on an an essay I'm writing entitled 'What Characteristics, if any, set British port-cities apart from other European port-cities between 1750 and 1914?'
I am really just after a point in the right direction.
Many British and European port-cities witnessed economic growth and an increase in population leading up to the industrial revolution. The two major reasons for this appear to be either increased trade or increased naval presence. For example Portsmouth, Britain and Rochefort, France both owe their development to naval dockyards. Whereas Glasgow, Britain and Genoa, Italy underwent huge economic and urban development as a result of shipping trade.
All port-cities have their own characteristics but finding those unique to British port-cities is proving to be difficult.
Of course I am still doing my research and I am not asking you to do my essay but rather if anyone knows of any sources or has any ideas that I can develop I would be very grateful.
I am an undergraduate History student and have so far made use of the following sources,
R. Lawton and W. Lee, Population and Society in Western European Port Cities C.1650-1939, (Liverpool, 2002)
G. Jackson, This History and Archaeology of Ports, (Tadworth, 1983)
Thanks
EDIT 1: Thank you to those who have contributed answers. These have all been very helpful and I feel confident going forward.
Are you wanting specific characteristics, such as Liverpool being a hub for the slave-trade in Europe, or more general ideas? I believe there's mileage in the idea that the early creation of a comprehensive rail network helped British cities over their mainland counterparts because of the massive increase in their immediate catchment area. Despite a limited population compared to the mainland, the fact that it could be accessed so easily set it apart until Europe caught up.
Think bigger, you cannot understand a port city, which is built on trade, by examining it in isolation. Where do the ships go? Where do they come from? Who owns them? Are they part of a specialist regional trade (coal in Newcastle for example)?
For another example, have you explored how the Anglo Dutch Wars (there were four) and the Napoleonic Wars influenced who controlled the sea lanes? Remember that in the period you're talking about trade and warfare were extremely tightly connected. Amsterdam fell and London rose as a major economic and financial center. Why did that occur?