EMBANKMENT AND DOCKLANDS MUSEUM 

When we walked alongside the Thames River or rode along its currents on a boat ride, there was an emphasis on how the Embankment shaped the growth of the city of London. The Embankment follows along the river and allows for humans and man-made institutions to thrive along its banks. Many cities tend to thrive along rivers as rivers serve as one way to allow resources into the city. Rivers make it possible for some degree of self-sustainability for cities and the Embankment and the Thames River are a testament to this when it comes to the building up of London. The Embankment allows for businesses to be lined along the river so when these businesses need goods and services through trade, they are closer to the river allowing for easier access to what is being brought into the city. This allows for the sharing of cultures, goods, and even people from other countries which plays a huge role in London's food culture. Spices from India along with goods and services from other colonized areas, allows London to grow its businesses and lead to an economic boom within the city.

The boat ride we went on along the Thames River was an amazing experience as you could see the history of London mesh into a collage of growth with the modern city that we know today. One bridge would look modern and another would seem like it came right out of a history book. London's relationship with the Thames is that it is a source for London's booming businesses and it pushes London to adapt to the course of the river. We can see this in architecture over time as there are buildings along the river's shores that are more reminiscent of older London along with traditionally common city architecture of today such as skyscrapers. The river promotes growth throughout the city and pushes people to come up with new and improved ways to accommodate this major body of water. I do believe along with this constant stream of improvement, London's relationship with the river has changed over time. We can also see this through the Docklands Museum as it shows how England went from a prominent slave economy to England today. The river was at first a natural entity that would force the early city to adapt to its currents and the way it bends however over time, with the improvement of technology, Londoners have found a way to have more of this sort of control over the river and how they build around to use it.