User:EmpLeon/British Empire
The British Empire stands as one of the most influential collections of territories in history, a large and influential collection of territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom and its predecessor state, the British Empire was composed of the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates, and other territories. It started with England's overseas possessions in the late 16th and early 17th centuries, and grew into the grandest empire the world has ever known during the 19th and early 20th centuries. Reigning as the largest empire of its time, it showcased the United Kingdom's exceptional global power and the world's most powerful superpower for more than a centruy.[1] England was the first of the European powers to ban slavery, and used the Royal Navy to reinforce its ban.[2]
By 1922, more than 458 million people lived in the British Empire, which was more than one fifth of the world's population at that time. The Empire was larger than 33,700,000 km2 (13,012,000 sq mi), almost a quarter of the Earth's total land area.[3] The British Empire's large influence left an large mark on numerous aspects of the modern world, including constitutional, legal, linguistic, and cultural legacies. Earning the title "the empire on which the sun never sets," it stood as a sign of British strength and dominance across the globe.
The Age of Discovery saw Portugal and Spain carving vast empires, sparking England to create its own colonies and trade networks.[1] England, France, and the Netherlands sought to harvest wealth and resources in the Americas and Asia, with Britain eventually emerging as the dominate colonial power in North America and the Indian subcontinent.
In the 19th century, Britain's naval and imperial might surged to new heights, starting a period of prosperity and peace known as Pax Britannica. Controlling a significant portion of world trade, it wielded huge economic influence over regions such as Asia and Latin America.[4] Some colonies earned greater autonomy, becoming Dominions.
While challenges emerged as the 20th century dawned, Britain's spirit endured. Even in the face of increased competition from Germany and the United States in the early 20th century, the empire's legacy endured, shaping the course of world history. World War I tested its strength and weakened the Empire, World War II accelerated this transformation, but the empire's contributions remained imprinted on the global stage.[5]
Decolonization movements emerged in the post-war era, leading to the granting of independence to many territories, including India.[6] Yet, the British Empire's influence endures, connecting former colonies and dominions in the Commonwealth of Nations, with many sharing the bond of a common monarch, presently King Charles III.[7]
When Britain gave Hong Kong back to China on 1 July 1997, it marked the effective end of the British Empire. Britain still has some overseas territories.[8]
Origins (1497-1583)
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changeThe British Empire began when England and Scotland were separate kingdoms. In the late 15th century, King Henry VII of England sent John Cabot to explore a route to Asia through the North Atlantic, inspired by Spain and Portugal voyagers. Cabot's voyage to Newfoundland in 1497 ignited an era of exploration.
During Queen Elizabeth I's reign in the late 16th century, English colonization gained momentum. Elizabeth I supported privateers like Hawkins and Drake to challenge Spain in the America's and establish an Atlantic slave trade. They paved the way for more expeditions to the Americas in search of treasures.
Though England faced challenges in establishing colonies it persevered. The Ulster Plantation in Ireland demonstrated England's ability to expand its influence. The West Country Men contributed to early English colonies in North America.
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Ferguson, Niall (2003). Empire : the rise and demise of the British world order and the lessons for global power. Internet Archive. New York : Basic Books. ISBN 978-0-465-02328-8.
- ↑ Walvin, James (2011-12). "Why Did the British Abolish the Slave Trade? Econocide Revisited". Slavery & Abolition. 32 (4): 583–588. doi:10.1080/0144039X.2011.625777. ISSN 0144-039X.
{{cite journal}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ↑ Maddison, Angus (2001). The world economy: a millennial perspective. Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. ISBN 92-64-18608-5. pp. p98, 242.
{{cite book}}:|pages=has extra text (help); no-break space character in|location=at position 5 (help)CS1 maint: location (link) CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) - ↑ Porter, Andrew N.; Louis, William Roger, eds. (2009). The nineteenth century. The Oxford history of the British Empire / Wm. Roger Louis, ed.-in chief (2nd Ed ed.). Oxford: Oxford Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0-19-924678-6.
{{cite book}}:|edition=has extra text (help) - ↑ Hyam, Ronald (1976). Britain's imperial century, 1815 - 1914: a study of empire and expansion. London: Batsford. ISBN 978-0-7134-3089-9.
- ↑ Lloyd, Trevor Owen (2003). The British Empire: 1558 - 1995. Short Oxford history of the modern world (2. ed., reprinted ed.). Oxford: Oxford Univ. Pr. ISBN 978-0-19-873134-4.
- ↑ "About us". Commonwealth. Retrieved 2023-08-11.
- ↑ Welsh, Frank (1997). A history of Hong Kong (rev. ed ed.). London: HarperCollins. ISBN 978-0-00-638871-5.
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