The British Empire («British World Empire») was the largest colonial empire that ever existed in world history. At the height of the British Empire (1921), a quarter of all land in the world was under British control, i.e. around 37 million square kilometers. The British had colonies on every continent. But how did the British Empire become so powerful and what remains of it today?
For comparison: Germany has an area of around 360,000 square kilometers. Accordingly, the British Empire was about 103 times larger than Germany.
British Empire – Definition & Summary
The entire dominion of what is now the United Kingdom was called the British Empire. This included Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) and all his colonies. The British Empire, also known as the British Empire, was the most important colonial power in history.
A country is referred to as a colony that is taken and occupied by another state: the occupied country no longer decides on political matters itself, for example, but is dependent on the other state.
In addition to today’s United Kingdom belonged to Empire large areas, such as
- Regions in East and South Africa
- Australia and New Zealand
- Parts of Asia, especially India
- several islands and archipelagos (e.g. Gibraltar)
- Ireland
- Canada
- parts of present-day United States
Around 1922, the British Empire, with around 458 million inhabitants, made up about a quarter of the world population at that time. Even today, large parts of the world are still influenced by the remnants of the British Empire, be it through English culture and language or through the merger of the former colonies to form the federal state Commonwealth of Nations.
English is considered to be the most spoken and used language in the world. English is the official language in 67 countries and is used worldwide lingua franca used. In other words, English is used all over the world, for example to communicate with one another in the business world if both parties come from different countries. You can find out more about the English language in the «Use English» explanation.
British Empire – Timeline & History
The British Empire grew in power over a period of around 400 years, culminating in 1921. But how did it actually come about?
The beginning
With the Discovery of America 1492 major European powers (e.g. Spain or the Netherlands) began to seek overseas colonies – mainly for economic reasons. England also began to expand its dominions with branches overseas: in other words, England settled in countries or continents that were far away from Europe, e.g. B. in Africa, Australia or America.
Up until 1707, only the country or kingdom of England was spoken of. After that, England, Wales and Scotland merged to form Great Britain. Great Britain and Ireland then formed the United Kingdom from 1801 to 1921 (United Kingdom). Even if they united It is often said that Ireland was the British Empire’s only European colony, since the country was not equal to Great Britain. In 1921, Ireland severed its ties with Great Britain, but in doing so the country split into Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, and only Northern Ireland is now part of the United Kingdoms. You can find out more about the history of Ireland in the «Ireland» explanation.
Did you know that the main goal of setting up branches abroad was to bring prosperity to your own country? Then Colonies were a source of cheap raw materials and provided a market for exports. In other words, England could buy many products cheaply from abroad and sell its own goods there. Silk, wool, salt, opium and tea were traded in particular. The first English settlements abroad, e.g. B. in Jamestown in today’s USA, were founded on behalf of the then Queen Elizabeth I.
Elizabeth I was also called The Virgin Queen labeled because she never married. If you’re interested in the Queen’s life and want to know why she was so special, check out the Elizabeth Age explanation!
Most of them were male, aristocratic landowners and trading companies like that British East India Company, who founded colonies or trading posts for economic purposes and benefits. Although these were until 1707 by England and later by Great Britain monitored, however these branches were largely self-managed. This means that they were largely allowed to determine domestic politics themselves: For example, they could enact many laws themselves without always asking England or Great Britain for permission.
These first colonies were almost exclusively trading and economic colonies, i.e. occupied areas that were mainly used for trade.
The largest of the British trading companies of its time was the British East India Company. The trading company was founded on December 31, 1600 when a group of wealthy English merchants were granted the privilege of handling all English trade in the Indian and Pacific Ocean area for 15 years. As a result, the merchants became the magnates of trade with India. This means that they possessed the greatest economic power in this trade area.
Later motives for the expansion of the British Empire were religious and social in nature, in addition to trade in goods. In addition, the world empire needed new land and more space for its growing population: The population in England roseSo that the Food always tighter became. hunger and Poverty therefore spread quickly in England.
Expansion of the British Empire
As you have already learned, the English established their first overseas settlement in 1607 in what is now the United States, more precisely in Jamestown at the east coast Americas. In the following three centuries, Colonies established in the Caribbean, Africa, India, Australia and Oceania. The Caribbean includes, for example, the Dominican Republic and Oceania, for example, the Fiji Islands.
During the expansion of the British Empire, many left British missionaries the land to the indigenous peoples of the colonies Christianity to convert. The missionaries justified their actions by saying that it was God’s will. In their eyes, the locals needed to be «civilized» and «transformed.» For this purpose, the missionaries built e.g. B. boarding schools to «educate» indigenous children there. But growing up in this environment meant for many children that they were torn away from their parents and their culture. In addition, they were often subjected to abuse. Click into the «Stolen Generations» explanation for more information.
The missionaries also justified the expansion in the USA by saying that God had given them the land. You can find out more about this in the «Westward Movement» statement.
During its expansion, however, the British Empire came into a conflict of interest, especially with the dominant naval power of Spain, which is why there were several naval wars in the 18th century. the Royal Navy (the British Navy) won those wars and Britain secured the supremacy on the oceans. This means they could protect their own fleets and disrupt enemy sea traffic.
A particularly important role in the establishment of the British Empire was the French and Indian War (1754-1763), known in German as the Seven Years’ War. Colonial powers France and the British Empire fought for supremacy in North America, with both sides forging alliances with the natives of North America. With the Treaty of Paris in 1763, France ceded its colonial possessions to the British Empire, further increasing its influence.
British America – The Thirteen Colonies
as British America are the English (from 1707 British) colonies and territories in North and Central America, as well as in the Caribbean and Guyana in the period from 1607 to 1783.
In 1607 England managed to establish and maintain the Jamestown Colony in what is now Virginia. The settlers were particularly involved in the early days of the colony food shortage or with strangers Diseases to fight. In addition, after an initially peaceful coexistence, it also came to pass conflicts and wars with them american Native.
You may have learned in English class that Jamestown was the first permanent English settlement in North America. until 1670 founded the English after Jamestown thirteen Further colonies in North America:
- new York
- Virginia
- New Jersey
- Pennsylvania
- North Carolina
- South Carolina
- Delaware Colony
- Georgia
- New Hampshire Colony
- Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations
- Colony of Connecticut
- Massachusetts Bay
- Maryland
Although the colonies in North America were less successful financially than colonies in warmer areas, the immigrants often preferred North America’s cooler climate. Colonies in warmer areas produced goods by cultivating them such as sugar, cotton or coffee although more yield, the colder climate more closely resembled the home of the settlers – England.
The thirteen colonies of America wanted earlier than other colonies of the British Empire independently and become independent. With the War of Independence and the American revolution (1775-1783) the thirteen colonies broke away from the control of the British Empire and merged into an independent and self-governing state that formed the basis of today’s United States.
If you would like to learn more about the topic «American Revolution», then take a look at the article on it.
The transatlantic triangular trade
You have already learned above that in the beginning silk, cotton, opium and tea were primarily traded. But that changed in the 17th century: The most profitable business of the English trading companies in the 17th century was not the trade in goods, but that human trafficking.
on the plantations coveted raw materials such as B. Cotton or tobacco, cultured. There simply wasn’t enough space in Europe to grow the raw materials, but it also wouldn’t have provided the right climate for the plants to thrive. With the increasing number of plantations in the Caribbean colonies, the English needed slaves to work on the plantations. At that time, most slaves came from Africa.
You’re probably wondering why it had to be slaves on the fields: enslaved people were cheap labor who would work on the plantations under any circumstances, since they had no other choice and were forced to do so. After all, the work on the plantations was physically and mentally very demanding, which many white people did not want to do.
Slaves are unfree people who belong to another person like property. Enslaved people are dependent on their slave owners and are not allowed to make their own decisions. Enslaved people are traded in humans…