The British Empire (since 1689)
The First Empire
In 16th century England was a poor country àcommercial interests
Base for Empire was destruction( powerful fleet) of mighty colonial trade powers Spain (destruction of Spanish Armada in 1588) and Holland (17th century)
Beginning 17th century: trade companies (e.g. East India Company) started to take possessions overseas in India (spices), Atlantic- Caribbean area (rum, sugar…) and Gold cost (slave trade) in Western Africa
13 American colonies very important ( cotton plantation with well crop)à in combination with settlements in West Africa and trade with West Indies à “Triangular Trade” à English ships took manufactured goods, spirits to West Africa in exchange with slavesà were taken to West Indies/ America for workà English ships returned with goods made by slaves
With this system prosperity of England grew
Ending of First Empire when American colonies obtained independence in 1783
Second Empire
First penal settlements in Australia in 1788
Interests turned to South and East à tried to find new strategic and trading bases, e.g. Suez Canal, parts of Egypt, Cape Colony, Mauritius
England richà wanted more political and military power à mighty fleet for defence end extension
End 19th/ whole 20th century Africa very interesting à discovery of gold, precious stones, mineral resources à colonies all over Africa
Treated Natives like inferior beings, force to adopt Western lifestyle
Decline
In colonies national movements grew à England began to loose tight hold
Canada 1867, Australia+ New Zealand 1901, Union of South Africa 1910 à dominions = self-government but still member of Empire
Most African countries in 1950s and 60s free
In 1970s West Indies independence or linked to states of own choice
India independent after long fight with help of Mahatma Ghandi 1947
Majority of state joined to “Commonwealth of Nations”


The Empire at its largest size at the end of World War I possesed more than 1/5 of worlds surface with ¼ of its population