WORLD HISTORY READERS Level 2 The British Empire

WORLD HISTORY READERS Level 2 -⑥ The British Empire, Then and Now

The Power of the British Empire Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe Sydney, Australia How big was the British Empire? The British, at one point, controlled over 24% of all the land in the world. Its power reached Africa, Asia, Australia, North and South America, as well as Europe. The Empire controlled the lives of millions of people all over the world. Cape Town, South Africa

The Most Powerful Countries in Europe In the 16 th century, which countries were the most powerful in Europe? Spain and Portugal Spanish buildings in the Philippines They were expanding their powers all over the world in the Americas, Africa, and through Asia, taking their religion and language with them. The Spanish taking control of the Americas When did Britain become very powerful? A series of wars in the 17 th and 18 th centuries, and the union of England Scotland into one country in 1707, made Great Britain one of the most powerful countries on earth.

East India Company What did the British East India Company do? East India Company flag A British fort in Penang, Malaysia In 1600, The British East India Company was set up in London to build trade in India. The company had its own army and soon controlled much of India and South Asia. It also controlled lands in Africa and parts of the Middle East. How did this help the empire grow? The British government took control of the company’s lands in 1857, greatly expanding the British Empire. A military officer of the East India Company

War and Expansion How did the British navy expand the empire? After the wars with Napoleon in 1815, Britain had the most powerful navy in the world. Its ships quickly expanded Britain’s control around the world. As Britain was the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution, it became the “workshop of the world. ” It expanded trade to all corners of the world, making the Empire extremely rich and powerful. Making steel during the Industrial Revolution

Losing Power When did the British Empire begin losing its colonies? In 1776, Britain lost some of its power when the thirteen colonies in North America became independent. In 1867, Canada gained independence as well. India and Pakistan gained independence in 1947, then Sri Lanka and Myanmar in 1948. The American Declaration of Independence Soon after, many countries in Africa followed, such as Malawi, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, and Zambia. By the 1980 s, Britain’s empire was over.

The Commonwealth of Nations What is the Commonwealth of Nations? After many of the colonies gained independence, 52 of them, such as India, Australia, Canada, Pakistan, Nigeria, South Africa, and New Zealand, joined together to create an organization called the Commonwealth of Nations. The flag of the Commonwealth of Nations Today, it has a combined population of 2. 3 billion people.

English and Sports What kind of influence is still seen today that came from the old British Empire? One major remaining influence of the British Empire is that English has become the world’s international language. Also, all over the world there are still many buildings to remind us of the great power the Empire used to have. Another influence was that several British sports were played in the colonies. They remained popular in those areas and now have become world sports.

The Empire Today What were some good things that came out of the British Empire? Queenstown, New Zealand What were some bad things? The Empire developed trade routes, brought about the Industrial Revolution, and created many democratic governments all over the world. The British Empire greatly improved the lives of many people. Cape Town, South Africa Singapore, a former British colony The Empire destroyed communities and cultures and lead to the deaths of millions of people.