Edg AAH 138

2016·93 MB·English

The incredible story of an empire that
rose to dominance between 1497 and 1997
INCLUDES
10 WAYS THE
EMPIRE SHAPED
THE WORLD

Welcome to
Book of the
1497-1997
It was famously said that at the height of its power the British
Empire was so vast that the Sun never set on it. To be more precise,
an astonishing 33.7 million square kilometres – almost a quarter of
the planet’s land area – were touched by the rays of British
colonialism at this time. But of course, when we talk about the
Empire it’s not just territorial gains and losses that are involved, and
by 1922 the British monarch oversaw a gobsmacking 458 million
subjects. It was the largest empire in history – a colossal feat for an
insignifi cant bundle of islands tucked away in the chilly North
Atlantic. So how did Britain manage to amass such a sprawling
domain? Trace the story of one nation’s imperial stampede
through fi ve centuries, from its roots in the 15th century to the
impact on modern-day life. Through amazing images,
illustrations and articles, explore a controversial period in
world history and follow the British Empire’s quest to satisfy
its appetite for global dominance.

Imagine Publishing Ltd
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Fiona Hudson
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Greg Whitaker
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Anne-Claire Pickard
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All About History Book of the British Empire © 2016 Imagine Publishing Ltd
ISBN 9781785462641
Part of the
bookazine series
1497 - 1997
CONTENTS
Discover how a small island nation came to rule
over an empire upon which the Sun never set
08 A-Z of the British Empire 46 Horatio Nelson’s
Invincible Royal Navy
Take an alphabetic tour of how British
imperialism impacted the world Meet the icon who raised the profile of a naval
fleet that would drive Britain’s success
50 The British Empire
strikes
Understand the events that solidified the might
and power of a nation
ORIGINS
60 Ten bloodiest battles
OF EMPIRE
of the British Empire
20 Sowing the seeds Focus on the most gruesome conflicts waged
in the name of empire building
Take a look at early territory gains that foretold
the emergence and evolution the British Empire
68 Media & propaganda
22 Sir Walter Raleigh: Uncover how artistic portrayals of British
Mapping the globe territories served to justify colonisation
Meet the 16th-century aristocrat who paved the 74 Australia’s first
way for English settlements in the New World
penal colony
26 Kingdom of trade Find out what sent explorers and discoverers
and enterprise East – along with Britain’s convicts
68
Plot the events that caused a perfect storm for
the Crown’s ultimate assumption of power
36 East India Company:
VICTORIA’S
India’s corporate
overlord EMPIRE
Learn how this private commercial agent
82 The Imperial Century
exploited foreign colonies for their native goods
Get an overview of the events that defined the
40 Ten trading treasures ‘long’ 19th century
Discover the most valuable goods transported
and exchanged in the new global trade network 84 Victoria’s Empire

Understand Queen Victoria’s role in overseeing
Britain as it reached the height of its influence
92 Inside the Great
Exhibition

Marvel at the scale of an exhibition of the
EMPIRE
Empire’s trade wins and industrial marvels
BUILDING 60
94 Isambard Brunel: Father
of British industry
44 Building an Empire
Get an insight into the public and private lives
Get to grips with the developing status
of an iconic figure in the Industrial Revolution
of Britain’s international reach
50
98 Britain becomes
a superpower
Explore the advances of the Industrial Revolution
that made Britain a force to be reckoned with
104 Workshop of the world
Tour the factories that proved so efficient they
grew the nation’s bargaining power
106 Britannia rule the waves
Learn how the British naval forces became
symbolic as an unstoppable force
112 David Livingstone:
Missionary on a mission
Find out how this missionary’s project to civilise
Africa made him a national hero
116 Empress of India

Discover how an Indian mutiny led to the British
Raj’s assumption of power
94
122 Governing the Raj
Experience a day in the life of a governor-
general of the prized colony in India
124 Rudyard Kipling: An
empire beyond words
122
Learn about a celebrated author’s attempts
to represent life in overseas colonies
DECLINE
& LEGACY
130 Decline of a world
power
Follow the course of the British Empire’s
fall from grace around the world
132 Victoria & the end
of an era

Discover how a monarch’s death came
to be symbolic of the end of an era
138 Pathway to
independence

Gain an insight into the actions
taken by colonies seeking liberation
146 Gandhi’s peaceful
fight for justice
See how one man led a peaceful
22 movement against the British Raj
152 How the Empire
shaped the world
Understand how the modern
world has been coloured by
the Empire’s influence
A-Z of the British Empire
OF THE
BRITISH
EMPIRE
A 26-letter rundown
on an empire that
ruled the waves and
dominated the globe
for 500 years
T
he British Empire began to assert itself The strength of the Royal Navy allowed Britain The Empire helped spread British culture across
upon the world in the late Tudor period to expand significantly, and by the 18th century, the globe. The English language as well as features
during the reign of Elizabeth I. Under a colonies had been set up all over the world. The of its religion, economy, society and politics were
queen who openly encouraged exploration abundance of land put Britain top of the pile in incorporated into other cultures. At the end of
and trade, Britons began to make trips to the world of trade, and this monopoly helped World War II, it became clear that the Empire
lands far beyond their own nation’s borders. After expand the economy while the military became had outstayed its welcome in many colonies, and
the spectacular defeat of the Spanish Armada, one of the strongest on Earth. The Empire would began to decline. The British Empire may have
Britannia ruled the waves and was ready to start expand and contract over time, but successfully crumbled, but the memory of its successes and
its empire building. maintained its supremacy for centuries. failures will last for centuries to come.
8
A-Z of the British Empire
The Life
of Robert
Baden-
Powell
England’s Test
match against Born
(cid:79) 1857
South Africa in 1939
Robert Stephenson
lasted for a mammoth Smyth Baden-
Powell is born
ten days and ended in London on 22
February.
in a draw
Childhood
(cid:79) 1860
An Australian team pictured at Niagara Falls Known as ‘BP’ or
touring Africa in 1878. By the late-19th century, ‘Stephe’, he has
cricket had already become an international sport
nine siblings. Sadly,
his father dies
Australia Cricket when he is just
three years old.
From convict colony to The game of the Empire
Charterhouse
independent settler haven had sinister origins (cid:79) 1870
Baden-Powell
is educated at
The loss of America Now commonly played in
one of the most
presented Britain many Commonwealth prestigious schools
with many problems, countries, cricket’s in the country.
not least what to do popularity spread quickly
Army career
with the huge through the colonies of (cid:79) 1876
numbers of convicts the British Empire. The After failing to
now not welcome in 1787 founding of the MCC get in to college,
he joins the army,
the New World. Where would the (Marylebone Cricket Club) and passing of
becoming captain
prisoners go now? The answer was Robert Baden-Powell the 1788 Code of Laws kick-started the at 26.
pictured in 1896 during
Australia. Convict colonies were first set professionalisation of the sport, which
his military career Siege survival
up in 1788 when 11 ships from the ‘First was first played in Barbados in 1806 and (cid:79) 1899-1900
Fleet’ arrived. In the 1800s, the country Baden-Powell South Africa in 1808. Cricket was also Baden-Powell’s
became appealing to settlers, and when embraced elsewhere in the Empire and unit holds out for
gold was found in the 1850s, immigration “Life without adventure the sound of leather on willow was heard 217 days in the
Siege of Mafeking
stepped up as people made the most of in Australia, New Zealand, India and the
would be deadly dull” during the Second
the ‘Australian gold rush’. The Aboriginal Caribbean. Cricket wasn’t just a sport, Boer War.
Australians saw their numbers dwindle A man who always though – it was used as a political tool by
Scouting
due to factors like old world diseases and preferred the great the British. The rules and regulations (cid:79) 1907-08
annexation of their land. outdoors to the confines were used to remind the indigenous Leaving the army
Naturally, Britain now saw the country of the classroom, Robert people of the hierarchy between them behind, he forms
the Scouting
as a useful economic tool. The gold Baden-Powell was and the white settlers. It reinforced racial
Movement and
and wool trade boomed but there were obsessed with stereotypes and was a symbol of social publishes the
frequent conflicts between the settlers adventure. The colonel’s control. It was seen as a crude way of bestselling book
and rulers over taxes and land. In return, finest hour would come in Africa during spreading civilised values to those who Scouting For Boys.
the Royal Navy protected Australia the 1899-1900 Siege of Mafeking. The the British Empire deemed uncivil. The Married
from the German and French Empires, siege was during the Second Boer War, a Empire always based itself on an aura of (cid:79) 1912
but this was not enough, and by the vicious conflict that pitted the British superiority, and this control continued He meets Olave
Soames, who will
1880s, the communities began to think Empire against the Orange Free State. 20 even after the abolition of slavery.
have three children
of themselves as ‘Australian’ and the special service officers, including Baden- Cricket remained a popular pastime with Baden-Powell
Empire’s grip loosened. The population Powell, were sent to defend the frontier. even after many of the colonies gained and will help set up
was growing at three per cent a year They were surrounded in the town but independence. Now it was the sport the Guides.
while national wealth was increasing managed to hold out against 7,000 Boers of the people rather than a symbol of Death
at double the rate of Britain’s. Despite for 217 days. The now Major-General oppression. The most famous contest (cid:79) 1941
an economic slump in 1890, Australia Baden-Powell was a hero, but within a between Australia and England was held After years of
travelling and
became independent in 1901. However, few years he had turned his attention in 1882. The former colony recorded a
promoting the
Australia still rushed to help Britain in from military to scouting. The first book shock victory causing the Sporting Times Scouts, Baden-
World War I as the brave Anzacs fought on the movement, Scouting For Boys, to remark that “English Cricket had died.” Powell dies on 8
January in Kenya.
with distinction at Gallipoli and on the was written in 1908 and from here, the The Ashes were born and the sport
Western Front. organisation developed rapidly. became even more popular than before.
9
A-Z of the British Empire
25,000 mines
were laid on
Decolonisation
the Falklands and
many are still active,
The Sun sets on the British Empire
posing a threat to
Despite emerging victorious from World War both islanders and
II, the conflict had adverse effects on what
penguins
was now a failing empire. Britain may still
have had the largest empire of all, but as
two new world power blocs – the USSR and
the USA – arose, the country became a weak
link and, financially crippled, was forced to
abandon its treasured possessions. The road to oblivion began
with the 1947 partition of India, just five years after the
suppression of the ‘Quit India’ Movement in 1942. A huge loss,
the Empire’s military muscle was quickly diminishing. Worse
was still to come with the Suez Crisis of 1956. Losing control
Falklands
of the economically important Suez Canal, this event wrecked
Britain’s financial, military and international standing further. War
As Britain began to rebuild its fractured cities and towns
after war, it had no resources to maintain an empire that had The nation’s
been experiencing a wave of nationalism for a long time.
determined cling
Kenya, Uganda and Tanganyika were all independent by 1963
and the White Settler Revolt in Southern Rhodesia in 1965 to territory
was another example of the decline of British military power.
The fragmentation of the Empire was down to a lack of funds
and British weakness, but also due to many of the colonies’
profound efforts on the Allied side in the war. Britain’s entry
to the EEC in 1973 effectively ended its imperial ambitions, After World War II, Britain owed more
and the concept of the Empire could now only be seen in in war debts than any other country and
the Empire suffered as a consequence
traditions and culture, not frontiers and firearms.
East India Company
East India Company ships unload
in London docks with another full
cargo of the precious tea
The company that evolved from minor By the 1980s the Empire
trader to outright ruler was no more, but Britain
was still determined to
One of the Empire’s major institutions, the protect what was left of
East India Company was a business its legacy. The Falkland
juggernaut at its peak. The organisation’s Islands, a remote colony
roots originate in 1601 when British ships first in the South Atlantic, was
set sail to the ‘East Indies’. Hearing of the one of the few remaining
wealth of spices and materials available, more territories. Neighbouring
and more ships made the journey and the Argentina’s military
trade links began to grow. The British weren’t the first dictatorship, under
European power to make the journey, but they pumped Leopoldo Galtieri, decided
resources into the business venture. By 1690, it had trading to invade on 2 April 1982,
centres all over the west and east coasts of India. As British citing its inheritance from
influence increased and the Indian Mughal Empire weakened, Spain and geographical
The fall of Tipu Sultan, ruler of the trade began to turn into occupation. The company could now location as reasons for
kingdom of Mysore and long time charge high taxes and defend its interest with force. This had a its occupation. Going
enemy of the East India Company
disastrous effect on the local Indian communities who saw against advice from
their economy and society effectively taken over. other nations, Margaret
The East India Company was at its most profitable in the Thatcher’s government
first half of the 18th century as Indian cotton was being decided the UK had to
mass exported, providing the British consumer with cheap, fight back. The conflict
good-quality clothing. The company soon began to take more lasted for two months
than it was giving and started to meddle in Indian politics. and 649 Argentine and
This caught the attention of the British government, who 255 British servicemen
put the firm under government control in 1783. The East lost their lives, along
India Company is an example of British trade outstaying with three islanders. The
its welcome, and its harsh affect on India helped develop Argentinean surrender
a nationalist feeling within the country. By 1858, it was came on 13 July.
abolished completely and the British Raj was created.
10