Chapter 3 · History
The British Empire
Source: Handbook p.37
The British Empire grew from the 16th century onwards. At its peak during Queen Victoria's reign, it covered about a quarter of the world's land surface. Key aspects:
• Trading colonies in India, Africa, the Caribbean, and Australia
• The slave trade (abolished 1807; slavery abolished 1833)
• Spread of English language, legal systems, and institutions
• Mixed legacy: economic development but also exploitation
• The Empire gradually became the Commonwealth of Nations (54 countries)
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