The British Empire

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Notas de aula

What was the British Empire?

The British Empire was made up of dominions, colonies, protectorates and other territories ruled or administered by Britain.
It began with overseas trading posts and settlements set up by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries.
At its height in the 19th and early 20th centuries, it was the largest empire in history and the world’s leading power.
By 1913 it ruled about 412 million people — roughly 23% of the world’s population.
By 1920 it covered about 35.5 million km², around 24% of the Earth’s land area.
It was called ‘the empire on which the sun never sets’ because the sun was always shining on at least one of its territories.

How the Empire began

In the Age of Discovery (15th–16th centuries), Portugal and Spain led European exploration and built large overseas empires.
Their wealth motivated England, France and the Netherlands to set up colonies and trade networks in the Americas and Asia.
In 1496 Henry VII commissioned John Cabot to find a Northwest Passage to Asia; he landed in Newfoundland in 1497.
Cabot believed he had reached Asia, and no colony was founded at that time.
England and Scotland were separate kingdoms with different monarchs when the foundations of the Empire were laid.

Trade and the East India Company

The East India Company was a trading company that became a major power in India.
Its conquest of Mughal Bengal at the Battle of Plassey (1757) made Britain a major power in the Indian subcontinent.
Britain also pursued trade concessions in China and Japan and gained territory in Southeast Asia.
Alongside formal colonies, Britain’s dominance of world trade and the oceans let it control the economies of many regions, such as parts of Asia and Latin America.

Settlement in North America and Australia

England established colonies and trade networks in the Americas from the early 17th century.
Wars with the Netherlands and France in the 17th and 18th centuries left Britain the dominant colonial power in North America.
The American Revolution meant Britain lost some of its oldest and most populous North American colonies by 1783.
Britain kept British North America (now Canada) and territories in and near the Caribbean (the British West Indies).
After 1783, British colonial expansion turned towards Asia, Africa and the Pacific — including settlement in Australia.

The Scramble for Africa and global rivalry

After defeating France in the Napoleonic Wars (1803–1815), Britain became the leading naval and imperial power of the 19th century.
The Great Game was the rivalry between Britain and Russia over influence in Asia.
The Scramble for Africa was the rapid competition between European powers to claim African territory.
Britain defeated the Maratha Empire by 1818 in the Third Anglo-Maratha War, completing its colonisation of India.
Britain also came to dominate the Middle East, shaping its modern borders alongside France.

Pax Britannica and the height of power

Pax Britannica means ‘British Peace’ — the period of relative peace from 1815 to 1914 when Britain was the global hegemon.
Britain’s navy and trade dominance allowed it to enforce its interests worldwide.
White settler colonies gained increasing autonomy; some were formally reclassified as dominions by the 1920s.
By the start of the 20th century, Germany and the United States had begun to challenge Britain’s economic lead.

The Indian Rebellion of 1857 and the British Raj

The Indian Rebellion of 1857 was a major uprising against British rule in India.
After the rebellion, the British Raj was established — direct British government rule over India.
India was Britain’s most valuable and populous possession.
India achieved independence in 1947, as part of a larger decolonisation movement.

Impact of empire on colonised peoples and Britain

The British Parliament was the supreme law-making authority for all British possessions in the Empire.
British rule spread its constitutional, legal, linguistic and cultural systems across the world.
Colonised peoples were ruled by a foreign power and often had little say in their own government.
Britain gained wealth and global power from trade, resources and colonies.
The Empire’s legacy is widespread and is interpreted in different ways today.

Decline and legacy of the Empire

In the Second World War, Britain’s colonies in East and Southeast Asia were occupied by Japan.
The war damaged British prestige and the economy, helping to accelerate the Empire’s decline.
The Suez Crisis of 1956 confirmed Britain was no longer a top global power.
The handover of Hong Kong to China on 1 July 1997 symbolised for many the end of the British Empire.
Fourteen overseas territories that are remnants of the Empire remain under British sovereignty.
Many former colonies joined the Commonwealth of Nations, a free association of independent states; fifteen retain the same monarch, currently King Charles III.

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Questões de prática

Prévia grátis — 8 de 61 perguntas. Cadastre-se para ver todas.

1.In 1497, which explorer sailed from England, made landfall on the coast of Newfoundland, and believed he had reached Asia?
Easy
- AJohn Cabot
- BChristopher Columbus
- CWalter Raleigh
- DJames Cook
2.The British Empire began with overseas possessions and trading posts established by England in which period?
Easy
- AThe late 16th and early 17th centuries
- BThe late 15th and early 16th centuries
- CThe late 17th and early 18th centuries
- DThe late 18th and early 19th centuries
3.Which battle in 1757 gave the East India Company control of Mughal Bengal and made Britain a major power in the Indian subcontinent?
Medium
- AThe Battle of Plassey
- BThe Battle of Waterloo
- CThe Battle of Trafalgar
- DThe Battle of Maratha
4.By which year had Britain lost some of its oldest and most populous colonies in North America as a result of the American Revolution?
Medium
- A1783
- B1776
- C1815
- D1757
5.Which event in 1818 completed British conquest of India by defeating the last major imperial dynasty, the Maratha Empire?
Medium
- AThe Third Anglo-Maratha War
- BThe Indian Rebellion
- CThe Battle of Plassey
- DThe Suez Crisis
6.Which period is described as Pax Britannica, a time of relative peace (1815–1914) when the British Empire became the global hegemon?
Medium
- A1815–1914
- B1757–1815
- C1497–1583
- D1914–1945
7.Which of the following was a major cause of the First World War according to the source?
Medium
- AMilitary, economic and colonial tensions between Britain and Germany
- BThe Indian Rebellion of 1857
- CThe American Revolution
- DThe Suez Crisis of 1956
8.Which event in 1956 confirmed Britain's decline as a global power?
Hard
- AThe Suez Crisis
- BThe handover of Hong Kong
- CThe Indian Rebellion
- DThe Second World War

Mais perguntas

9.Which statement best describes the significance of the handover of Hong Kong on 1 July 1997?
Hard
- AIt symbolised for many the end of the British Empire
- BIt marked the beginning of the British Empire
- CIt was the first colony to gain independence
- DIt ended the Napoleonic Wars
10.According to the source, which of the following best explains why England, France, and the Netherlands began to establish colonies and trade networks in the Americas and Asia?
Challenge
- AThey were motivated by the great wealth generated by the Spanish and Portuguese empires
- BThey wanted to spread democracy
- CThey were competing to spread Christianity
- DThey were forced to leave Europe by war
11.The British Empire was the largest empire in history at its height in the 19th and early 20th centuries.
Easy
True or false?
12.By 1913 the British Empire held sway over 412 million people, 23 per cent of the world population at the time.
Easy
True or false?
13.India achieved independence from Britain in 1947 as part of a larger decolonisation movement.
Medium
True or false?
14.Match each event with the correct year.
Medium
- Battle of Plassey
- American Revolution ends with Britain losing colonies
- India achieves independence
- Handover of Hong Kong to China
- 1757
- 1783
- 1947
- 1997
15.Put these events in the correct chronological order, from earliest to latest.
Medium
- John Cabot sails to Newfoundland
- Battle of Plassey
- American Revolution ends
- Indian Rebellion
- India achieves independence
16.Which company gained control of Mughal Bengal at the Battle of Plassey in 1757?
Easy
- AThe East India Company
- BThe British Army
- CThe Royal Navy
- DThe Maratha Empire
17.Which event in 1818 completed British conquest of India by defeating the last major imperial dynasty?
Medium
- AThe Third Anglo-Maratha War
- BThe Battle of Plassey
- CThe Indian Rebellion
- DThe Napoleonic Wars
18.Which period is described as Pax Britannica, a time of relative peace when the British Empire became the global hegemon?
Medium
- A1815–1914
- B1803–1815
- C1914–1918
- D1939–1945
19.Which of the following were causes of the First World War? (select all that apply)
Medium
- AMilitary tensions between Britain and Germany
- BEconomic tensions between Britain and Germany
- CColonial tensions between Britain and Germany
- DThe Suez Crisis
- EThe handover of Hong Kong
20.Which of the following was the main reason England, France and the Netherlands began to establish colonies and trade networks in the Americas and Asia during the Age of Discovery?
Medium
- AThe great wealth generated by the overseas empires of Portugal and Spain
- BA desire to spread the English language to Asia
- CThe need to find new homes for a growing industrial workforce
- DPressure from the Mughal Empire to open trade routes
21.Why did Britain become the dominant colonial power in North America during the 17th and 18th centuries?
Medium
- AIt bought all French and Dutch colonies peacefully
- BA series of wars with the Netherlands and France left Britain dominant
- CThe Spanish gave Britain their North American territories
- DThe American colonies requested British rule
22.What was the main consequence of the American Revolution for the British Empire?
Medium
- ABritain lost some of its oldest and most populous colonies in North America by 1783
- BBritain immediately lost all its colonies in the Caribbean
- CBritain gained control of the Mughal Empire
- DBritain abandoned overseas expansion entirely
23.After the loss of the American colonies, how did British colonial expansion change direction?
Medium
- AIt turned towards Asia, Africa and the Pacific
- BIt focused on reconquering North America
- CIt concentrated on South America
- DIt withdrew from overseas expansion altogether
24.What was the main reason Britain emerged as the principal naval and imperial power of the 19th century?
Hard
- AThe defeat of France in the Napoleonic Wars (1803–1815)
- BThe discovery of gold in Australia
- CThe Indian Rebellion of 1857
- DThe handover of Hong Kong to China
25.Which of the following were consequences of the British Empire's global dominance in trade and oceans? (select all that apply)
Medium
- AIt effectively controlled the economies of many regions such as Asia and Latin America
- BIt readily enforced its interests in many regions
- CIt came to dominate the Middle East and shaped its modern borders alongside France
- DIt gave up all its overseas territories
- EIt abolished the monarchy
26.The British Empire achieved its largest territorial extent immediately after the First World War.
Easy
True or false?
27.The Second World War accelerated the decline of the British Empire.
Medium
True or false?
28.Match each event with its consequence for the British Empire.
Medium
- American Revolution
- Napoleonic Wars
- Second World War
- Britain lost some of its oldest and most populous colonies by 1783
- Britain emerged as the principal naval and imperial power of the 19th century
- Damage to British prestige and economy helped accelerate the decline of the empire
29.
A table of the British Empire's size is shown:
Year People under British rule Share of world population Land area Share of Earth's land
1913 412 million 23% — —
1920 — — 35.5 million km² 24%
Which statement is best supported by this table?
Medium
- ABy 1913 the empire ruled almost a quarter of the world's people, and by 1920 it covered almost a quarter of the world's land.
- BThe empire's population fell between 1913 and 1920.
- CThe empire covered most of the Earth's land surface by 1920.
- DThe empire had more land than people by 1913.
30.An interpretation states: 'The British Empire was the foremost global power for a century, and its constitutional, legal, linguistic and cultural legacy is widespread.' Which feature of empire does this interpretation emphasise most?
Medium
- AIts lasting cultural and legal influence around the world
- BIts military defeats in the 20th century
- CIts loss of the American colonies in 1783
- DIts dependence on the East India Company for trade
31.A description of a 19th-century map shows British possessions shaded in red across Canada, India, Australia, South Africa and the Caribbean, with shipping routes linking them. What does this map most usefully show about the British Empire?
Medium
- AIt was spread across several continents and connected by sea routes.
- BIt was confined to a single continent.
- CIt had no territories outside Europe.
- DIt relied only on land trade routes.
32.A historian writes: 'Britain's dominance of much of world trade and of its oceans meant that it effectively controlled the economies of many regions, such as Asia and Latin America.' Which claim does this evidence best support?
Medium
- ABritish power extended beyond its formal colonies through trade and naval dominance.
- BBritain only controlled territories it formally ruled as colonies.
- CLatin America was a British colony.
- DBritain's economy was controlled by Asia and Latin America.
33.A data table shows British exports to India rising sharply between 1750 and 1900, alongside imports of Indian cotton and tea. Which conclusions are supported by this evidence? (select all that apply)
Medium
- ATrade between Britain and India grew over this period.
- BIndia supplied raw materials such as cotton and tea to Britain.
- CBritain and India had no economic relationship.
- DIndian goods were unimportant to British trade.
- EBritish goods were sold in Indian markets.
34.A source extract from a British newspaper in 1857 describes Indian rebels as 'ungrateful mutineers' and praises British rule for bringing order. Which criticisms should a historian make of using this extract as evidence about the Indian Rebellion? (select all that apply)
Hard
- AIt is one-sided and does not represent Indian views.
- BIt reflects British opinion rather than a neutral account.
- CIt is useful as evidence of British attitudes at the time.
- DIt proves that all Indians supported British rule.
- EIt gives a balanced account of both sides.
35.A map from 1900 shows British territories on every continent, which supports the description of the empire as 'the empire on which the sun never sets'.
Easy
True or false?
36.A table showing the British Empire covering 24 per cent of the Earth's land area in 1920 proves that Britain controlled the whole world.
Medium
True or false?
37.Which English monarch commissioned John Cabot to lead an expedition to find a Northwest Passage to Asia?
Easy
- AHenry VII
- BHenry VIII
- CElizabeth I
- DJames I
38.John Cabot's 1497 voyage made landfall on the coast of which landmass?
Easy
- ANewfoundland
- BBengal
- Cthe Cape of Good Hope
- Dthe Caribbean
39.Which European powers pioneered overseas exploration and established large empires during the Age of Discovery in the 15th and 16th centuries?
Medium
- APortugal and Spain
- BEngland and France
- Cthe Netherlands and England
- DFrance and Spain
40.The Third Anglo-Maratha War, which completed British conquest of India by defeating the last major imperial dynasty, ended in which year?
Medium
- A1707
- B1757
- C1818
- D1857
41.Complete the sentence about the British Empire.
Easy
The British Empire began with overseas possessions and trading posts established by England in the late ____ and early ____ centuries.
42.In which year did the Battle of Plassey take place?
Medium
43.In which year did India achieve independence from Britain?
Medium
44.Which country did Britain hand over Hong Kong to on 1 July 1997?
Medium
45.What was the name of the period of relative peace (1815–1914) during which the British Empire became the global hegemon?
Medium
46.In which year did the East India Company win the Battle of Plassey, giving Britain a major role in the Indian subcontinent?
Easy
47.By what year had Britain lost its oldest and most populous North American colonies as a result of the American Revolution?
Easy
48.In which year did the Third Anglo-Maratha War end, completing British conquest of India by defeating the Maratha Empire?
Medium
49.According to the reference material, what was the population of the British Empire in 1913, in millions?
Medium
50.Complete the sentence about the growth of the British Empire.
Easy
Britain became a major power in the Indian subcontinent after the East India Company's conquest of Mughal Bengal at the Battle of ____ in ____.
51.Complete the sentence about the period of British global dominance.
Medium
The period of relative peace from ____ to ____ is known as Pax Britannica.
52.Complete the sentence about the end of the British Empire.
Medium
The Suez Crisis of ____ confirmed Britain's decline as a global power, and the handover of Hong Kong to ____ on 1 July 1997 symbolised the end of the empire for many.
53.Explain why the British Empire was described as 'the empire on which the sun never sets'.
Hard
54.Describe the impact of the American Revolution on the British Empire.
Hard
55.A historian says: 'The British Empire's dominance of world trade and oceans meant it effectively controlled the economies of many regions.' Explain how useful this statement is as evidence about the extent of British power.
Hard
56.In which year did the Battle of Plassey take place?
Medium
- A1581
- B1757
- C1933
- D2109
57.In which year did India achieve independence from Britain?
Medium
- A1752
- B2142
- C2337
- D1947
58.In which year did the East India Company win the Battle of Plassey, giving Britain a major role in the Indian subcontinent?
Easy
- A1581
- B2109
- C1757
- D1933
59.By what year had Britain lost its oldest and most populous North American colonies as a result of the American Revolution?
Easy
- A1783
- B1961
- C1605
- D2139
60.In which year did the Third Anglo-Maratha War end, completing British conquest of India by defeating the Maratha Empire?
Medium
- A1818
- B2000
- C1636
- D2182
61.According to the reference material, what was the population of the British Empire in 1913, in millions?
Medium
- A453 million
- B371 million
- C494 million
- D412 million

Resumos de revisão

## The British Empire — KS3 Revision **What it was:** The dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom and its predecessor states. It began with overseas possessions and trading posts set up by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries, plus Scottish colonisation attempts in the 17th century. **Scale:** At its height in the 19th and early 20th centuries it was the largest empire in history and, for a century, the foremost global power. By 1913 it ruled over 412 million people — 23% of the world's population. By 1920 it covered 35.5 million km² (13.7 million sq mi), 24% of the Earth's land area. It was called "the empire on which the sun never sets", because the sun was always shining on at least one of its territories. **Who made the laws:** The British Parliament was the supreme law-making authority for all British possessions making up the Empire. Its constitutional, legal, linguistic and cultural legacy is widespread. ## How it grew - **Age of Discovery (15th–16th c.):** Portugal and Spain pioneered European exploration and built large overseas empires. Their wealth motivated England, France and the Netherlands to found colonies and trade networks in the Americas and Asia. - **17th–18th c. wars** with the Netherlands and France left Britain the dominant colonial power in North America. - **India:** Britain became a major power in the Indian subcontinent after the East India Company's conquest of Mughal Bengal at the **Battle of Plassey (1757)**. The last major imperial dynasty, the Maratha Empire, was defeated by 1818 in the Third Anglo-Maratha War. - **1783:** The American Revolution cost Britain some of its oldest and most populous North American colonies. It kept British North America (now Canada) and the British West Indies, and expansion turned towards Asia, Africa and the Pacific. - **1815:** After France's defeat in the Napoleonic Wars (1803–1815), Britain became the principal naval and imperial power of the 19th century. It pursued trade concessions in China and Japan and territory in Southeast Asia; the Great Game and the Scramble for Africa followed. - **Pax Britannica:** the period of relative peace (1815–1914) when Britain was the global hegemon. - Britain's dominance of world trade and the oceans meant it effectively controlled the economies of, and enforced its interests in, regions such as Asia and Latin America, and shaped the modern Middle East alongside France. - White settler colonies gained increasing autonomy; some were reclassified as dominions by the 1920s. ## Decline - By 1900 Germany and the United States challenged Britain's economic lead; military, economic and colonial tensions with Germany were major causes of the First World War, which strained Britain's military, financial and manpower resources. - The empire reached its largest territorial extent just after WWI, but Britain was no longer the world's preeminent industrial or military power. - In WWII Britain's East and Southeast Asian colonies were occupied by Japan; damage to prestige and the economy accelerated decline. - **India**, Britain's most valuable and populous possession, became independent in **1947**, part of a wider decolonisation movement. - The **Suez Crisis (1956)** confirmed Britain's decline; the handover of **Hong Kong to China on 1 July 1997** symbolised the end for many, though fourteen overseas territories remain under British sovereignty. - Many former colonies and most dominions joined the **Commonwealth of Nations**; fifteen members, including the UK, retain the same monarch, currently King Charles III. ## Origins England and Scotland were separate kingdoms under different monarchs. In 1496 Henry VII, following Spain and Portugal, commissioned **John Cabot** to find a Northwest Passage to Asia. Cabot sailed in 1497, five years after Columbus's first voyage, and made landfall in Newfoundland. He believed he had reached Asia; no colony was founded, and his second voyage did not return.

British Empire: The dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom and its predecessor states.
East India Company: The trading company whose conquest of Mughal Bengal at the Battle of Plassey in 1757 made Britain a major power in the Indian subcontinent.
Battle of Plassey (1757): The East India Company's conquest of Mughal Bengal, after which Britain became a major power in the Indian subcontinent.
American Revolution: The conflict that resulted in Britain losing some of its oldest and most populous colonies in North America by 1783.
Napoleonic Wars (1803–1815): The wars after which, with France defeated, Britain emerged as the principal naval and imperial power of the 19th century.
Pax Britannica: Latin for "British Peace" — the period of relative peace (1815–1914) during which the British Empire became the global hegemon.
Scramble for Africa: The rush by European powers, including Britain, to claim territory in Africa in the late 19th century.
The Great Game: The strategic rivalry, named in the source alongside the Scramble for Africa, that formed part of British imperial expansion.
Dominion: A self-governing territory of the Empire; some white settler colonies were formally reclassified as dominions by the 1920s.
Indian independence (1947): The independence of India, Britain's most valuable and populous possession, as part of a larger decolonisation movement.
Suez Crisis (1956): The crisis that confirmed Britain's decline as a global power.
Commonwealth of Nations: A free association of independent states joined by many former British colonies and most dominions after independence; fifteen members, including the UK, retain the same monarch, currently King Charles III.
John Cabot: Commissioned by Henry VII in 1496 to find a Northwest Passage to Asia; he sailed in 1497 and made landfall in Newfoundland.

Flashcards

What was the British Empire?

The dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom and its predecessor states.

When did the British Empire begin?

With the overseas possessions and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries, and colonisation attempts by Scotland during the 17th century.

When was the British Empire at its height?

In the 19th and early 20th centuries, when it was the largest empire in history and, for a century, the foremost global power.

How many people did the British Empire hold sway over by 1913?

412 million people — 23 per cent of the world population at the time.

How much of the Earth's land area did the British Empire cover by 1920?

35.5 million km2 (13.7 million sq mi) — 24 per cent of the Earth's total land area.

Why was the British Empire described as 'the empire on which the sun never sets'?

Because the sun was always shining on at least one of its territories.

Which countries pioneered European overseas exploration and empire in the 15th and 16th centuries?

Portugal and Spain, during the Age of Discovery.

What motivated England, France and the Netherlands to establish colonies and trade networks in the Americas and Asia?

The great wealth generated by the Spanish and Portuguese empires.

What was the result of the 17th- and 18th-century wars with the Netherlands and France?

Britain became the dominant colonial power in North America.

How did Britain become a major power in the Indian subcontinent?

Through the East India Company's conquest of Mughal Bengal at the Battle of Plassey in 1757.

What was the result of the American Revolution for the British Empire?

By 1783 Britain had lost some of its oldest and most populous colonies in North America.

Which territories did Britain retain after losing the American colonies?

British North America (now Canada) and territories in and near the Caribbean in the British West Indies.

Where did British colonial expansion turn after the loss of the American colonies?

Towards Asia, Africa and the Pacific.

What happened to Britain's imperial position after France's defeat in the Napoleonic Wars (1803–1815)?

Britain emerged as the principal naval and imperial power of the 19th century and expanded its imperial holdings.

What was Pax Britannica?

The period of relative peace from 1815 to 1914 during which the British Empire became the global hegemon; Latin for 'British Peace'.

What was the Scramble for Africa?

The rush by European powers, including Britain, to claim territory in Africa during the late 19th century.

What was the Great Game?

The strategic rivalry between Britain and Russia over influence in Asia, particularly around India and Central Asia.

How did Britain come to control India by 1818?

By defeating the Maratha Empire, the last major imperial dynasty, in the Third Anglo-Maratha War.

How did Britain control the economies of regions such as Asia and Latin America without formal rule?

Through its dominance of much of world trade and of the oceans, which let it enforce its interests readily.

What was the British Raj?

The period of direct British rule over India that followed the Indian Rebellion of 1857.

What was the Indian Rebellion of 1857?

A major uprising against British rule in India, after which Britain took direct control and established the British Raj.

What happened to Britain's white settler colonies by the 1920s?

Increasing degrees of autonomy were recognised for them, and some were formally reclassified as dominions.

Which powers had begun to challenge Britain's economic lead by the start of the 20th century?

Germany and the United States.

Why was the British Empire important in the First World War?

Britain relied heavily on its empire, which placed enormous strain on its military, financial and manpower resources.

When did the British Empire reach its largest territorial extent?

Immediately after the First World War — though Britain was no longer the world's preeminent industrial or military power.

What happened to Britain's colonies in East Asia and Southeast Asia in the Second World War?

They were occupied by the Empire of Japan.

What effect did the Second World War have on the British Empire?

The damage to British prestige and the British economy helped accelerate the decline of the empire.

When did India achieve independence, and why was it significant?

In 1947, as part of a larger decolonisation movement; India was Britain's most valuable and populous possession.

What did the Suez Crisis of 1956 confirm?

Britain's decline as a global power.

What event symbolised for many the end of the British Empire?

The handover of Hong Kong to China on 1 July 1997.

What is the Commonwealth of Nations?

A free association of independent states that many former British colonies, along with most of the dominions, joined after independence.

How many Commonwealth members retain the same person as monarch?

Fifteen, including the United Kingdom; currently King Charles III.

Who commissioned John Cabot's expedition, and why?

King Henry VII of England, following the successes of Spain and Portugal in overseas exploration.

What was John Cabot trying to find in 1497?

A Northwest Passage to Asia via the North Atlantic.

Where did John Cabot make landfall in 1497?

On the coast of Newfoundland, five years after the first voyage of Christopher Columbus.

Did John Cabot's 1497 voyage lead to an English colony?

No — he believed he had reached Asia, and there was no attempt to found a colony.

What happened on John Cabot's second voyage to the Americas?

He did not return; it is unknown what happened to his ships.

What evidence suggests Bristol mariners knew of the North American shore before Cabot?

Inferential evidence suggests they may have known of it and been harvesting its rich seas for a decade or more, though England made no formal claims.

What was the British Parliament's role in the Empire?

It was the supreme law-making authority for all the British possessions which made up the Empire.

What kinds of legacy did the British Empire leave around the world?

Constitutional, legal, linguistic and cultural legacies that are widespread.

What was the East India Company's role in building the British Empire?

It established trading posts and conquered territory in India, notably Mughal Bengal at the Battle of Plassey in 1757.

What happened to British colonies after the Second World War?

In a larger decolonisation movement, Britain granted independence to most territories of the empire.

What are the fourteen overseas territories that remain under British sovereignty?

Remnants of the empire that still remain under British sovereignty today.

How did Britain shape the modern Middle East?

It came to dominate the Middle East and shaped its modern borders alongside France.

Why did Britain pursue trade concessions in China and Japan?

As part of its 19th-century imperial expansion after becoming the principal naval and imperial power.

What were the major causes of the First World War involving Britain and Germany?

Military, economic and colonial tensions between Britain and Germany.

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