THE BRITISH EMPIRE
The British Empire - “the empire on which the sun never sets”, was, at its height, the largest empire in history, not to mention dominating the oceans as well. Even after the independence of America, New Zealand and Canada, (all before 1900); the British Empire was still a huge red stain on the map of the world.
The subject of the empire is one of huge argument – some like to reflect with pride on the might of the empire – although most agree that the brutal atrocities committed in the name of greed and globalisation are not something to be proud of. Even now, there is pressure for Britain to pay reparations – at one point the amount was estimated at up to £150 trillion (2001). The empire was created in different ways, and run with varying levels of control.
A lot of countries such as New Zealand were ‘claimed’ by British settlers, and since Britain controlled the seas, they turned up all over the world to claim land. As well as this, in India trade turned into absolute rule when the British East India Company who traded in Indian spices, silk etc. grew so large that they practically controlled India which was then broken up into principalities.
The Dominions which included Canada and Australia were (and some still are) under British sovereignty but were left to rule
themselves, however in West Africa the British were heavily involved in the slave trade and the countries were run with much more brutality.
Often for the native people of the colonies, their ways of life were changed dramatically. In Africa, the British introduced Christianity and broke up their tribal ways of life and supported the slave trade; on the other hand they brought medicines and technology to people and later helped abolish the slave trade.
The subject of the empire is one of huge argument – some like to reflect with pride on the might of the empire – although most agree that the brutal atrocities committed in the name of greed and globalisation are not something to be proud of. Even now, there is pressure for Britain to pay reparations – at one point the amount was estimated at up to £150 trillion (2001). The empire was created in different ways, and run with varying levels of control.
A lot of countries such as New Zealand were ‘claimed’ by British settlers, and since Britain controlled the seas, they turned up all over the world to claim land. As well as this, in India trade turned into absolute rule when the British East India Company who traded in Indian spices, silk etc. grew so large that they practically controlled India which was then broken up into principalities.
The Dominions which included Canada and Australia were (and some still are) under British sovereignty but were left to rule
themselves, however in West Africa the British were heavily involved in the slave trade and the countries were run with much more brutality.
Often for the native people of the colonies, their ways of life were changed dramatically. In Africa, the British introduced Christianity and broke up their tribal ways of life and supported the slave trade; on the other hand they brought medicines and technology to people and later helped abolish the slave trade.
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