British Empire

Biographical Overview & Key Facts

Subject:

British Empire

Role / Field:

The vast global dominion ruled by the United Kingdom and its territories.

Database Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Wikipedia CC BY-SA 4.0

Origins & Foundations

The British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates, and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom and its predecessor states. It began 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. At its height in the 19th and early 20th centuries, it was the largest empire in history and, for a century, was the foremost global power. By 1913 the British Empire held sway over 412 million people, 23 per cent of the world population at the time, and by 1920 it covered 35.5 million km2 (13.7 million sq mi), 24 per cent of the Earth's total land area.

Key Developments & Impact

The British Parliament was the supreme law-making authority for all the British possessions which made up the Empire. As a result, its constitutional, legal, linguistic, and cultural legacy is widespread. It was described as "the empire on which the sun never sets", as the sun was always shining on at least one of its territories. During the Age of Discovery in the 15th and 16th centuries, Portugal and Spain pioneered European exploration of the world, and in the process established...

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1913: 1913 Milestone — By 1913 the British Empire held sway over 412 million people, 23 per cent of the world population at the time, and by 1920 it covered 35.

Notable Quotes by British Empire

“The empire on which the sun never sets.”

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: British Empire

True or False: “The British Empire was always the single largest global power throughout its entire history.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): While it reached immense power, its status fluctuated significantly, particularly before and after the major global conflicts.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Ahmad Tajuddin — Historical peer (Born in 1913) (1913): The 27th Sultan of Brunei, advocating for political autonomy.
• Aimé Césaire — Historical peer (Born in 1913) (1913): Afro-Martinican poet, politician, and founder of the Négritude movement.
• Abraham Kuyper — Historical peer (Died in 1920) (1920): Influential neo-Calvinist pastor, journalist, and Prime Minister of the Netherlands.
• Alberto Sordi — Historical peer (Born in 1920) (1920): Pillar of Italian Cinema, master of Commedia all'italiana comedy.

Frequently Asked Questions about British Empire