1. The British Empire, Then and Now
WORLD HISTORY READERS
Level 2-⑥
The British Empire, Then and Now

2. The Power of the British Empire
Victoria Falls,
Zimbabwe
How big was the British Empire?
Sydney, Australia
The British, at one point, controlled over 24% of all the land in the world.
Cape Town, South Africa
Its power reached Africa, Asia, Australia, North and South America, as well as Europe.
The Empire controlled the lives of millions of people all over the world.

3. The Most Powerful Countries in Europe
In the 16th century, which countries were the most powerful in Europe?
Spain and Portugal
They were expanding their powers all over the world in the Americas, Africa, and through Asia, taking their religion and language with them.
The Spanish taking control of the Americas
Spanish buildings in the Philippines
When did Britain become very powerful?
A series of wars in the 17th and 18th centuries, and the union of England and Scotland into one country in 1707, made Great Britain one of the most powerful countries on earth.

4. East India Company What did the British East India Company do?
Company flag
What did the British East India Company do?
A British fort in Penang, Malaysia
In 1600, The British East India Company was set up in London to build trade in India.
The company had its own army and soon controlled much of India and South Asia.
A military officer of
the East India Company
It also controlled lands in Africa and parts of the Middle East.
How did this help the empire grow?
The British government took control of the company’s lands in 1857, greatly expanding the British Empire.

5. How did the British navy expand the empire?
War and Expansion
How did the British navy expand the empire?
After the wars with Napoleon in 1815, Britain had the most powerful navy in the world.
Its ships quickly expanded Britain’s control around the world.
As Britain was the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution, it became the “workshop of the world.”
Making steel during the Industrial Revolution
It expanded trade to all corners of the world, making the Empire extremely rich and powerful.

6. Losing Power When did the British Empire begin losing its colonies?
The American Declaration
of Independence
In 1776, Britain lost some of its power when the thirteen colonies in North America became independent.
Soon after, many countries in Africa followed, such as Malawi, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, and Zambia.
In 1867, Canada gained independence as well.
India and Pakistan gained independence in 1947, then Sri Lanka and Myanmar in 1948.
By the 1980s, Britain’s empire was over.

7. The Commonwealth of Nations
What is the Commonwealth of Nations?
The flag of the Commonwealth of Nations
After many of the colonies gained independence, 52 of them, such as India, Australia, Canada, Pakistan, Nigeria, South Africa, and New Zealand, joined together to create an organization called the Commonwealth of Nations.
Today, it has a combined population of 2.3 billion people.

8. English and Sports
What kind of influence is still seen today that came from the old British Empire?
One major remaining influence of the British Empire is that English has become the world’s international language.
Also, all over the world there are still many buildings to remind us of the great power the Empire used to have.
Another influence was that several British sports were played in the colonies. They remained popular in those areas and now have become world sports.

9. The Empire Today
The Empire developed trade routes, brought about the Industrial Revolution, and created many democratic governments all over the world.
What were some good things that came out of the British Empire?
The British Empire greatly improved the lives of many people.
Queenstown, New Zealand
Cape Town, South Africa
Singapore, a former British colony
What were some bad things?
The Empire destroyed communities and cultures and lead to the deaths of millions of people.

10. Vocabulary capture v. democratic adj.
to take into one's possession or control
democratic adj.
following a system in which all the people choose their leaders

11. Vocabulary expand v. load n. to make bigger
to put a lot of things into a vehicle or machine

12. Vocabulary
permanent adj.
continuing always
powerful adj.
very strong

13. Vocabulary remain v. shine v. to continue to exist or stay
to make a bright light