Origins
15th-16th century: Portugal and Spain pioneered European exploration of the globe & established large oversea empires
World War I
prosperity
protestant England sanctioned attacks on catholic Spain's and Portugal's ships and ports in the Americas
Commonwealth of Nations
Treaty of Versailles: the empire reached its greatest extent (addition of 4,7 km² & 13 million people)
New territories: Palestine, Transjordan, Iraq, Tanganjika and Parts of Cameroon and Togo
influential writers such as John Dee & Richard Hakluyt started to press the establishment of England's own empire
basis
facts
member states: 53
founded in 1931
was the largest empire in history
Classification of territories
areas directly ruled by a governor on behalf of the british government and representing the crown
Colonies
territories ruled by a local ruler in all aspects but defense and foreign affairs
Protectorates
semi-independent polities with significant freedom
Dominions
former German and Turkish colonies given to Britain and France in order to prepare for self-government
Mandates
covered 33,67 million km², 1/4 of earth's total land are; 458 million people (1/4 of earth's population at that time
London
encompassed territories ( dominions, colonies, protectorate, mandates) on every continent
intergovernmental organization
territories of the former British Empire
Criteria
- be fully sovereign states
- recognize the monarch of Britain as Head of Commonwealth
- accept English language as communication
- have a link to the British Empire
Members
united by language, history, culture, rule of law
covers more than 29,9 km², 1/4 of earth's land area
estimated population: 2,3 billion (1/3 of earth's population
First British Empire (1583 - 1783)
1578: Queen Elizabeth l. granted a patent to Humphrey Gilbert for discovery and overseas exploration
no permanent settlement
1583: arrival on Newfoundland
1584: foundation of the first settlement Roanoke (N.Carolina) by Walter Raleigh
failed due to lacking supply
successful sugar cane plantation on St.Kittis, Barbados & Nevi (circa 1620)
met demand of slave work by acquisition from the Dutch
1607: establishment of the first permanent settlement in Jamestown/Virginia
1672: foundation of Royal African Company
supply of English colonies with african slaves
first settlements in West-Africa
1688: end of English-Dutch rivalry in Asia;
deal: Netherlands control spice trade on Indonesia, while Britain control textile trade in India
1714: Britain, Portugal, and Holy Roman Empire beat France and Spain in the War of the Spanish Succession Britain gains Newfoundland, Acadia, Gibraltar, Minorca & the rights to asiento
Loss of the Thirteen American Colonies
as of 1760s: rising tension and resentments to British Parliament due to attempts govern and tax American colonists without their consent "No taxation without representation"
American Revolution: rejection of parliamentary authority, moves to self-government etc.
Britain response with "Intolerable Acts"
1775: outbreak of the War of Independence
1781: decisive defeat of British Army in Yorktown
1776: Declaration of Independence
1783: acknowledgment of independence
Imperial Century (1815 - 1914)
Pax Britannica unchallenged british hegemony
"splendid isolation" use of geographical conditions to keep out of continentaleuropean conflicts
Inter-War Period
The Great Game
rivalry with Russia in central Asia
agreement on spheres of influence in 1878
"Scramble for Africa" occupation of Cape Colony & Sudan, submission of Egypt, conquest of Rhodesia "Cape to Cairo"
1919-1921: Irish War of Independence
Origin of Irish Free State
origin of dominions:
1867 union of Upper & Lower Canada, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia to Dominion of Canada;
1901 union of australian colonies to Australia;
1910 South African Union
1919: Massacre of Amritsar
1922: Independence of Egypt
1926: Balfour Declaration
Decolonization
1932: Independence of Iraq
Independence
- India & Pakistan (1947)
- Ceylon & Burma (1948)
- Israel & Ireland (1949)
- Sudan (1956)
- Malaysia (1957)
- Cyprus (1960)
- Malta (1964)
- Canada (1982)
- Brunei (1984)
- Australia & New Zealand (1986)
- Hong Kong (1997)
Second British Empire (1783 - 1815)
shift of attention to Asia, the Pacific and Africa
stabilize rule in India after victory over Moguls
1770: James Cook discovers Australia and claims New Zealand
first fleet arrives Australia in 1788
1815: defeat of Napoleonic France
Britain obtains Ionian Islands, Malta, Mauritius, St.Lucia, Tobago, Trinidad, Guyana, Cape Colony
1807: Slave Trade Act: prohibition of slave trade in entire empire
1833: Slavery Abolition Act: prohibition of slavery
The British Empire
on which the sun never sets
presented by Seyit Riza Edebali