British Empire

**British Empire**
	overseas possessions of England and later the United Kingdom (1607–1997)
	Upload media
	Wikipedia Wikiquote Wikiversity Wikivoyage Abstract Wikipedia
Spoken text audio	Englishⓘ
Instance of	colonial empire (1583–1997);
Location	United Kingdom;
Capital	London;
Basic form of government	constitutional monarchy;
Official language	English;
Anthem	God Save the King (1745–);
Currency	pound sterling;
Has part(s)	Colony of Trinidad;
Inception	1583;
Dissolved, abolished or demolished	1997 (handover of Hong Kong);
Population	680,000,000 (1922);
Area	37,200,000 km²;
Replaces	English overseas possession;
Different from	Britannic Empire;
	{{#coordinates:}}: cannot have more than one primary tag per page51° 30′ 26″ N, 0° 07′ 39″ W
Authority file
	Q8680; Library of Congress Authorities ID: sh85056632; Bibliothèque nationale de France ID: 119440568; BNCF Thesaurus ID: 16243; J9U entity ID: 987007538414305171; OpenHistoricalMap relation ID: 2828417
	Reasonator; Scholia; Wikidocumentaries; KML file; WikiShootMe; OpenStreetMap; Search depicted;

**British Empire**
	overseas possessions of England and later the United Kingdom (1607–1997)
	Upload media
	Wikipedia Wikiquote Wikiversity Wikivoyage Abstract Wikipedia
Spoken text audio	Englishⓘ
Instance of	colonial empire (1583–1997);
Location	United Kingdom;
Capital	London;
Basic form of government	constitutional monarchy;
Official language	English;
Anthem	God Save the King (1745–);
Currency	pound sterling;
Has part(s)	Colony of Trinidad;
Inception	1583;
Dissolved, abolished or demolished	1997 (handover of Hong Kong);
Population	680,000,000 (1922);
Area	37,200,000 km²;
Replaces	English overseas possession;
Different from	Britannic Empire;
	51° 30′ 26″ N, 0° 07′ 39″ W
Authority file
	Q8680; Library of Congress Authorities ID: sh85056632; Bibliothèque nationale de France ID: 119440568; BNCF Thesaurus ID: 16243; J9U entity ID: 987007538414305171; OpenHistoricalMap relation ID: 2828417
	Reasonator; Scholia; Wikidocumentaries; KML file; WikiShootMe; OpenStreetMap; Search depicted;

<nowiki>Imperio británico; Breska heimsveldið; Empayar British; Британийы импери; برېتانيايي سترواکي; Britanya İmparatorluğu; سلطنت برطانیہ; Britské impérium; Empèri Britanic; Britan imperiýasy; 大英帝国; Britisches Weltreich; Britaniya Imperiyasi; ব্ৰিটিছ সাম্ৰাজ্য; Britské impérium; Britansko Carstvo; ब्रिटिश साम्राज्य; ဗိတိသျအဉ်ပါယာ; Empire britannique; Britansko Carstvo; ब्रिटिश साम्राज्य; ବ୍ରିଟିଶ ସାମ୍ରାଜ୍ୟ; Brėtu imperėjė; Британска империја; Det britiske imperiet; Britaniya imperiyası; British Samrajya; Britaniya İmperiyası; brittilâš imperium; الإمبراطورية البريطانية; Impalaeriezh Breizh-Veur; ဗြိတိသျှအင်ပါယာ; 大英帝國; Британ империясы; Thai-yîn Ti-koet; Imperiu británicu; Imperi Britànic; Британия империяһы; yr Ymerodraeth Brydeinig; Impireacht na Breataine; امپراتوری بریتانیا; 大英帝國; Britske Ryk; Brittiläne valdukundu; イギリス帝国; Imperio Britannic; Daular Biritaniya; الامبراطوريه البريطانيه; බ්‍රිතාන්‍ය අධිරාජ්‍යය; Imperium Britannicum; ब्रिटिश साम्राज्य; 大英帝國; brittiläinen imperiumi; Բրիտանական կայսրութիւն; Imperi britànich; لإمبراطورية د بريطانيا; Брытанская імпэрыя; Britanine imperii; จักรวรรดิบริติช; Britanski Imperij; Брітаньска Імперія; Inpero britànego; ma lawa suli Piten; Imperyong Britaniko; Emperoureth Breten Veur; Британска империя; Imperiul Britanic; 大英帝國; Brittiska imperiet; 大英帝國; Britanian imperio; ອານາຈັກອັງກິດ; برىتانىيە ئىمپېرىيەسى; Brita imperio; Imperio britanico; ব্রিটিশ সাম্রাজ্য; Imperium Britania; Британи империйĕ; ئمپئراتوٙری بئریتانیا; בריטישע אימפעריע; Đế quốc Anh; Britu impērija; Britse Ryk; Britų imperija; Βρετανική Αυτοκρατορία; Império Britânico; Breetish Empire; Британийн эзэнт гүрэн; Det britiske imperiet; Milki ya Uingereza; பிரித்தானியப் பேரரசு; Imperium Baritania; Briti impeerium; ಬ್ರಿಟೀಷ್ ಸಾಮ್ರಾಜ್ಯ; ئیمپراتۆریەتیی بەریتانی; British Empire; Imperyo Britaniko; Vyretáña Mburuvi; ბრიტანეთის იმპერია; yn Impiraght Ghoaldagh; Britiske Imperium; Brit Birodalom; የብሪታንያ መንግሥት; Британиялъул империя; Britainiar Inperioa; ബ്രിട്ടീഷ് സാമ്രാജ്യം; Британ империясы; Британская империя; Imperium Britania Raya; Britisches Weltreich; Британийн импери; Брытанская імперыя; Բրիտանական կայսրություն; Британиин эзэнтэ гүрэн; Imperium Britania; ब्रिटिश साम्राज्य; 대영제국; Britisch Weltriek; Ampir britanik; Imperio a Britaniko; ਬਰਤਾਨਵੀ ਸਾਮਰਾਜ; האימפריה הבריטית; Британия империясе; Bryttisce Rīce; Britisk Weltrik; బ్రిటిషు సామ్రాజ్యం; Ampério británico; Britaniya Imperiyasi; British Empaya; بریتانیا ایمپیراتورلوغو; Британ империя; Impero britannico; Британска Империја; ბრიტანეთიშ იმპერია; Britan Imperium; Briti impeerium; Perandoria Britanike; Британиядин империя; UbuKumkani bamaBritane; سلطنت برطانیا; Ilẹ̀ Ọbalúayé Brítánìì; Impèriu Britànnicu; Império Britânico; Imperu Brittaniku; Tāi-eng Tè-kok; Impero Brites; बेलायती साम्राज्य; Britanski imperij; Britanikong Imperyo; Империяи Бритониё; Британська імперія; Imperi inglês; Imperium brytyjskie; Ìmpireachd Bhreatainn; Britse Rijk; Împeratoriya Brîtanî; Британия Империята; سلطنت برطانيا; Reynouniduanong Imperyo; Imperio Británico; British Empire; 大英帝国; Mairi British yǝ; conjunto de dominios administrados por el Reino Unido entre los siglos XVI y XX; британ империясынын колониялык системасына кайсы олко кирбейт (1607–1997); territoris depenents de la monarquia britànica; größte Kolonialmacht der Geschichte (1607–1997); یک امپراتوری بزرگ دریایی با مرکزیت انگلستان (۱۶۰۷–۱۹۹۷); 歷史國家; dewlet û herêmên di bin serweriya Keyaniya Yekbûyî de (1607–1997); Birleşik Krallık tarafından yönetilmiş devletler ve dominyonlardan oluşan imparatorluk (1607–1997); برطانوی غلبہ; den officiella benämningen på Storbritanniens tidigare kolonialvälde och maktområden (1607–1997); האימפריה הגדולה ביותר בהיסטוריה; 歷史上英國所統治的全球帝國; 영국 식민제국의 통칭; әлемнің түкпір-түкпіріндегі жерлерден құралған аса ірі империя (1607–1997); transmaraj posedaĵoj de Anglio kaj poste Britio (1607–1997); la tuto de koloniitaj kaj konkeritaj teritorioj de Britio; historický státní útvar (1607–1997); ஐக்கிய ராச்சியத்தால் ஆளப்பட்ட நாடுகள் மற்றும் பகுதிகள்; possedimenti coloniali dell'Inghilterra e poi del Regno Unito (1607-1997); পৃথিবীর বৃহত্তম সাম্রাজ্য; ensemble des territoires conquis, exploités et dominés par l'Angleterre puis le Royaume-Uni, du début du XVIIe à la fin du XXe siècle; каляніяльная імпэрыя з цэнтрам у Вялікабрытаніі (1607–1997); Brits imperium (1607–1997); εδάφη που κυβερνήθηκαν από το Ηνωμένο Βασίλειο; imperiu multietnic colonial (1607–1997); conxunto de colonias da Gran Bretaña (1607–1997); Пан-Континентальная колониальная морская империя со столицей в Лондоне (1783–1997), самое большое в истории человечества государство; Angliya, keyin Birlesken Korolliktiń sırt el iyelikleri (1607-1997); estados e domínios governados pelo Reino Unido; các thuộc địa do Vương quốc Anh thống trị (1607–1997); koloniāla impērija, kuras pamatā bija Apvienotā Karaliste (1607–1997); oorsese besittings van Engeland en later die Verenigde Koninkryk (1607–1997); イギリスとその植民地・海外領土などの総称; čezmorske posesti Anglije in pozneje Združenega kraljestva (1607–1997); Britannian hallitsema siirtomaaimperiumi (1607–1997); harta benda Inggris dan kemudian Britania Raya di seberang lautan (1607-1997); owersees possessions o Ingland an later the Unitit Kinrick (1607–1997); กลุ่มดินแดนโพ้นทะเลซึ่งขึ้นต่ออังกฤษและสหราชอาณาจักร (ค.ศ. 1607–1997); Imperium kolonialne obejmujące Wielką Brytanię oraz terytoria od niej zależne (1607–1997); dominioner av Det forente kongedømmet (1607–1997); Çoxmillətli imperiya (1603-1997)- Birləşmiş Krallığın idarə etdiyi dövlətlər və dominionlar; çhaglym dy hellooghyssyn harrish mooir lesh Sostyn as, ny s'anmey, lesh y Reeriaght Unnaneysit; dagiti pagturayan ti Nagkaykaysa a Pagarian (1607–1997); د انګلېستان بهرنۍ سيمې او وروسته برېتانيا هم له ۱۶۰۷ تر ۱۹۹۷; گەورەترین و بەھێزترین ئیمپراتۆریەت لە جیھاندا (١٥٨٣–١٩٩٧); overseas possessions of England and later the United Kingdom (1607–1997); أكبر قوة استعمارية في التاريخ; yvy oĩva Tavetã Joaju poguýpe saro'y XVI guive XX meve; wilayah dikuasai oleh United Kingdom (1607–1997); yn Impiraght Choloinagh Ghoaldagh; Impiraght y Vretyn Vooar; Impiraght Vretin Vooar; Impiraght Vretyn Vooar; Empire colonial britannique; British Empire; Empire; امپراطوری بریتانیا; امپراتوری استعماری بریتانیا; 大英帝国; 英帝國; 英帝国; 不列颠帝国; 英國帝國; 英国帝国; Britanijos imperija; Britannien valdukundu; Britannielaine valdukundu; 大英帝国; 英国帝国; برېتانيا سترواکي; Bretanyanhong Imperyo; Lielbritānijas impērija; Brita kolonia imperio; จักรวรรดิอังกฤษ; 英國帝國; Britansko cesarstvo; britanske kolonije; బ్రిటిష్ సామ్రాజ్యం; 영국 제국; brit gyarmatbirodalom; الإمبراطورية البريطانية.; الامبراطورية البريطانية; إمبراطورية بريطانية; الإمبراطورية بريطانية; الإمبراطوريه البريطانيه; الاحتلال البريطاني; احتلال بريطاني; استعمار بريطاني; الاستعمار البريطاني; الاحتلال الانجليزي; امبراطورية بريطانية; الامبراطورية البريطانية الاستعمارية; المستعمرات البريطانية; مستعمرة بريطانية; مستعمرات بريطانية; Imperiul britanic colonial; لإمبراطورية لبريطانية</nowiki>

Origins (1497–1583)

A replica of the Matthew, John Cabot's ship used for his second voyage to the New World in 1497

Americas, Africa and the slave trade

A 1670 illustration of African slaves working in 17th-century colonial Virginia in British America

Rivalry with other European empires

Fort St. George in Madras, India, was founded in 1639.

Expansion and colonial conflict (1707–1783)

Robert Clive's victory at the Battle of Plassey established the East India Company as both a military and commercial power.

Loss of the Thirteen American Colonies

American Revolution (1778 print)

Consolidation and global dominance (1783–1815)

Exploration of the Pacific

Portrait of James Cook by Nathaniel Dance-Holland, 1775. James Cook's mission was to find the alleged southern continent Terra Australis

Continued conquest in India

Maps of the Indian subcontinent in 1765 (left) and 1858 (right) showing British expansion in the region.

Wars with France

The Battle of Waterloo in 1815 ended in the defeat of Napoleon and marked the beginning of Pax Britannica.

Britain's imperial century (1815–1914)

An 1876 political cartoon of Benjamin Disraeli making Queen Victoria Empress of India. The caption reads "New crowns for old ones!"

Rivalry with Russia

British cavalry charging against Russian forces at Balaclava in 1854

Cape to Cairo

The Rhodes Colossus—Cecil Rhodes spanning "Cape to Cairo"

World wars (1914–1945)

A poster urging men from countries of the British Empire to enlist

Inter-war period

The British Empire at its territorial peak in 1921
George V (Seated front) with British and Dominion prime ministers at the 1926 Imperial Conference. Standing (left to right): W.S. Monroe (Newfoundland), Gordon Coates (New Zealand), Stanley Bruce (Australia), J. B. M. Hertzog (Union of South Africa), W. T. Cosgrave (Irish Free State). Seated left: Stanley Baldwin (United Kingdom), seated right: William Mackenzie King (Canada)

Second World War

During the Second World War, the Eighth Army was made up of units from many different countries in the British Empire and Commonwealth; it fought in the North African and Italian campaigns.]]

Initial disengagement

About 14.5 million people lost their homes as a result of the partition of India in 1947.

Suez and its aftermath

Eden's decision to invade Egypt in 1956 revealed Britain's post-war weaknesses.

Wind of change

British decolonisation in Africa. By the end of the 1960s, all but Rhodesia (the future Zimbabwe) and the South African mandate of South West Africa (Namibia) had achieved recognised independence.

Legacy

The fourteen British Overseas Territories
American and British interactions shaped the British Empire's breakup and resulting world order