HistoryDepartment Of Britain Study

Faculty Of World StudiesUniversity Of Tehran

Dr. Vaez-zadeh

Elham AbediniParisa Abasian

Motahareh Norouzi

British EmpireThe sun never sets!

Combination of Dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates and other territories ruled by the UK ( In late 16th and early 18th )

By 1922 the British Empire held sway over about 458 million people, one-fifth of the world's population at the time

The empire covered more than 33,700,000 km2 (13,012,000 sq mi), almost a quarter of the Earth's total land area

The British Empire has its origins in the 16th century during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I (1533 -1603)

After the victory (1588) of the English navy over the Spanish invincible Armada, England increased remarkably its maritime power.

This led to overseas trade and the setting up of the first settlements in North America.

England imported luxury goods and re-exported them at higher prices to the European countries which didn't’t have a direct overseas trade.

the rise, and successive growth, of the British Empire was mainly due to economic reasons.

with the Industrial Revolution the need for new markets and new sources of raw materials accelerated the expansion of the Empire.

When Victoria became Queen, Great Britain had settlements in:

Canada,

West Indies,

Australia,

New Zealand

Africa

Lands claimed by Britain in North America were amongst the

earliest to become British colonies.

The British Empire: North America

The British Empire: The Caribbean

Risking life for glory and riches

Sugar peaked economic interest

Slave trade between Britain, Africa, and the Americas

The British Empire: South America

American dominance prevented British influence

Powerful British economy allowed for the “informal Empire”

The British Empire: Africa

Transatlantic slave trade

Gold and ivory as attractive trade goods

The British Empire: Middle East

Gulf, East Africa, and West India trade

Indian dominance regional control and access to communication and supplies

The British Empire: Asia

Fortunes made in spices from the Orient

European state rivalry strengthened Britain

Markets in tea, textiles, and opium

Economically successful

The British Empire: Oceania

Supported the Royal Navy

Immigrants to New Zealand

Important figures

John Cabot

He was a Venetian born explorer who sailed to North America in 1497. He was the first British explorer to reach the New World.

He was the first Briton to lay claim to territory in North America.

John Hawkins English shipbuilder, naval administrator and commander, merchant,

navigator, and slave trader.

As treasurer (1577) and controller (1589) of the navy, he rebuilt older ships and helped design the faster ships that withstood the Spanish Armada in 1588.

He later devised the naval blockade to intercept Spanish treasure ships.

In the great battle in which the Spanish Armada was defeated in 1588, Hawkins served as a vice admiral.

Sir Francis Drake (1540-1596)

Drake was an English privateer, navigator, slave trader, and politician of the Elizabethan era.

He was the first Englishman to circumnavigate the world. The journey took three years.

He was second-in-command of the English fleet against the Spanish Armada in 1588.

Sir Walter Raleigh 1552-1618

He masterminded the colonization of Roanoke Island in Virginia.

And he was second in command of England’s navy during the invasion of the Spanish Armada.

War Between Spain and England

(Armada)Philip II of Spain Elizabeth of England

British Policy After the Armada

After the Treaty of London in 1604, England transitioned from a policy of preying on other colonial powers’ possessions and trade to building her own colonies.

Between 1604 and the loss of the American colonies in 1776, Britain established a number of colonies in the New World and in Asia.

CONCLUSION British Empire -> powerful and important

Former colonies still in contact

Some territories still under the rule of UK

The British Empire great influence for the world

English language expanded at the same time than British Empire

English still official or, at least, used nowadays

Different regional dialects

Language changes (loanwords)