The British Empire (Part 1)

The British Empire is the largest (14.1 million square miles) and most

populous (532 million people) empire in history.  It is the reason why

English is one of the world's most important languages, why 1/3 of the

world drives on the left, and why much of the world uses the

parliamentary system.  Another testament to its power is the fact that

one of its former colonies, the United States of America, is the

current hyperpower.

The British Empire began in 1066 with the Battle of Hastings, where

William of Normandy defeated King Harold II of the Saxons.  Since then,

England has consolidated power by annexing Wales, Scotland, Ireland,

the crown dependencies, and numerous other territories and colonies

around the world.  For example, thanks to Francis Drake's defeat of the

Spanish Armada in 1588, the United Kingdom has been able to expand

throughout the New World.  In North America, Britain founded 13

colonies along the eastern seaboard of the modern-day United States. 

North of these colonies, Britain founded the Dominion of Canada after

it defeated the French at the Battle of the Plains of Abraham.

The next episode focuses on British expansion into Central America, South America, Africa, Asia, and the South Pacific.

For more information, read:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/womanshour/2003_34_thu_01.shtml

http://www.bl.uk/learning/histcitizen/uk/armada/back/backd.html

http://www.britishempire.co.uk

The Penguin Book of Historic Speeches by Brian MacArthur

The Dictionary of Battles by David Chandler

The Guinness Book of Military Blunders by Geoffrey Regan

The Oxford

Book of Military Anecdotes by Max Hastings

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