The majority are islands. Akrotiri and Dhekelia - two military bases on Britain's former colony Cyprus 2. From the 1870s, in search of new markets to trade with, and facing competition from other countries, such as Germany and France, Britain set out to gain control and influence over new overseas territories, particularly in Africa. The empire spanned from the 16th century, when Britain began colonizing the Americas, to the present day where Britain retains sovereignty over 14 external territories. How to Find and Use Coupon Codes for Online Shopping, Why Getting Vaccinated Doesn't Mean You Should Take Off the Mask — Yet. The First takes us from the first colonies in the ‘New World’ at the turn of the sixteenth century to the loss of the United States as a colonial territory in 1783. The British Empire was a crucial component in shaping lives, peoples, travel, economy, technology, politics and culture for hundreds of years. British Empire; Footnotes ^1 The population figures are based on the sources in List of countries by population, with information as of 23 January 2009 (UN estimates, et al. A trend of decolonization began after World War II, with many countries gradually becoming independent. By 1670 there were British American colonies in New England, Virginia, and Maryland and settlements in the Bermudas, Honduras, Antigua, Barbados, and Nova Scotia. Jessica Brain is a freelance writer specialising in history. Great Britain is part of the country of the United Kingdom, along with Northern Ireland. Former colonies of the British Empire. The British Empire in 1914. That's because, the 4 countries that make up the UK or all come under the UK and the countries in the quiz were a part of the UK's empire. Did the Groundhog See Their Shadow — and Why Do We Care? ), and refer to the population of the country and not necessarily to the number of inhabitants that speak English in the country in question. It began with the overseas colonies and trading posts set up by England between the late 16th and early 18th centuries. Together, these countries formed the British Empire. Since the Act of Union in 1707, the United Kingdom has ruled vast swaths of land across the world. The British brought in sheep and cattle, driving away native wildlife and using Aboriginal land for grazing lands. Freshwater sources were polluted, including what was known as the Tank … Ring in the new year with a Britannica Membership. The British empire ruled over British North America in what is now Canada, beginning in about 1860. The reasons for this empire varied overtime. Bahrain-1971. How Does a Presidential Executive Order Work? That year, the British Parliament passed the Government of India Act, which dissolved the East India Company and absorbed India into British rule. They include Anguilla, Bermuda, British Antarctic Territory, British Indian Ocean Territory, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands, Gibraltar, Monserrat, Pitcairn Islands, St. Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands and Turks and Caicos Islands. Countries that are in the British Empire today include Falkland Islands, Anguilla, Bermuda, Gibraltar, Montserrat, Pitcairn Islands, Turks and Caicos Islands, the Virgin Islands, St. Helena Islands and Cayman Islands. Territories might be acquired to provide sources of raw materials that the mother country wanted to control to guarantee a regular source of supply and a ready market for the Mother country… Although the term 'British Empire' is rarely used today, some destinations do remain in the form of 'overseas territories'. These places are also known as British Overseas Territories. At this time, these included New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, and “Canada” which was comprised of Upper and Lower Canada, … The southern portion of Ireland is an independent country. Recognising that it was overstretched in the Pacific and threatene… Barbados-1966. I'd have thought it fairly obvious that the UK was a member of its own Empire, therefore it … Humans have inhabited Great Britain for over 500,000 years. Don't Miss These 7 Must-See Stargazing and Celestial Events in 2021. 14,000 people live there, half of whom are military … There were around 458 million people administered in British Empire by 1922. They include: 1. By the turn of the 20th century, fears had begun to grow in Britain that it would no longer be able to defend the metropole and the entirety of the empire while at the same time maintaining the policy of "splendid isolation". A series of wars in the 17th and 18th centuries wit… It has also held a portion of the present day United States and China. Facts about British Empire 1: the largest empire in the world. The Imperial British East Africa Company operated in what are now Kenya and Uganda, and the British South Africa Company operated in what are now Zimbabwe (formerly Southern Rhodesia), Zambia (formerly Northern Rhodesia), and Malawi. Of the states that are members, there are three European states, 12 North American states, one South American state, 18 African states, eight Asian states and 11 … Bermuda 4. India became part of the British empire in 1858. Great Britain is the fourth-largest island in the world. Australia-1901 -1986. 59 Countries Have Gained Independence From England, And I Bet You Can't Name 5. Antigua and Barbuda. Anguilla 3. I understand not including Hong Kong as a country, but if you are going with Jetpunk's list of countries, then Hong Kong is part of China, meaning that part of China was definitely in the British Empire. Over the course of Britain's existence, the country has invaded nine out of 10 of the world's countries, or all but 22 of them in total. Germany was rapidly rising as a military and industrial power and was now seen as the most likely opponent in any future war. The trees were cut down to make way for settlements. Afghanistan -1919. List of countries that have gained independence from the United … In 1578, Elizabeth I granted Humphrey Gilbert a patent for overseas … The British Empire comprised of Britain, the 'mother country', and the colonies, countries ruled to some degree by and from Britain. Often the British Empire is actually split up into two by historians: the First British Empire and the Second. During the time of British rule, roughly 300 million Indians were governed by approximately 20,000 British officials and soldiers, who brought British … These fifty-three nations have a combined population of over two-point … History Quiz / Countries of the British Empire Random History or Nation Quiz Can you name the modern countries that were part of the British Empire? The largest empire in the history is taken by British Empire during its golden time. The Second sees Britain responding by focusing more on the Pacific, gaining la… By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. There remain 14 British Territories Overseas. At its peak, the British Empire was composed of about one-fifth of the entire world's population and covered about a quarter of the world's total land mass. The British Empire held Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Tonga, Fiji, Western Samoa, India, Burma, Papa New Guinea, Malaya, Sarawak, Brunei, Oman, Iraq, Egypt, Libya, Sudan, Kenya, Uganda, Northern and Southern Rhodesia, Tanganyika, Zanzibar, Mauritius, the Maldives, South Africa, Swaziland, Nigeria, Gold Coast, and Sierra Leone, among other countries during its reign. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... Help support true facts by becoming a member. by zeppelinoid Plays Quiz Updated Jul 2, 2018 . Don’t worry, we’d never heard of it either. For better or worse, the impact of the British Empire has earned its place in the history books. What Were the Countries of the British Empire. British Empire: Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland (1953-1963) This is what British historian Stuart Laycock learned after his son asked him how many countries Britain had invaded. Envious of the great wealth these empires generated, England, France, and the Netherlands began to establish colonies and trade networks of their own in the Americas and Asia. Oceans rise, empires fall...like the British empire. British Antarctic Territ… The British Empire was made up of the colonies, protectorates, mandates and other territories which were controlled by the United Kingdom.. The year of Independence is shown. The British Empire held Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Tonga, Fiji, Western Samoa, India, Burma, Papa New Guinea, Malaya, Sarawak, Brunei, Oman, Iraq, Egypt, Libya, Sudan, Kenya, Uganda, Northern and Southern Rhodesia, Tanganyika, Zanzibar, Mauritius, the Maldives, South Africa, Swaziland, Nigeria, Gold Coast, and Sierra Leone, among other countries … This made food more scarce, driving the natives to steal livestock. The voluntary political association is made up of independent and sovereign states, many of which are former British colonies or dependencies. Countries of the British Empire Worksheet. Rate 5 stars Rate 4 stars Rate 3 stars Rate 2 stars Rate 1 star . These two areas make up 3% of Cyrprus, and remained in British hands after the island gained independence. However, a lot of countries … At its height, it was the largest empire in history, and the … They are typically self-governing and with the exception of Gibraltar, are not and have never been part of the European Union. Yeah agreed about China. Prince Charles regarded the return of Hong Kong to China in 1997 as the informal end of the British Empire. The map below shows the British Empire at its territorial peak in the early 20th century. Toggle text When Queen Victoria came to the throne in 1837, Britain already governed Canada, large areas of India, Australia, and New Zealand, and small parts of South America and Africa. 53 states are also voluntary members of the Commonwealth of Nations and continue to recognize England's royal family as the heads of state. The kids will enjoy this fun worksheet asking them to recognise the flags of the countries that were part of the British Empire during the reign of Queen Victoria. It covers an area of more than 88,000 square miles. Facts about British Empire 2: the total area of British Empire Jamaica was obtained by conquest in 1655, and the Hudson’s Bay Company established itself in what became northwestern Canada from the … The Bahamas-1973. These are the countries that make up the remains of the British Empire: Akrotiri and Dhekelia. The population occupied one fifth of the people in the world. The British Empire was a system of control whereby the metropolitan power controlled subordinate territories. The beginnings of the British Empire can be traced back to the reign of Queen Elizabeth I and the continuing competition for markets and resources which existed between England and the continental countries of France, Spain and Holland. You could try this as a group or class activity to see who can get the most correct answers! At the beginning of the 20th century the British Empire covered more than 11,400,000 square miles of territory. This made it the largest empire the world had ever known. How to Play. 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