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British Empire, a worldwide system of dependencies — colonies, protectorates, and other territories—that over a span of some three centuries was brought under the sovereignty of the crown of Great Britain and the administration of the British government.
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
The British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates, and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom and its predecessor states. It began with the overseas possessions and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries.
The United Kingdom had about 120 colonies throughout its history, the most colonies in the world, the French colonial empire came second, which had about 80 colonies. Around 54 countries gained independence from the United Kingdom throughout its history, the most in the world, ahead of the French colonial empire , which 40 countries gained ...
Jan 3, 2024 · Former British Colonies. The British forged the largest empire the world has yet seen. Holding territory on every continent at its height in the wake of the First World War, it spanned across 35.5 million Km 2 (13.7 million sq mi). The British Empire, beginning in the middle of the 16th century, would last more than 400 years until the handover ...
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Oct 5, 2017 · Animated map of the British empire’s rise and fall. Below is a more detailed map of the territorial evolution of the country through time. Here is the map created by Reddit user alectprasad, showing countries that gained independence from the United Kingdoms and the years. British Colonies in Africa.
Nov 22, 2021 · Its territory included colonies in the Caribbean, Africa, Asia, Australasia, and the Indian Subcontinent. The British Empire reached the height of its territorial expansion in 1920, when the realm controlled 35.5 million sq. km of territory, and ruled over between 470 and 570 million people.
