The British Empire, one of the largest but comparatively shortest of empires, began, in reality, in the 1750s.
That was the time of the beginning of industrialisation in Britain creating manufactured goods desired the world over.
It was also the time of feats of arms, principally against the French during the 7 Years War which ultimately led to the securing, for Britain, Canada, India, America for a short while, plus Australia and New Zealand and a host of smaller colonies or protectorates whilst developing the Royal Navy which ruled the seas for two hundred years protecting it all.
Pax Britannica ruled for around 150 years until after the First World War.
All this is largely forgotten now, as are the names of Wolfe for Canada, Clive for India and Hawke for Quiberon Bay who, in 1759, gave Britain these victories and, in passing, the dawn of Empire.
Much has been written of the British Empire which ruled a quarter of the world at its height, some good, some bad.
The benefits were legion – the rule of law, a measure of peace and security, manufactured goods exported from the source, railways, language, democracy for many, the abolition of the slave trade, the defeat of Napoleon, all stemmed from Empire.
But, and its a big but, there were the concomitant downsides. Asset stripping and plunder, compulsions, rebellions, imposition of a foreign rule, harsh rule at times, displacement and suppression.
On balance, most neutral observers would, I believe, consider that the positives outweighed the negatives.
Not everybody, of course would maintain that view as we see today.
It is also true that, in the main, Britain gave up its empire peacefully and helped its former colonies to reach a satisfactory and democratic existence.
And after Empire came the Commonwealth, a group of independent nations joining together in peaceful union. 56 sovereign states comprise the Commonwealth and none have dominion over another.
Measured against the Roman Empire, almost 2,000 years of it, the British Empire seems a passing fad but whilst comparatively short it was by far the most extensive. Look at a map of its extent at its height and it is difficult to comprehend how such a small island could dominate so much of the world.
Much had to do with starting the Industrial Revolution in the 1750s giving inestimable advantage in weaponry plus the indomitable courage of the few brave souls who went out to administer what had been conquered.
In practice, only around 40,000 Civil Servants ran the whole Empire. Compare that figure to the over 500,000 Civil Servants it takes to administer just the United Kingdom these days. Whatever do they actually do? Answers on a postcard.
So much for the British Empire and its 2 centuries. American hegemony lasted most of the 20th century. What’s next is anybody’s guess but it strikes me that it will not be peaceful but, as the old Chinese curse has it, very likely to be interesting.
Pay your money and take your choice.
Good luck.
Foootsoldier Says… 