Explore the Empire
Six major themes, every one a gateway to in-depth articles.
History of the British Empire
A comprehensive chronological overview of the British Empire, from its Tudor-era origins through its Victorian zenith to its twentieth-century dissolution and modern Commonwealth legacy.
- The Edwardian Era and the World Wars
- The Path to Decolonization
- The Rise of the Second British Empire
- Tudor and Stuart Foundations of the British Empire
- Victorian Imperialism
British Empire Colonies and Territories
A comprehensive guide to the colonies, dominions, protectorates, and territories that made up the British Empire across every inhabited continent.
- British African Colonies
- British Asian Colonies
- British Caribbean Colonies
- British North American Colonies
- British Pacific Colonies
British Empire Military and Conflicts
An in-depth look at the military forces, campaigns, and conflicts that built and defended the British Empire, from the Royal Navy to the Indian Army and the world wars.
- Major Wars of the British Empire
- Military Organization of the British Empire
- Rebellions and Resistance in the British Empire
British Empire Economy and Trade
An in-depth look at the economic foundations of the British Empire, from the triangular slave trade and East India Company to the cotton industry, sterling system, and imperial preference.
- British Empire Currency and Finance
- British Empire Industry and Resources
- British Empire Trade Networks
- Labor and Slavery in the British Empire
British Empire Culture and Society
An in-depth exploration of the cultural, social, religious, and educational dimensions of the British Empire, from language and law to cricket and Christianity.
- Language, Education, and the British Empire
- Law and Governance in the British Empire
- Religion and Christianity in the British Empire
- Sports and Leisure in the British Empire
Decline and Legacy of the British Empire
An examination of the causes, course, and lasting impact of the British Empire's dissolution in the twentieth century, and the Commonwealth that followed it.
- Causes of the Decline of the British Empire
- Decolonization Events in the British Empire
- The Commonwealth of Nations
- The Modern Legacy of the British Empire
Featured Articles
Landmark events and stories from four centuries of empire.
A comprehensive overview of the British presence in India, from the East India Company's first factory at Surat to the 1947 independence of India and Pakistan.
The 1857 uprising against East India Company rule, the sieges of Delhi, Cawnpore and Lucknow, and the transition to the British Raj.
The 1833 Abolition of Slavery Act — its provisions, its limitations, the compensation scheme for slave owners, and the apprenticeship system that followed.
The three voyages of Captain James Cook (1768-1779) that charted the Pacific, opened Australia and New Zealand to British colonization, and reshaped European understanding of the Pacific.
The 1915 Gallipoli campaign of the First World War, the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC), and the founding myth of Australian and New Zealand national identity.
The 1997 handover of Hong Kong from Britain to China, the Sino-British Joint Declaration of 1984, and the post-handover history of the territory.