Great BritainCOLONIAL POWER

The British Empire was the largest colonial empires whose origin is

closely associated with the era of colonialism and the great geographical discoveries.

Start of Christopher Columbus gave them, discovering, in 1492, America.

Since that time, over 300 consecutive years, large areas of

Africa, Asia and the Americas have been seized by several European countries. At the peak of colonial empires occupied an area of 73 million km - 55% of the Earth!

British colonies were, among others, Australia, Canada, India and South

Africa.

Occupied territories were the UK source of raw materials, precious

metals and other commodities (such as spices) which were placed in a

huge quantity to Europe, fueling the British economy.

The British Empire was the largest empire in world history. During its heyday (late nineteenth and early

twentieth century) covered an area of 33,700,000 km square (two times more than today's Russia) and was

inhabited by about 500 million people.

The UK belonged quarter of that world, and because the territories were scattered on every continent,

the Empire sun never set.

Areas belonging to the UK in 1921:

The British Empire still survived World War I, but in the interwar

period began its slow decay.

Current territories of the United Kingdom:

Akrotiri, Anguilla, Bermuda, British Antarctic Territory,British Indian Ocean Territory,British Virgin

Islands,Dhekelia,Falklands,South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands,Gibraltar,Cayman

Islands,Montserrat,Pitcairn,Saint Helena,Turks and Caicos Islands

Former colonies of Great Britain,Jersey,Cayman Islands,Virgin Islands.

THE ENDmade by Sylwia Tomczyk