The Penguin Historical Atlas of the British Empire

by Dalziel, Nigel; Mackenzie, John

• ISBN13: 9780141018447
• ISBN10: 0141018445
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2006-12-26
• Publisher: Penguin Books

Summary

The Penguin Historical Atlas of the British Empire traces the emergence of the world's greatest empire from its earliest beginnings in the British Isles, through its ascendancy in Victorian times, to its ultimate collapse in the mid-20th century. It examines the impact of British dominance in America, India and Africa, and the enormous changes brought by Britain's settlement of Australasia. Coverage of major events - the colonization of Ireland, the American Revolution, the South African wars - is complemented by discussion of themes such as Imperial exploitation and trade, hunting for plants and animals, the Imperial exhibitions and the importance of British naval power. Also assessed are the impact of the Empire on different areas of the world and the legacy it has bestowed. Richly illustrated with photographs and full-colour maps, this is an illuminating and multi-faceted one-volume introduction to the rise and fall of the British Empire.

Author Biography

Nigel Dalziel is the curator of the Lancaster Maritime Museum and the editor of numerous collections of Victorian photographs.

Table of Contents

Introduction: The Significance of the British Empire	8	(2)
Timeline	10	(4)
Part I: The Early Empire 1500--1763	14	(24)
English and British The consolidation of the British Isles	18	(2)
Exploring and Exploiting European expansion to the mid-16th century	20	(2)
Chasing the Pack English oceanic enterprise to 1630	22	(2)
The New World I Virginia	24	(2)
The New World II New England	26	(2)
The Thirteen Colonies	28	(2)
The African Impact Britain and the Slave Trade	30	(2)
Sugar and Slaves The conquest of the Caribbean	32	(2)
Conflict in Canada Anglo-French rivalry to 1763	34	(2)
The Infiltration of India British expansion to 1765	36	(2)
Part II: The Late Georgian Europe 1763--1837	38	(22)
Trade and Enterprise Overseas trade to 1854	42	(2)
Conquest of the Cape Southern Africa to 1844	44	(2)
Opening up the Pacific	46	(2)
The Settlement of Australasia	48	(2)
On the Move Early migration to the Empire	50	(2)
America Rebels The American Revolution 1776--83	52	(2)
The Consolidation of Canada	54	(2)
British West Indies Exploitation and emancipation	56	(2)
Indian Riches The East India Company's conquests	58	(2)
Part III: The Victorian Empire 1837--1901	60	(24)
Heyday of Empire	64	(2)
Naval Power and Gunboat Diplomacy	66	(2)
Peopling the Empire Imperial migration 1815--1924	68	(2)
Eastern Promise Imperial trade and the Far East	70	(2)
The Scramble for Africa	72	(2)
South African Supremacy The Anglo-Boer wars	74	(2)
Egypt and the Route to the East	76	(2)
The Raj The heyday of British India	78	(2)
The Great Game Russia and British India	80	(2)
The White Dominions Canada and Australasia	82	(2)
Part IV: Imperial Themes	84	(22)
World Wide Web Telegraphic communications to 1902	88	(2)
The Ties that Bind Britain's steamship network	90	(2)
Creating Countries Overseas investment to 1914	92	(2)
Imperial Exploitation Overseas trade and resources	94	(2)
Exhibiting the Empire Imperial exhibitions to 1953	96	(2)
Hunting to Kill Game and Exploitation	98	(2)
Plant Hunting The gardens of Empire	100	(2)
Searching for Souls Protestant missions to 1914	102	(2)
Colonial Wars The army and Imperial Defence	104	(2)
Part V: Climax and Decolonization 1901--97	106	(30)
Climax of Empire	110	(2)
Imperial Defence I The First World War	112	(2)
Imperial Defence II The Second World War	114	(2)
Securing the Canal The Middle East to 1945	116	(2)
A Free Ireland Ireland's long road to independence	118	(2)
Independent Dominions	120	(2)
Colonial Revolts	122	(2)
The Road to Suez The Middle East 1945--56	124	(2)
The End of the Eastern Empire	126	(2)
Wind of Change Nationalism and white rule in Africa	128	(2)
India and Partition	130	(2)
The Commonwealth and the Rump	132	(2)
Imperial Legacies	134	(2)
Main Territories of the British Empire	136	(2)
Further Reading	138	(1)
Index	139	(5)
Acknowledgements	144