Publisher Description

From the eighteenth century until the 1950s the British Empire was the biggest political entity in the world. The territories forming this empire ranged from tiny islands to vast segments of the world's major continental land masses. The British Empire left its mark on the world in a multitude of ways, many of them permanent. In this Very Short Introduction, Ashley Jackson introduces and defines the British Empire, reviewing itshistoriography by answering a series of key questions: What was the British Empire, and what were its main constituent parts? What were the phases of imperial expansion and contraction and the general causes ofexpansion and contraction? How was the Empire ruled? What were its economic effects? What were the cultural implications of empire, in Britain and its colonies? What was life like for people living under imperial rule? What are the legacies of the British Empire and how should we view its place in world history? ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sizedbooks are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highlyreadable.

Notes

Considers the military, social and cultural aspects of the British Empire, and examines the legacy and mark of rule it has left on the world today.

Table of Contents

Introduction1: What was the British Empire?2: The British Empire: An empire among empires3: Motives of imperial expansion and themes in imperial expansion4: Writing about the British Empire5: Legacies and audits of the British Empire

Review

Professor Jackson has crafted a wide-ranging yet remarkably short introduction that successfully condenses recent scholarship without overwhelming the non-expert. * N.C. Fleming, University of Worcester, Political Studies Review *
Jackson's pithy survey will be a welcome guide for anyone wanting to explore the wider picture without drowning in the literature. * BBC History magazine *

Promotional

A very short introduction to the British Empire, looking at the many ways this vast empire left its mark on the world.

Long Description

From the eighteenth century until the 1950s the British Empire was the biggest political entity in the world. The territories forming this empire ranged from tiny islands to vast segments of the world's major continental land masses. The British Empire left its mark on the world in a multitude of ways, many of them permanent. In this Very Short Introduction, Ashley Jackson introduces and defines the British Empire, reviewing its
historiography by answering a series of key questions: What was the British Empire, and what were its main constituent parts? What were the phases of imperial expansion and contraction and the general causes of
expansion and contraction? How was the Empire ruled? What were its economic effects? What were the cultural implications of empire, in Britain and its colonies? What was life like for people living under imperial rule? What are the legacies of the British Empire and how should we view its place in world history? ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized
books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly
readable.

Review Quote

Jackson's pithy survey will be a welcome guide for anyone wanting to explore the wider picture without drowning in the literature.

Feature

Considers all aspects of the British Empire - military, social, cultural, and its legacy
Hugely important topic with modern-day resonance and influence
Explores how the British Empire became so powerful and far-reaching
Looks at how the Empire was ruled and the effects on the colonies
Examines the legacy and mark of rule it has left on the world today
Part of the bestselling Very Short Introduction series

Details