![]() ![]() Statue of John Cabot in Newfoundland, England's first overseas colony. Though it has now mostly evolved into the Commonwealth of Nations, British influence remains strong throughout the world: in economic practice, legal and governmental systems, society, sports (such as cricket and football), and the English language itself, to name just a few.īecause of its size at the peak of its power, it was often said that " the sun never sets on the British Empire" because the empire's span across the globe ensured that the sun was always shining on at least one of its numerous colonies. It covered about 36.6 million km² (14.2 million square miles), about a quarter of Earth's total land area. It was a product of the European age of discovery, which began with the global maritime explorations of the Iberian states in the late 15th century, that inaugurated the era of the European global empires.īy 1913, the British Empire held sway over a population of about 458 million people, approximately one-quarter of the world's population. The British Empire was the most extensive empire in world history and for a substantial time was not only a major power but also the foremost power in the world. The British Empire in 1897, marked in pink, the traditional colour for Imperial British dominions on maps. ![]()
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