The British Empire grew from English overseas ventures in the late sixteenth century, such as claims in Newfoundland, and from the first lasting settlement at Jamestown in Virginia in 1607. It expanded through trade, settlement and conquest, taking in colonies in North America and the Caribbean, large parts of India, Australia, and much of Africa. By the early twentieth century it was the largest empire in history, covering roughly a quarter of the world's land and population. Its history includes the Atlantic slave trade, forced labour, famine and repression as well as the spread of the English language, legal systems and railways. After the Second World War, India's independence in 1947 began rapid decolonisation, and the handover of Hong Kong to China in 1997 is often seen as its symbolic close.
Before and after
- 26 July 1582Battle of Ponta Delgada
- 23 October 1582Battle of Chuvash Cape
- 1583Founding of University of Edinburgh
- from 1583 to 1588Cologne War
- from c. 1583 to 1997British Empire
- from 26 July 1583 to 2 August 1583Conquest of the Azores
- 18 March 1584Death of Ivan the Terrible
- 1585Founding of Frankfurt Stock Exchange
- from 1585 to 1604Anglo-Spanish War
More in Civilizations & archaeology
- from 1501 to 1736Safavid dynasty
- from 1520 to 1600Mannerism
- from 11 June 1569 to 24 October 1795Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth
- from 1603 to 1868Edo period
- from 18 January 1701 to 9 November 1918Kingdom of Prussia
- from 1 May 1707 to 1 January 1801Kingdom of Great Britain
The era
This moment belongs to the Early modern world (1500 CE to 1760 CE), voyages, printing and new ideas. You can also browse everything in the 16th century.