From the eighteenth century until the 1950s, the British Empire was the
largest and most far-flung political entity in the world, holding sway
at one time over one fifth of the world's population. The territories
forming this colossus ranged from tiny islands to vast segments of the
world's major continental land masses, and included Australia, South
Africa, India, and Canada. This vast 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, shedding light on a series of key questions,
reviewing how it evolved into such a force, and looking at the legacy it
left behind.
About the Series:
Oxford's Very Short Introductions series offers concise and original
introductions to a wide range of subjects--from Islam to Sociology,
Politics to Classics, Literary Theory to History, and Archaeology to the
Bible. Not simply a textbook of definitions, each volume in this series
provides trenchant and provocative--yet always balanced and
complete--discussions of the central issues in a given discipline or
field. Every Very Short Introduction gives a readable evolution of the
subject in question, demonstrating how the subject has developed and how
it has influenced society. Eventually, the series will encompass every
major academic discipline, offering all students an accessible and
abundant reference library. Whatever the area of study that one deems
important or appealing, whatever the topic that fascinates the general
reader, the Very Short Introductions series has a handy and affordable
guide that will likely prove indispensable.
