This lesson spans almost 400 years of history, covering the rise of the mighty British Empire, from Queen Elizabeth I’s first explorers of the ‘New World’ to the European nations fighting for power in Africa. But, how exactly did Britain gain such a massive empire?

This lesson contains:

• An introduction to the vocabulary and terminology required to study the growth of the British Empire with confidence.
• A thematic approach to studying the British Empire, looking at the powerful influences of raw materials, exploration, military power, religion, and trade.
• The chronology of the British Empire and a look at some of its most significant events, including Walter Raleigh’s first expedition to America and the opening of the Suez Canal.