The British Empire
The British Empire was the largest empire in world history, at its peak controlling roughly a quarter of the world's total land area and population across territories on every inhabited continent.
Growing from a small island nation into the largest empire the world has ever known, spanning every inhabited continent, this empire's rise and eventual dismantlement fundamentally shaped the modern world.
The Largest Empire in History
At its territorial peak in the early 20th century, the British Empire controlled roughly a quarter of the world's land area, encompassing territories on every inhabited continent.
"The Empire on Which the Sun Never Set"
The empire's vast global extent meant it was often described as one on which "the sun never set," since some part of its territory was always experiencing daylight.
Significant Global Influence
The empire's legacy includes the widespread global use of the English language, common law legal systems, and railway and administrative infrastructure across former colonies.
Decline and Decolonization
The empire significantly declined following World War II, as decolonization movements across Africa and Asia led to the independence of most former British territories by the mid-to-late 20th century.
