Empire: The Rise and Demise of the British World Order and the Lessons for Global PowerA bestselling historian shows how the British Empire created the modern world “Scrupulous scholarship and a rattling good tale.” —Wall Street Journal The British Empire was the largest in all history: the nearest thing to global domination ever achieved. The world we know today is in large measure the product of Britain’s Age of Empire. The global spread of capitalism, telecommunications, the English language, and institutions of representative government—all these can be traced back to the extraordinary expansion of Britain’s economy, population, and culture from the seventeenth century until the mid-twentieth. On a vast and vividly colored canvas, Empire shows how the British Empire acted as midwife to modernity. Displaying the originality and rigor that have made Niall Ferguson one of the world’s foremost historians, Empire is a dazzling tour de force—a remarkable reappraisal of the prizes and pitfalls of global empire. |
Contents
The American Revolution | 18 |
Australia | 29 |
Ireland | 40 |
Canada | 50 |
The Repeal of the Corn Laws in 1846 | 58 |
The Great Indian Uprising of 185758 | 66 |
The Jamaica Rebellion of 1865 | 82 |
The Opening of the Suez Canal in 1869 | 92 |
The 1916 Easter Uprising in Ireland | 242 |
The Amritsar Massacre of 1919 | 258 |
The 1924 British Empire Wembley Exhibition | 273 |
The Balfour Definition of Dominion Status 1926 | 287 |
The Fall of Singapore February 1942 | 310 |
The Partition of India 1947 | 323 |
The Trial of Jomo Kenyatta 1953 | 346 |
The Suez Crisis of 1956 | 359 |
The Battle of Majuba Hill 1881 | 104 |
Cecil Rhodes Legacy | 117 |
Queen Victorias Diamond Jubilee 1897 | 130 |
The Battle of Spion Kop 1900 | 154 |
The Suicide of Sir Hector MacDonald 1903 | 171 |
Joseph Chamberlain and the Cabinet Split of 1903 | 187 |
Scouting for Boys 1908 | 201 |
The Imperial Conference of 1911 | 214 |
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Common terms and phrases
achieved administration Afrikaner American Army Australia Balfour became become Boer Britain British Empire British government British imperial British rule Cabinet campaign Canada Cape Caribbean Cecil Rhodes cent Chamberlain Commonwealth Conservative constitutional cricket crisis declared defence Despite dominions East economic Egypt Egyptian election established European exports federation forces foreign free trade Gandhi Home Rule Imperial Conference independence India indigenous industry Ireland Irish Irish Free Joseph Chamberlain Jubilee Kenya Kenyatta leaders League least Liberal London Lord majority ment military million Muslim nationalist nineteenth century North Orange Free organisation Parliament Party perhaps political population President Prime Minister Queen rebellion republic responsible result Rhodes Rhodesia Royal Scouting Scouting for Boys seemed self-governing colonies settlers sexual South Africa sub-continent substantial Suez Canal tariff reform territories Transvaal Treaty troops Uitlanders Union Unionist United Kingdom uprising Victorian victory West Zealand