British empire history books

The volume coheres around the political mobilization of print cultures by the british empire s various constituent communities, and that coherence is reinforced by each essays concentration on a single book. The cambridge history of the british empire, volume 8. The cambridge history of the british empire, 1929 online. Other parts of the empire, notably in africa, gained independence and subsequently joined the commonwealth. Bayly and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. The horizon history of the british empire by stephen w. The best books on the british empire, as recommended by one of its most eminent scholars, david cannadine. Looking for a good book about the history of the british empire. A british commemoration of victory in the opium war. The amritsar massacre one of the common themes throughout the life of the british empire was its proclivity for taking portions of the civilian population, arming and training them as an army, and using them to control the remaining civilian population, as well as fight the empire s battles in other regions. In the end, the royal navy forced the chinese state to reopen their ports to the indian opium trade, and the british obtained hong kong in the bargain as part of the british empire itself. The rise and fall of the british empire by lawrence. British empire, a worldwide system of dependenciescolonies, protectorates, and other territoriesthat over a span of some three centuries was brought under the sovereignty of the crown of great britain and the administration of the british government. Olive patricia dickason, professor emeritus at university of alberta and adjunct professor department of history olive patricia dickason snippet view.

The largest empire in the history is taken by british empire during its golden time. Britains empire was established, and maintained for more than two centuries, through bloodshed, violence, brutality, conquest and war. And no organization has done more to impose western norms of law, order and governance around the world. In the rise and fall of the british empire, lawrence james has written a comprehensive, perceptive, and insightful history of the british empire. Jessica brain is a freelance writer specialising in history. Online shopping from a great selection at books store. A common feature of stories written by american authors is a british victory in the revolutionary war. Sears and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. The history professor tells us why its less interesting to argue about whether the empire was a force for good or ill. Uncovering the brutal truth about the british empire. What books are the best to learn about british history.

The vastness of britain s nineteenthcentury empire and the gap between imperial policy and colonial practice demanded an institutional culture that encouraged british administrators to identify the interests of imperial service as their own. In 1997 hong kong passed to china and, in the opinion of many historians, the british empire definitively ended. An intimate history of the british empire the new yorker. An intimate history of the british empire in imperial intimacies, hazel carby weaves together the story of colonialism and the story of her family.

Check out the new look and enjoy easier access to your favorite features. For novels in which britain is defeated by nazi germany in 1940, see axis victory in world war ii and category. Volume ii of the oxford history of the british empire examines the history of british worldwide expansion from the glorious revolution of 1689 to the end of the napoleonic wars, a crucial phase in the creation of the modern british empire. The cambridge illustrated history of the british empire is an illuminating survey of the development and impact of the british empire from the end of the american revolution to the present day. The cambridge illustrated history of the british empire. The books listed below just barely brush the surface of the history of nineteenthcentury britain and its empire, but they are a good place to start. It was as if he had been born an airman in the royal air force, hazel carby writes in imperial intimacies, her new book of political history. British history for dummies this book is a riotous, irreverent account of the people and events that have shaped britain. Selected readings are presented within a chronological framework, from the origins of empire to decolonization and beyond. The rise and fall of the british empire audiobook by. Buy rise and fall of the british empire new ed by lawrence james isbn. Looking for a good book about the history of the british. Buy a cheap copy of history of the british empire book. Lets find out more facts about british empire by reading the below post.

The oxford history of the british empire is a major new assessment of the empire in the light of recent scholarship and the progressive opening of historical records. Ten books that shaped the british empire is a collection of engaging essays by an impressive group of contributors. This revelatory new history punctures the still widely held belief that the british empire was an enlightened and civilizing enterprise of great benefit to its subject peoples. Lets end the myths of britains imperial past books.

The issue of archival erasure figures prominently in elkinss next book, a history of violence at the end of the british empire whose case studies will include kenya, aden, cyprus, malaya. I believe there was a thread about this a short while ago, but i cant for the life of me find it, and the search function appears to be broken. Using primary and secondary documentary sources, this reader negotiates the many trends and concerns in recent debates to provide a broadbased, comparative history of the british empire. Indian society and the making of the british empire the new cambridge history of india by c. By the beginning of the twentieth century, the british empire ruled over almost 25% of the worlds population. Recommend going to the great courses website to see the titles of the lectures. At its height, it was the largest empire in history, and the worlds most powerful superpower for more than a century. I value and honour our history enormously, he said in a speech in 1997, but he thought that britains empire should be the cause of neither. The creation of the british empire caused large portions of the global map to be tinted a rich vermilion, and the colour turned out to be peculiarly appropriate.

Whether the british empire is regarded as a positive force or a negative force in world history is in many ways rather irrelevant, the fact is that it was a transformative force and we should seek to try and understand it in its many and varied forms across the centuries of. This covers the major territories of the british empire, including india, south africa, us, australia and discussed their formation, operating modes and events, and dissolution from the empire. The secret history of the end of an empire hardcover. Books on the british empire and australias history. One cannot contemplate modern history without considering the role of the british empire. Printed in conjunction with the bbc series the english empire and edited by. No doubt fergusons book will continue to be demonised. Top 10 books about women in the british empire the guardian. She came to africa almost a century after anne barnard with a keen interest in natural history and the eye of an early anthropologist, recording. How britain made the modern world by niall ferguson. The time has passed when the research of any one man could suffice for the varied work which a comprehensive history of the british empire demands, and it has been deemed essential in the present undertaking to follow the plan of the cambridge modern history and to invite the cooperation of many students who are specialists in different parts. For better or worse, the impact of the british empire has earned its place in the history books. This is the age of general wolfe, clive of india, and captain cook.

Magisterial history of the foundation of the british empire, and the forgotten story of resistance to its formation. There were around 458 million people administered in british empire by 1922. The best books on the british empire five books expert. How britain made the modern world was boldly titled and brash in its assertion that, while there were numerous wrongs committed in the process of building an empire, many benefits have accrued to the world too. List of books and articles about british imperialism. A history of the british empire at its peak the new york. The british empire was a crucial component in shaping lives, peoples, travel, economy, technology, politics and culture for hundreds of years. The british empire was made up of the colonies, protectorates, mandates and other territories which were controlled by the united kingdom it began with the overseas colonies and trading posts set up by england between the late 16th and early 18th centuries. As niall ferguson put it in his 2003 book empire, no organization in history has done more to promote the free movement of goods, capital and labour than the british empire. British military history score a book s total score is based on multiple factors, including the number of people who have voted for it and how highly those voters ranked the book. The alternate history section details books that examine what would have happened if history had unfolded differently. Lets end the myths of britains imperial past books the guardian. The subtitle of this delightful book of sketches is the ingredients of social life at our station in india.

While the empire may have faded into history, great britain still continues to administer many dependencies throughout the world. Captain atkinson describes with a delicious wry touch the ramshackle routine in the backwoods of british india in the 1850s. Pages in category history books about the british empire the following 9 pages are in this category, out of 9 total. Spanning the years from 1600 to the present day, this critically acclaimed book combines detailed scholarship with readable popular history.