The British Empire

history · world power · colonialism · geography

Covered almost 24% of Earth. At its largest around 1920, the British Empire spread across 35.5 million square kilometers, making it the biggest empire the world has ever seen. That's almost a quarter of all the land on the planet.

Ruled 412 million people. By 1913, the British Empire controlled about 23% of the world's population. That meant nearly one out of every four people on Earth lived under British rule.

The sun never set on it. Because the British Empire had territories spread all across the globe in different time zones, the sun was always shining on at least one of them. People even called it 'the empire on which the sun never sets.'

Started with trading posts. The British Empire began in the late 1500s and early 1600s when England and Scotland set up small overseas trading posts and colonies. Over hundreds of years, these grew into a massive empire.

Changed the whole world. The British Empire left a huge mark on language, law, and culture everywhere it ruled. Many countries still use English and follow legal systems that came from Britain.