The British Empire: A Very Short Introduction

Very Short Introductions #355

by Ashley Jackson

From the eighteenth century until the 1950s, the British Empire was the largest and most far-flung political entity in the world, holding sway at one time over one fifth of the world's population. The territories forming this colossus ranged from tiny islands to vast segments of the world's major continental land masses, and included Australia, South Africa, India, and Canada. This vast empire left its mark on the world in a multitude of ways, many of them permanent.

In this Very Short Introduction, Ashley Jackson introduces and defines the British Empire, shedding light on a series of key questions, reviewing how it evolved into such a force, and looking at the legacy it left behind.

About the Series:

Oxford's Very Short Introductions series offers concise and original introductions to a wide range of subjects--from Islam to Sociology, Politics to Classics, Literary Theory to History, and Archaeology to the Bible. Not simply a textbook of definitions, each volume in this series provides trenchant and provocative--yet always balanced and complete--discussions of the central issues in a given discipline or field. Every Very Short Introduction gives a readable evolution of the subject in question, demonstrating how the subject has developed and how it has influenced society. Eventually, the series will encompass every major academic discipline, offering all students an accessible and abundant reference library. Whatever the area of study that one deems important or appealing, whatever the topic that fascinates the general reader, the Very Short Introductions series has a handy and affordable guide that will likely prove indispensable.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Education, Post Colonial, Academic, British Literature, Politics

160 pages, Paperback

First published May 30, 2013

Reviews

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very short introduction into an impossibly vast topic!

The British Empire is a beast of its own, unique kind. Everyone knows something about it, and most people have a strong opinion on it, but when it comes to defining what it was, and how it impacted on the world, not even the most studious scholars seem able to come up with a remotely acceptable general idea.

This short introduction focuses mainly on finding different approaches to the unanswerable question of what the British Empire was - if it even existed as one entity, considering the different shapes and forms it took in different parts of the world, and in different stages of its development. Trying to avoid the extreme positions of either worshipping or condemning this part of British history outright, the author seeks to explain the economic, social, cultural and political causes and effects of British expansion by creating a scaffold of objective information. Warning against the danger of excusing crimes by weighing them against material or infrastructural benefits, the book closes on a reflective note, reminding the reader that it is hard enough to see a verifiable pattern in history. It is a quite impossible task to evaluate what the development of colonised countries would have looked like without the invasion of the British force.

As I am reading mostly fiction that analyses microcosmic situations and individual details to create a symbolic truth from the perspective of individual lives, this factual account of a gigantic historical topic leaves me wondering, pondering and thinking.

What is fiction, what is truth?

Is a novel describing a made-up person's life in detail less true than a collection of facts that are interpreted differently by literally each single historian who attempts to make sense of them?

I start questioning the idea that nonfiction is less fictional than fiction. What could be more of a literary construction than a carefully designed essay on the British Empire? Isn't it a myth retold thousands of times by thousands of biased storytellers with various degrees of magic, fable, adventure, and realism?

To fully understand the context of lives affected by the fleeting form called British Empire, I suggest reading this short and well-written summary in conjunction with some of the greatest fiction writers of the era, preferably choosing several authors looking at the impact of colonialism from different perspectives. Read it with the sound of Kipling and Chinua Achebe in your head, or with Salman Rushdie's magical realism, and you will start to hear the voice of Britain's empire.

Recommended as a complement to fiction!

[Antonomasia · Rating 3 out of 5]

[3.5] If you are actively interested in the British Empire and current historical approaches to it, this is as good a place as any to start, and it contains a lot of useful information. But if you aren't especially keen on the topic in the first place, the broad, generalised overview of events in the central chapters, with too few specific examples and anecdotes, seems unlikely to spark overwhelming enthusiasm. For something more lively also involving British historians, you could listen to the several In Our Time episodes about empire and its legacy.

I read this book in two halves, more than six months apart. During the first half, it was serving as my introduction to some aspects of the topic; when I read the rest of it today (including restarting chapter 4), there was very little which I hadn't heard before. It is not one of those VSI books that takes an interestingly unconventional approach, and that still has plenty to offer the non-beginner, but it is a useful refresher due to its fairly comprehensive coverage. Nor does it neglect the cultural aspects of imperialism, whether in Britain or its effects on people in colonised areas, for example quoting Nelson Mandela: "The education I received was a British education, in which British ideas, British culture, and British institutions were automatically assumed to be superior. There was no such thing as African culture."

The coverage of concepts of empire, both the British Empire and empires in general, in the early chapters, is useful, and introduces ideas that readers new to the subject probably won't have picked up elsewhere, such as classifications of different types of dominions, and the range and percentage of global natural resources in the pre-WWII empire, things more systematically understandable in writing than in a documentary voiceover,

During the 'Rise and Fall' chapter (4), the potted history of events, I craved interesting details, and in their absence found myself understanding why, when I was younger, I considered most history between 1603-1945 (with the possible exception of the English Civil War) to be dull, and ignored it when I could. The chapter's most interesting points were IMO: starting British Imperial history with English medieval incursions to Wales and Ireland; the reminder that Pax Britannica meant peace between the great powers (it's always said these days anyway that it was obviously not peace for those living in colonised areas); the Crimean War as an imperial war, trying to stop Russia gaining a foothold in the Mediterranean, and part of the fighting over the lands of the declining Ottoman Empire (because of Florence Nightingale, the Crimean War has remained famous in Britain among those who were not taught imperial history at school in the 1980s and 90s, with its wider context often unclear - and 19th century Russia is too little thought of as an imperial power because its conquests were contiguous); and the post-WWII idea of Portugal as a particularly backward colonial power, meaning that not being like the Portuguese government was among Britain's many motivations for withdrawing from its colonies in such a hurry in the late 1940s, 50s and 1960s.

I enjoyed the historiography chapter a lot more, because, well, historiography. And also more detail. (Beginners without an academic history background may be less keen of course.) It barely touches on the work of some major historians, but in a general introduction for the public and other beginners, it probably is fair to mention the likes of Niall Ferguson and Linda Colley several times, as they feature in the British media more often than many academic big names - although so does Catherine Hall, who only gets one mention. It could say more about history written outside the UK, although as this book was published in 2013, it pre-dates the splash made by Shashi Tharoor's Inglorious Empire.

The final chapter addresses a thorny question which, as Jackson says, many academics would rather ignore, but one which does interest the public: was the legacy of empire good or bad overall? It's an accomplished piece of writing, addressing many aspects on either side, essentially finding them indivisible, but leaning mildly towards an assertion that the bad aspects should not be forgotten. It's a position which is less radical than plenty of contemporary historians, but which might also be considered too radical and overly PC by staunch fans of Niall Ferguson and other conservatives. It is predicated on norms such as global trade and technological developments being broadly good for humanity - so anti-capitalists may find some aspects do not meet their expectations - and it does not explore the environmental impact of empire on non-human nature (by no means a settled question; for instance Amitav Ghosh suggested in The Great Derangement that it may have even slowed environmental damage and pollution by restricting the development of industry on the Indian subcontinent in the 19th century). It shows how the international world system still uses many concepts originating in 18th-19th century European empires, and very briefly touches on the pervasiveness of the imperial legacy via the popularity of sugar, cotton and chocolate, the question of whether empires may be better for religious freedom and some minorities than nation states (c.f. Romans, Ottomans) and the new colonialism of China via soft power and the purchase of land in Africa and other locations - interesting subjects covered in more depth in other publications. However, its pitch, and its determination to show both sides of the argument seems ideal for a varied general audience, which of course will not only be white British readers and conservative anglophiles, but people with ancestry from colonised areas, and a global readership including countries such as India.

[Adam · Rating 1 out of 5]

Incredibly bad book. Learned almost nothing. Instead of focusing on underlying trends and providing good key examples, the author spends his time giving lists and then statements. The last two chapters are alright. Without those it should be zero stars.

Here's an example of what I am talking about:
"In 1939 the British EMpire produced a significant share of the world's total output of key raw materials..."

IT SHOULD STOP THERE OR GIVE A COUPLE OF EXAMPLES. Instead:
"...15.6 per cent of the chromophore; 24.8 per cent of the coal; 29.8 per cent of the copra; 17 per cent of the cotton; 12.9 per cent of the iron; 98.9 per cent of the jute; 35.9 per cent of the lead ore; 36.1 percent of the manganese; 87.9 per cent of the nickel ore; 42.5 per cent of the palm oil; 51.9 per cent of the rubber; 39.2 per cent of the tin ore; 25.2 per cent of the tungsten ore; 45.7 per cent of the wool; and 29 per cent of the zinc ore."

This is an early example. There are dozens of passages like this in the book. Who the hell is going to remember this? Who wants to? What did you learn that could not have been encapsulated by the section before the stats? Tell us a couple and leave it at that, or maybe put it in a table to the side if someone has no ambition in their life and wants to spend their time memorising it.

It's also really haphazard. I don't mind things being out of chronological order if they're trying to draw a particular theme; for example, someone in their memoirs talking about their athletics life and then jumping back 20 years to talk about their romantic life.

Contrast this with the *brilliant* cold war AVSI. Now THAT is how you write an introduction.

If you do buy the book, burn it and throw it in the homes of all those who rated this above 1 star. :)

[Sivasothi N. · Rating 4 out of 5]

For those who wish to understand the subject objectively, Ashley Jackson provides a helpful overview before diving further into something like Jan Morris’ exciting three volume “Pax Britannia” (which she recommends) or Shashi Tharoor’s significant “An Era of Darkness: The British Empire in India” (2016).

Thoughts about the British Empire have thrown off the veil of fantasy and are more diverse these days as evidenced by expressions on Twitter at the passing of QE2. The empire played a role in many people’s lives so it is good to understand it beyond the pop culture glamourisation that was prevalent before.

Jackson sometimes lets her frustration at the empire’s offensiveness show but has penned a fair account. It can be a starter kit in understanding the empire and the underlying role it played in the Commonwealth countries, and it is good to reflect on the fundamentals of human expression which play out today in other scenarios.

Bought the Kindle version, as I’d want to refer to parts of it again.

[Michael Huang · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very well written VSI with a surprisingly objective assessment of the difficult (and often avoided) question whether the British empire is good or bad on the balance. You’ll learn the following aspect of the empire:
• Reason for its existence: a powerful but laissez-faire state coupled with drive for oversea markets;
• Key characteristics: culture export including sharpening the divide between Hindus and Muslims and making concept of tribes much more concrete in Africa due to the British perception.
• Engine of expansion: Technology and the many motives for settlers to expand into “empty” lands.
• Rise and fall: From 16 centuries colonization of Newfoundland to 1960s independence of African territories.
• Writing the umpire story: many self-centered accounts of imperial stories (from Kipling to Maugham) and opponents’ arguments that even “ development” is achieved with the intention of lining pockets.

Finally, despite many suggesting to the author to avoid the question, He gave a well argued and pretty balanced narrative: no, on the balance, the empire is not good. The benefits are applied to fewer people then did the damage.

[Lisa Brantly · Rating 1 out of 5]

Author is Very Snide.

example: talking about colonizing Roanoke. "Raleigh, later executed for treason, ..." ??? Executed by a completely different monarch for naught to do with Roanoke. Why mention that there?

[Harry · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't learn much new stuff. But it was a nice summary of the start and end of British dominance. At some point of time, the sun-never-set empire was as real as air and water.
Whilst the era of large territorial empires has passed, we humankind really didn't change that much.
Human beings and the communities that they form have constantly sought to influence and even to subjugate and dispossess their fellows, for various reasons. Imperialism in some form will always be with us.

[Jean-Francois Simard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Here are the five main takeaways from The British Empire: A Very Short Introduction by Ashley Jackson, based on its key themes and arguments:

1. Vast Scope and Diversity: The British Empire was one of the largest and most diverse empires in history, spanning Africa, Asia, the Americas, and Oceania. Its global reach shaped political, economic, and cultural landscapes, with varied governance models from direct rule to informal influence.

2. Economic and Strategic Drivers: The empire was driven by economic interests—trade, resources, and markets—alongside strategic goals like naval dominance and geopolitical competition. Key examples include the East India Company’s role and the scramble for African territories.

3. Cultural and Social Impact: The empire facilitated cultural exchanges but also imposed hierarchies, often marginalizing indigenous populations. It spread the English language, legal systems, and Christianity, while local cultures adapted or resisted, creating complex legacies.

4. Violence and Resistance: Expansion and control often involved violence, including wars, suppression of revolts (e.g., the Indian Rebellion of 1857), and exploitation. Resistance from colonized peoples was a constant feature, shaping the empire’s evolution and eventual decline.

5. Legacy and Decline: The empire’s decline, accelerated by World Wars and nationalist movements, left enduring global impacts, including Commonwealth ties, post-colonial borders, and debates over historical responsibility. Its legacy remains contentious, influencing modern politics and identity.

These points capture the book’s concise exploration of the empire’s complexity, as presented by Jackson.

[Bob Mobley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This excellent, well-written, focused and short examination of the history of the British Empire is a superb way to examine a very complex phenomenon. Ashley Jackson has crafted a very fine study of the major themes that run concurrently through the British Empire from its early foundation as a mercantile trading company to the final dissolving of its empire colonies and related possessions. I urge anyone interested in gaining a comprehensive overview and feeling for the complexities of the British Empire, to read her fine, short book. She has done a great deal of research and has put together meaningful references, both in her chapters as well as a short bibliography that is part of the book. In the real sense of the word, Ashley Jackson’s The British Empire is the starting point for anyone interested in following in more detail the broad-based ramifications that made these events such a powerful force in world history, continuing today with a number of ongoing legacies that in and of themselves would make fascinating continued research and reading.

Ashley Jackson’s The British Empire is one of a number of very well-written introductions covering a wide range of topics that form part of the Oxford University Press’s “Very Short Introductions” series. I have found the books that I have read from this series to be very meaningful, well-written, and well worth the time.

[Mohammed Kotb · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best explanations I read on this book is that it was an empire built mindlessly. I can reminisce on Leo Tolstoy epic novel (war and peace) while he was explaining the route of Napoleon's incursions on the Russian soil that it was the unseen hand of history which was giving events momentum. This version of history's approach is hailed by historians as naïve, however in my opinion it is not devoid of some logic. On my opinion the main instigator for the expansion of the British hegemony and later on colonialism is greed. They were craving resources and raw materials. Later on the geostrategic situation has taken over control and dictated its steps towards a global movement. Leo Tolstoy was not entirely wrong after all. A lot of history's major events can be justified by environmental, cultural, geopolitical and strategic determinism.
surely the modern world didn't get rid of colonialism, it just took another attire. Look at the western world politics towards developing countries. Free trade is applicable only when it serves the profits of the big western corporations. Supporting radical movements and totalitarian regimes are valid as long as it serves their interests.
The west is not morally superior than the rest of the world.

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

From the eighteenth century until the 1950s the British Empire was the biggest political entity in the world. But what was the British Empire and what were its main constituent parts? This scholarly introduction written by a history professor at Oxford attempts to give a summary answer to those questions. He covers the history of the empire, its engines of expansion, and its legacies (including the caution not to neatly conclude that the Empire was either all good or all bad). "The impact of the British Empire still lies heavily about us, and it might be argued that the British Empire's history per se is less important than the British Empire's impact on world history....Probing the character, actions, and limitations of the "fragmented colossus" that was the British Empire remains a richly rewarding form of historical inquiry, as well as being crucial to understanding the modern world." Amen to that!

This is an academic paper so it took a slower pace and more thought than a paperback novel, yet it was totally approachable and understandable. Good contextualizer.

[Kumiko Beck · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well written narrative on the British Empire

At first, I had a basic idea of the BE understanding the reaches, the good with the bad, and the still lingering effects today of Empire, both European at large and of course British specifically. The book, as expected, for me, drilled down deep into every facet of Empire (to what I feel were key topics to expand on) the role Britain had on the world it touched. The author does not for once (and of course a good thing) escape the story and good and bad results of the people, infrastructure, and natural world that were swallowed up by the BE. Conversely, the author also highlights what can certainly be consisted the good Empire brought on the colonies and territories it possessed. Greatly recommend this book for one who wants (either knowing a little or a lot already) to know about the BE, and EE as a whole.

[Matthew Carlin · Rating 1 out of 5]

One star for "The British Empire: A Very Short Introduction". The author seems to have forgotten to write as though someone is new to the topic, and instead of producing a narrative history with generalities, historiography and details interspersed, he has written a post-narrative analysis that consists entirely of the generalities, historiography, and, so weird, the detailed lists that would have been nice flavor in a narrative text.

For what it's worth, I agree with the complicated point of view espoused by the book. But it doesn't help much.

If you want to learn about this topic, I recommend Wikipedia.

[Ed Oakley · Rating 5 out of 5]

An objective look into the mechanisms and development of the British empire. Right up until a scathing last chapter.

For someone who has never even thought much about the effect of British history in the world this book really opens your eyes.

I can understand those with issues with the book. It crams a lot into a short amount of pages. For a scholar this would be unfathomably light on detail. For a layman it’s perfect for unlocking this historical concept/mass/collection of ideas and events.

I look forward to learning more on this subject.

[Ali Hassan · Rating 4 out of 5]

In The British Empire: A Very Short Introduction, Ashley Jackson provides an accessible overview of the vast and complex history of the British Empire.

Covering its rise and fall, Jackson explores key themes such as trade, military conquest, and colonial governance, while also addressing the social, cultural, and economic impacts of empire.

Though brief, the book captures the essence of British imperialism and its lasting global influence, making it an excellent starting point for readers new to the subject.

[Ali Rehman · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book explores the gradual expansion of British influence, starting with trade and exploration in the 16th century and culminating in the vast empire of the 19th and early 20th centuries. It examines how Britain governed its colonies, including direct rule, indirect rule, and the role of the East India Company.In the end the author examines the factors that led to the decline of the empire, including economic challenges, nationalist movements, and World Wars. It also discusses the process of decolonization and its aftermath.

[Susan Peak · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very good if occasionally over-concise and dense, history of the British Empire. It's valuable both for its actual history of the empire, and for its consideration of the impact of empire in various ways, including the legacy still experienced by many countries. I ended up with a better understanding of both the sheer scale of the British Empire, and the various rationales for its existence.

[Sabrina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting, informative overview of the history of the British Empire. I really liked the author's discussions about the positives and negatives of the empire. The book could've been more clear if it were in chronological order, but other than that, I really enjoyed reading it!

[Jorvon Carter · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great minimally biased overview of the empire on which the sun has never set and on which the blood has never dried. The empire’s founding, justifications, architecture, and legacy are briefly examined.

[Emma · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quite an average spelling of the history of the British empire. The author seems pretty concerned about drawing uncontroversial conclusions especially for the political climate of today, and therefore hedges too much and waters down the conclusions.

[L. M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would quibble slightly with the organization of the chapters, and the references could have been more clearly indicated. But this is a highly readable overview that tries to balance different views of this controversial subject.

[你可 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fine, but a little to equivocal on the question of whether this maniacal, genocidal horror was a good thing or a bad thing. Lots of evidence presented for the latter, but a shrug from the author. Major British historian vibes.

[Coco · Rating 3 out of 5]

Even though it's short, it is not easy to read. Via Luke's English Podcast.

[Wayne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great introduction for me into wetting my appetite for learning more about the British Empire.

[Nicolas Schneider · Rating 4 out of 5]

A brilliant, scholarly overview of the history of the British Empire. However, its thematic, achronological structure may make it difficult to use for people only beginning to learn about the topic.

[Stephen Bedard · Rating 3 out of 5]

For a long time the British Empire was the most influential power in the world. While we may not think of Britain as an empire now, it is important to understand its rise and fall.

[Matthew Dai]

A simplified introduction about the history of the British Empire. Insightful read

[Richie Cartwright · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very solid overview. Why was I not taught this at school?

[Helen Geng · Rating 2 out of 5]

Read March 2022

NYPL book

[Stan Debruyn Roos · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ostensibly nuanced, Boring, and Short.