The British Empire

The British Empire, a worldwide system of dependencies—colonies, protectorates, and other territories—that over a span of some three centuries was brought under the rule of Great Britain and the British government. This distinct policy of granting some degrees of self-government by dependencies led to the development of the “British Commonwealth“ that acknowledged a symbolic British sovereignty. Today the Commonwealth includes former elements of the British Empire in a free association of sovereign states. To explore the British Empire can also be key to the understanding of the different cultural settings of the English speaking world today.