New A-Z of Empire

The British Empire especially in its late-Victorian heyday spanned the world and linked a quarter of world's population to Britain through a shared official allegiance to the Crown. In the long history of empires the British imperial state was among the most powerful ever and a major global player. A New A-Z of Empire catches the current burgeoning interest in empires and covers over 400 years of British imperial history from the founding of the East India Company in 1600 to the 'First' and 'Second' British Empires the time of 'High Empire' following the War of American Independence the unprecedented expansion of the 'Scramble' for Africa the development of Dominion Status and the history - often turbulent - of decolonization and the growth of Commonwealth. The 400-plus entries include a rich panoply of individuals territories treaties politics the law diplomacy war and peace administration business and commerce exploration literature art literature and scholarship. Readers will find a mine of fascinating factual information in concise form with expert historical assessment cross-referencing between entries and suggestions for further reading.<br/>The valuable time-line is essential to pick through the long period of complex history and links to key web resources are provided. A New A-Z of Empire is an indispensable tool for the scholar and student and for the general reader interested in the rich history of the British Empire: a story of obscure foundation leading to dominance over a huge swathe of the globe now represented by mere pinpricks on the world map.