The British Empire changed the face of the modern world. At its zenith it governed more than a quarter of the world's population, and spanned at least a fifth of its surface. Through these sovereign acquisitions, the British people derived wealth, influence and prestige. Empire also became a defining aspect of British identity, affording the nation a sense of international purpose and political and social unity. Yet, for many of those that it controlled, the Empire often represented something darker: an arbitrary power which disrupted local customs, social structures and government. In this new edition of his classic work, Denis Judd analyses the sweep of the British colonial story, from the American Revolution to the present day, decisively illustrating the influence of Britain's imperial past on her place in the twenty-first century. This renowned book, fully updated, will be essential reading for anyone interested in understanding modern Britain and its imperial history.
Foreword to the new edition
Anatomy of an Empire - An Introduction
The American Revolution
Australia
Ireland
Canada
The Repeal of the Corn Laws in 1846
The Great Indian Uprising of 1857-8
The Jamaica Rebellion of 1865
The Opening of the Suez Canal in 1869
The Battle of Majuba Hill, 1881
Cecil Rhodes' Legacy
Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee, 1897
The Battle of Spion Kop, 1900
The Suicide of Sir Hector MacDonald, 1903
Joseph Chamberlain and the Cabinet Split of 1903
Scouting for Boys, 1908
The Imperial Conference of 1911
The Gandhi-Smuts Agreement of January 1914
The 1916 Easter Uprising in Ireland
The Amritsar Massacre of 1919
The 1924 British Empire Wembley Exhibition
The Balfour Definition of Dominion Status, 1926
The Bodyline Tour of Australia, 1932
The Fall of Singapore, February 1942
The Partition of India, 1947
The Trial of Jomo Kenyatta, 1953
The Suez Crisis of 1956
Rhodesia's Unilateral Declaration of Independence, November 1965
The Declaration of Commonwealth Principles at Singapore, 1971
The Falklands War, 1982
The Inauguration of Nelson Mandela as President of South Africa, May 1994
Afterword
