British Empire

The British Empire was the largest empire of all time. The colonial holdings of what is now the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland made up this group. Early in the 17th century, Britain began to expand its empire. The British Empire ruled about 35.5 million square kilometers of land at its height in 1920. Because the British Empire included colonies all over the world, people formerly used the adage "The sun never sets on the British Empire." British imperialism, however, started to decline after World War II as the UK granted independence to the majority of its colonial colonies. The 13 North American colonies that later became the United States of America, Canada, Hong Kong, Australia, and New Zealand are among the former British colonial territories.

The dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates, and other nations that the United Kingdom and its forebears governments ruled or managed made up the British Empire. England established commercial and overseas possessions starting in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. At its height, it was the biggest empire ever, and for more than a century, it ruled the world. It has left behind well-known constitutional, legal, linguistic, and cultural legacy. Since the sun was constantly shining on at least one of its domains, it was once referred to as "the empire on which the sun never sets."