Product Description

The Penguin Historical Atlas of the British Empire traces the emergence of the world’s greatest empire from its earliest beginnings in the British Isles, through its ascendancy in Victorian times, to its ultimate collapse in the mid-20th century. It examines the impact of British dominance in America, India and Africa, and the enormous changes brought by Britain’s settlement of Australasia. Coverage of major events – the colonization of Ireland, the American Revolution, the South African wars – is complemented by discussion of themes such as Imperial exploitation and trade, hunting for plants and animals, the Imperial exhibitions and the importance of British naval power. Also assessed are the impact of the Empire on different areas of the world and the legacy it has bestowed. Richly illustrated with photographs and full-colour maps, this is an illuminating and multi-faceted one-volume introduction to the rise and fall of the British Empire.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #20168 in Books
• Published on: 2006-05-25
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 144 pages

About the Author
Dr Nigel Dalziel is the curator of the Lancaster Maritime Museum and the editor of numerous collections of Victorian photographs.

Customer Reviews

Terrific book, good maps just communicate things so well !
This book is a fantastic, a concise historical reference of the whole span of the British Empire from 1100 up to today. The maps are of course the main thing in a historical atlas and these don't disappoint. They are very detailed and clear and there are lots of them. The book breaks down into 2-3 page sections e.g. "Conflict in Canada", "Peopling the Empire", with a map or two and substantial supporting text. Freshingly for books on the empire it sticks to the facts and doesn't overly indulge political or moral anaylsis that can often overshadow the events in books on this subject.

At 144 pages long it's fairly short, but as an overview I'd find it hard to beat.