Why did the British Empire grow so powerful (then collapse).

Why did the British Empire collapse at the hight of its power? After the passing of Queen Elizabeth II and the accession to the throne of King Charles III. We're looking at the factors that led to the British Empire's initial expansion around the world and the effects that are still being felt globally to this day.

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Faultline is produced by:

Executive Producer/Story Editor/Host: Andy Burgess
Story/Research: Jamie Elms
Editors: Ana Stanojevic & Andy Burgess
Motion Graphics: Andy Burgess
Assistant Producer/Editor: Ivan Veselov
Artwork: Tim Burgess of Wild Tales Illustration

Sources 🔗

Patrick Melby | Insatiable Shipyards:

Timestamps:

00:00 - History's most expansive Empire
00:56 - Britain invaded half the world for spices and decided they didn’t like them
1:35 - Life in prehistoric Britain
2:29 - The unification of the United Kingdom
2:51 - The (failed) voyage of John Cabot
3:35 - Natural resources that helped form an Empire
4:13 - The Silk Road's influence on the British Empire
4:58 - Britain's plan to circumvent trade disputes
6:28 - The transatlantic slave trade
8:16 - The real reason slavery was abolished
8:52 - Global dominance "The sun never sets on the British Empire"
9:54 - The downfall of the British Empire
10:43 - Botched decolonisation
11:21 - The Commonwealth and the lasting effects

#britishempire #queenelizabeth #geography

[artfuldodger]

"Why did the British Empire grow so powerful (then collapse)." You know, that's a really straightforward question. I think you will discover that funding two world wars is a major financial drain.

[nameisamine]

This is a great video, I’m subscribing! As an African myself, I’m always curious why when we discuss this period - the period where slavery was basically the backbone of capitalist expansionism and economic growth for many countries - we tend to sidestep the East Africa slave trade toward the Middle East, as well as the Africans who enriched themselves capturing and selling their fellow Africans into bondage. It seems to be described exclusively as an affliction rather than the common and pervasive business practice it unfortunately was. I guess it wasn’t of utmost relevance to this video since we’re discussing Britain. I feel like countries like Britain bears the most resentment while countries like Portugal, who exported 10s of millions of slaves to Brazil, are rarely discussed. In fact, many have no idea. Still to this day the highest population of black people outside of Africa is in Brazil.

[yashpallalas]

there is a famous saying
"The Sun never sets on british empire because even God can't trust the british in dark "

[SupremeLeaderKimJong-un]

While we weren't colonized by the British, we were annexed by the Japanese and they were just as brutal if not more. They don't even recognize the DPRK as a legitimate nation. The Koreans living in Japan who affiliate with our Chongryon (an organization who helped these Zainichi Koreans) are effectively stateless

[AverytheCubanAmerican]

The boss when you fight them in the game: 9:27
The boss when you unlock them as a playable character: 0:45

And then the thirteen colonies that broke away from them...became a superpower and did their own expansion. Like father, like son

[HankMcMuk]

Psssst.... You seem to have ignored the very first colony. You know, the one that's still looking for full independence. which is actually closest to the heart of the Empire... Ireland!

[Homer-OJ-Simpson]

The interesting thing is how some countries that were former colonies are very successful today while others are terrible failures today and some are in the middle. It would be interesting to see why that is the case — if there are any common traits or factors that lead to success or failure post colonialism.

[Gillemear]

1490s? What about 1169 and the Anglo-Norman invasion of Ireland? Or are we counting Ireland, a separate island and culture, being part of Britain, the island next door? 🤨

[toothpastehombre]

Just came across your channel today, on a binge of your videos now. Really enjoying your perspectives and commentary- solid work

[DavidGS]

The British Empire was large because it was able to be economical in India: The British never had more than 100 000 British troops in India because most of their troops were native troops, all paid for by the Indian taxpayer & the British Indian Army projected power elsewhere. Even Ghandi helped out.

[firestarter]

I was talking to my friend from Yeman and he thinks losing the British as a protectorate was the worst thing which ever happened in his country.

[rhobot]

Just to say, I've begun in the last few days watching your channel's vids and, I'm really enjoying the maps and older illustrations! Shot of the Atlas books, illustrations, etc. Thank you!

[bookie]

I appreciate this video, it answers my curiousity about the empire and i even have relatable evidence from other sources that find myself! I didn't knew that much lumber were used to build that many ships.

[lonelittlejerry]

I absolutely love your content :) so professional

[arcticlover]

Given recent news, I was just telling a friend that I wanted to learn more about the British Empire the other day. This video couldn't have timed more perfectly. Really insightful video - probably one of my favorites to date, if not my favorite.

[christopheraliaga-kelly]

British bureaucrat: We are making an Empire on which the Sun will not set!
Chartist (political reformer)...and the blood never dries!
US journalist: I know why the sun doesn't set on the British Empire. God wouldn't trust an Englishman in the dark!

[alfredodelgadillo]

Great content !!! Could you share the name of the graphic book with maps you use along the video ?

[sirfinleygaming]

Tbh not a great vid with lots of inaccuracies. Britain's empire grew because of its financial institutions, trading companies and technology; not because it had an abundance of good timber. You forgot to mention the early colonies in Ireland 'plantations' for developing colonial enthusiasm and financing. You also forgot to mention the role of private companies in establishing trading posts, and the informal nature of empire particularly in South Africa Egypt and the middle east. You can see your more a geography than history channel.

[alvarogan]

Very nice vid, love how u add your sources

[cianmanningfitzmaurice]

Also, in 1169, and Irish king fled to britain(England) and asked for the help of the anglo-normans to take back his kingdom. And when they did, a guy named Strongbow, the main guy fighting from England married the kings Daughter Áine in Wexford or Waterford, and thats how the British got control of Ireland at 1st, by fighting for a foreign king and marraige essentially, eventually a more proper Colony(Plantations) happened around the same time as the other ones in America, maybe just a little before them, but same period