British Empire

The British Empire was a vast collection of territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom and its predecessor states, beginning with England's overseas possessions and trading posts in the 16th and 17th centuries. At its height in the 19th and early 20th centuries, it became the largest empire in history, covering 35.5 million km2 and holding sway over 412 million people, or 23% of the world population. The empire's constitutional, legal, linguistic, and cultural legacy is widespread, and it was described as "the empire on which the sun never sets" due to its global reach. The British Empire expanded through various means, including colonization attempts by Scotland and the East India Company's conquest of Mughal Bengal in 1757. The empire's dominance was challenged by other European powers, including Germany and the United States, and it ultimately declined in the mid-20th century, with India achieving independence in 1947 and most territories being granted independence.learn more on wikipedia