WHAT IF? The Corsican Crisis 1768

One of the more fascinating “what ifs” of European history has to be the handling of the Corsican Crisis of 1768-69.

4 Reasons why Britain conquered the World

Four vital factors in the Rise of Empire Britain developed through a combination of dynastic shifts, strategic trade outposts and aggressive nationalistic policies, expressed through its navy, into a position of world-wide authority (if not supremacy) between the years 1660 and 1760. It is tempting to consider the words of Horace Seeley, writing in 1870, [...]

Charles II: Accidental Architect of Empire?

It can be argued that Charles II was the real architect of the British Empire. Though perhaps, he wasn’t an intentional one

Rise of Empire 1660-1770

6525B – Paper 5B Mark Scheme The Making of the British Empire, c.1660-c.1770 1. How important was Anglo-French rivalry in explaining the expansion of Britain’s overseas Empire in the period c.1660-c.1770? (60) Indicative content The question requires candidates to consider the expansion of the British Empire in the period c.1660-c.1770, and to consider the influence [...]

The Making of the British Empire

1. Introduction: “The first Empire was built by pirates” (Niall Ferguson)

Britain and “Abroad”: The Rise of Empire 1660-1688

Foreign and Colonial Policy 1660-1760 Since 1640, Portugal had been fighting a war of independence against Spain after a dynastic union of 60 years between the crowns of Spain and Portugal. Portugal had been helped by France, but in the Treaty of the Pyrenees in 1659 Portugal was abandoned by its French ally. Upon Charles’ [...]

How did Britain develop as a world-power between 1660 and 1760?

The thesis of this sketch survey is that Britain developed through a combination of dynastic shifts, strategic trade outposts and aggressive nationalistic policies, expressed through its navy, into a position of world-wide authority (if not supremacy) between the years 1660 and 1760.

The Rise of Empire: Navy and Trade

The British Empire was the result of maritime expansion. From the seventeenth century new maritime growth underpinned the evolution of an international trade network. British economic, military and cultural influence was felt globally. As the British government and private firms developed they protected this infrastructure through an intimate economic partnership. This alliance provided new goods [...]

Were the Anglo-Dutch wars inconclusive?

The Anglo-Dutch Wars were a sporadic series of conflicts during the second half of the seventeenth century (1652–54, 1665–67, 1672–74)