The New A-Z of Empire: A Concise Handbook of British Imperial History

(Hardback)

Available Formats

Publishing Details

Classifications

Physical Properties

Description

The British Empire, especially in its late-Victorian heyday, spanned the world and linked a quarter of world's population to Britain through a shared, official, allegiance to the Crown. In the long history of empires the British imperial state was among the most powerful ever and a major global player. "A New A-Z of Empire" catches the current burgeoning interest in empires and covers over 400 years of British imperial history from the founding of the East India Company in 1600, to the 'First' and 'Second' British Empires, the time of 'High Empire' following the War of American Independence, the unprecedented expansion of the 'Scramble' for Africa, the development of Dominion Status and the history - often turbulent - of decolonization and the growth of Commonwealth. The 400-plus entries include a rich panoply of individuals, territories, treaties, politics, the law, diplomacy, war and peace, administration, business and commerce, exploration, literature, art, literature and scholarship. Readers will find a mine of fascinating factual information, in concise form, with expert historical assessment, cross-referencing between entries and suggestions for further reading.
The valuable time-line is essential to pick through the long period of complex history and links to key web resources are provided. "A New A-Z of Empire" is an indispensable tool for the scholar and student, and for the general reader interested in the rich history of the British Empire: a story of obscure foundation leading to dominance over a huge swathe of the globe, now represented by mere pinpricks on the world map.

Author Bio

C. Brad Faught is Associate Professor of History and Chair of the Arts Division at Tyndale University College in Toronto. A graduate of the Universities of Oxford and Toronto, he is a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society and a Senior Fellow of Massey College at the University of Toronto. He is the author of The Oxford Movement: A Thematic History of the Tractarians and Their Times (2003); Gordon: Victorian Hero (2008); and the forthcoming Into Africa: The Imperial Life of Margery Perham.