Impacts of the British Empire
History: KS3, topic 6.7.1
Trade and Investment
The British Empire was vast, and in some ways, it helped to modernise countries across the world. However, it also often used policies that were brutal or inhumane and has been criticised for this.
Trade
- Trade was central to the British Empire.
- By the mid-1800s, half of the goods produced in the world were produced by Britain.
- Since Britain controlled colonies across the globe, there was always a market where Britain could export these products.
Investment
- The profits from trade allowed Britain to invest in its colonies.
- This improved the infrastructure in some countries which had been very underdeveloped and allowed them to modernise.
Examples of investment
- For example, in India, 50,000 miles of road and 24,000 miles of railway track were laid by the end of the 1800s.
- Large areas of land in India and Britain’s African colonies were irrigated so that they would be suitable to be farmed.
- This benefited agriculture and increased production.
Test yourself on Impacts of the British Empire
By the mid-1800s, what proportion of goods produced in the world were produced by Britain?