What was the British Empire?
The British Empire was a collection of colonies, dominions and territories ruled or administered by Britain from the late 1500s to the late 1900s. At its peak, in the early 1900s, it covered about a quarter of the world's land and population.
The empire began with colonies in North America and the Caribbean in the late 1500s and 1600s. Britain later expanded into India, Africa, Australia, Asia and the Pacific.
The empire was built through trade, exploration, settlement and military conquest. The East India Company played a major role in establishing British control in India.
The sun never set
The British Empire was described as the empire on which the sun never sets, because it had territories in every time zone.
Many colonies gained independence after World War II, including India and Pakistan in 1947. The handover of Hong Kong to China in 1997 is often seen as the end of the empire.
The empire's legacy is complex. It spread the English language, legal systems and sports, but also involved exploitation, slavery and violence.
Many former colonies are now members of the Commonwealth of Nations, a voluntary association of countries.