At that time it would have been easy to imagine that the British Empire will conquer the whole world. As we look back today, it seems that the Britain used its colonies only to improve itself. I think that's why it lost control of the whole thing in the end. This was just my opinion as I wrote this project, but now I give you the true facts about what really happened. .
The British Empire was known as a worldwide system of dependencies, colonies, dependent political units called protectorates, and other territories. During three centuries these units were under the control of the sovereignty of the crown of Great Britain and the administration of the British government. It was the largest formal empire the world has ever known. As such its power and influence stretched all over the globe, shaping it in many ways. For better or worse, the British Empire had a great impact on the history of the world. .
Great Britain made its first experimental efforts to establish overseas settlements in the 16th century. This overseas expansion was driven mostly by commercial ambitions, such as trade and industry, but also, by the competition with France. The many efforts resulted in the establishment of settlements in North America and the West Indies. In other words: this is where it all began! .
After these first expeditions came more and more. By 1670, there were British American colonies in New England, Virginia, and Maryland. But this was not all! There were also settlements in the Bermudas, Honduras, Antigua, Barbados, and Nova Scotia. More conquests followed. Jamaica was conquered in 1655, and the Hudson's Bay Company established itself, in what became northwest Canada, from the 1670's and on. Many territories became British through the extension of companies" activities. For example, Penang, Singapore, Malacca, and Labuan, became British colonies with the help of the Straits Settlement and the East India Company.