By way of its maritime origins, England was gradually expanding across the globe. Soon, the British Empire would become the most powerful and largest global empire in human history, but this would not occur during the age of the maritime empires (1450-1750). British trading posts and small settlements planted themselves in Asia and Africa, but its domination of these areas, as well as Australia and New Zealand, did not begin before 1750. Until then, Britain's maritime pursuits were primarily centered on North America and the Caribbean, a prelude to the empire's global domination.
British Colonial Expansion
Let us therefore brace ourselves to our duties, and so bear ourselves that, if the British Empire and its Commonwealth last for a thousand years, men will still say, 'This was their finest hour.'
–Winston Churchill
While Spain had the benefit of being the country to fund Columbus's discovery of the Americas for Europe, giving them a head start above their European competition, England was well-suited to embark upon maritime colonial efforts. Great Britain is a large island surrounded by many smaller islands, meaning that sailing was essential long before the discovery of new lands across the Atlantic. Additionally, Great Britain's positioning as an island made foreign invasion and interference from its competitive neighbors, such as France, very difficult.
When we saw British, we are often referring to Great Britain (not just Britain). The names "the United Kingdom" and "England" are often interchangeably with each other and with Great Britain, but that is not exactly precise. To clarify, the modern-day United Kingdom is comprised of England, Scotland, Wales, and the northern part of Ireland. Historically, Great Britain is composed of Scotland and England (with Wales being a part of England). England simply refers to England, the lower half of the largest island of the British Isles Archipelago. Simple, isn't it?
Fig. 1- Art depicting a British fleet at sea.
For many years, the various kingdoms of England utilized small navies to transport goods and defend themselves against Viking raids. Often, English rulers were especially interested in the utility of English fleets. King Alfred of Wessex commissioned a sizable fleet in the 9th century, used to combat the invading Vikings. Edward the Confessor kept and often directed a fleet during his reign in the 11th century through taxation. Under Henry VIII, the English Royal Navy was founded in 1546. Dedicated warships were built alongside dedicated dockyards. With the country's positioning along the Atlantic, England was set to expand.
British Colonial Expansion Into the Americas
While Spain was content with the wealth of gold and silver in South America, English settlers landed in a different America. In July 1585 an expedition led by Sir Richard Grenville settled on Roanoke Island in modern-day North Carolina. The approximately one-hundred-person population of the early English settlement mysteriously disappeared.
Fig. 2- Map of the Thirteen Colonies.
In 1606, King James I issued a charter that directed the Plymouth Company and Virginia Company in their colonizing of North America. The two companies were trading companies financed by wealthy merchants, purposefully designed to settle the Americas and return profits to England. By 1607, English colonists sailed into the Chesapeake Bay and established Jamestown, the first significant English colony in North America.
Jamestown colony, when it was first founded as a socialist venture, dang near failed with everybody dead and dying in the snow.
–Politician Dick Armey
English colonization of North America was achieved through two primary measures: merchant companies funding colonial expeditions (such as the establishment of Jamestown) and the settling of religious peoples seeking religious freedom in a new land (such as the Puritans at Plymouth Rock in 1620). In some cases, those two measures were merged, such as with the Massachusetts Bay Company's funding of Puritan settlers in the Massachusetts settlement.
First British Empire
When discussing the expansive history of the English Maritime Empire, historians often split the empire's history into at least two periods. The 'First British Empire' is often used to refer to the British Empire's efforts leading up to the American Revolution that ended in 1783. This largely includes the age of the maritime empires from 1450 to 1750.
After the United States successfully split from the British Empire, Britain focused its attention on other parts of the world, such as its holdings in Canada and in India. The period after 1783, leading into the 19th century, sees the English Maritime Empire at the height of its power. This is often called the 'Second British Empire.'
British Colonial History
The English settlers in North America soon realized that the land and its indigenous societies did not resemble that of South America. Instead, there were many disparate native tribes. In contrast with the Spanish colonies of New Spain and Peru, the settled land in the north was not rich in valuable metals, and the northern winters were very harsh. Surviving on the East Coast of North America was itself a trial, but the settlers of the early 17th century achieved success in farming and trading with the locals.
Navigation Act of 1651:
One law in a series of laws passed by the British Parliament that restricted and contained British trade between the British nation and its territorial holdings (such as the colonies).
By 1750, the Thirteen Colonies had been established. The British Empire maintained exclusive trade relations with its colonies through the Navigation Act of 1651. North America provided an excellent source of lumber for England's shipbuilding, and the slave plantations imposed upon the Caribbean provided wealth through sugar and other cash crops.
British East India Company
As the colonies developed under the English Maritime Empire, other British ships were sailing for new lands. It can not be understated how important the British East India Company was in the success of the English Maritime Empire. The East India Company was a joint-stock company funded by private investors in 1600. The company's mission was to facilitate English trade in the Indian Ocean and East Asia.
Fig. 3- Crest of the British East India Company.
By 1750, the East India Company was the largest corporation in the world, next to the Dutch East India Company. Together, the two companies controlled the majority of global trade. The East India Company became wildly successful, allowing it to direct funds toward the creation of the first Presidency Armies around 1748. Through the East India Company, the English Maritime Empire was set to dominate India and East Asia in the latter half of the 18th century and for many years after.
Presidency Armies:
Armies belonging to the British East India Company, comprised of Indian soldiers trained by British officers, including the Bengal Army, Madras Army, and Bombay Army.
British Colonies 1900
By 1900 (a century and a half after the age of the maritime empires), the English Maritime Empire was at the height of its power. With holdings in India, China, Australia, North America, Africa, and of course Europe, only Antarctica and South America were yet untouched by British Imperialism. Britain's vast territorial holdings and impressive navy gave credence to the phrase "The sun never sets on the British Empire."
Regarding the phrase "The sun never sets on the British Empire" was largely used to describe England's empire during the 19th century. The term was actually first used to describe the reign of Charles V in the 16th century, describing, "the empire on which the sun never sets," or in Spanish, "el imperio donde nunca se pone el sol." The term was again used by King Phillip II of Spain in the 16th century, signifying Spain's imperial dominance before England came to the forefront of maritime rule.
British Empire Collapse
The British Empire did not collapse until the 20th century. The collapse of the English Maritime Empire's initial holdings occurred when the United States of America declared independence in 1776. With North America being the primary focus of England's colonial efforts across multiple centuries, one may think that the British Empire was doomed to fail. But that was far from true. The British Empire only began hitting its stride in the second half of the 18th century, and it would remain the most powerful global force until its collapse in the 20th century.
Fig. 4- Art depicting the English fleet in battle with a Dutch fleet.
English Maritime Empire - Key takeaways
- England's history and geography suited the nation for expansion and future maritime global domination.
- The English Maritime Empire's primary focus during the period of 1450-1750 was on colonizing and building relations with its colonies in North America.
- The British East India Company, established in 1600, became one of the most powerful economic and political entities in the world, setting itself to dominate areas of India and East Asia after 1750.
- The dominance of England's Maritime Empire would not begin until after 1750. Even with the loss of the North American colonies, England was primed to become the largest empire in human history, lasting into the 20th century.
References
- Fig. 2 Thirteen Colonies (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Thirteencolonies_politics_cropped.jpg) by Richard Zietz (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Zietz), licensed by CC BY-SA 3.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en).
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