The British Empire – General Knowledge
What is an empire?
A group of countries or territories ruled by one country or ruler.
What was the name of the period in the 16th century when Europeans explored new parts of the world?
The Age of Discovery
What does the word Indigenous mean?
The original people who lived in a particular place
Which British colonies fought against British rule between 1775 and 1783?
The North American colonies
(The Declaration of Independence was signed 1776)
Who was the British queen who was also known as the Empress of India?
Queen Victoria
What is the name of the process or policy where a country extends its power over other countries?
Imperialism.
What were the territories controlled by England in other parts of the world called?
Colonies
What was the name of the trade that forcibly transported millions of African people across the Atlantic Ocean?
The Transatlantic Slave Trade
What country was created when the 13 American colonies gained independence?
The United States of America (USA)
What was the name of the 1919 event in which British forces killed and imprisoned Indian protesters?
The Amritsar Massacre
In which year was the British Empire at its largest?
1922
Which powerful English trading company established trading settlements in India?
The East India Company
What is the name of the process of officially ending slavery?
Emancipation
What is the name of the organisation that replaced the British Empire and includes more than 50 countries?
The Commonwealth
What is the term for treating people unfairly because of their race or skin colour
Racism
In which century did Britain begin building its empire?
The 16th century.
Which explorer tried to establish an English settlement at Roanoke in 1585?
Sir Walter Raleigh
Approximately how many African people were bought and sold by European traders during the Transatlantic Slave Trade?
12 million
In which year did India gain independence from Britain?
1947
What was the name of the system of racial separation introduced in South Africa?
Apartheid
At its largest, approximately what percentage of the Earth’s land surface did the British Empire cover?
One quarter (25%).
What was the name of the first permanent English colony in North America, founded in 1607?
Jamestown
In which year did Britain ban the trading of enslaved people in its empire?
1807
Which former British colony was returned to China in 1997?
Hong Kong
What was the name of the uprising against British rule in Kenya during the 1950s?
The Mau Mau Uprising