Engelsk sprogopgave: grammatik og tekstforståelse

In many ways the foundation of the British Empire was established during Queen Elisabeth I (1558-1603).

In many ways the foundation of the British Empire is established during Queen Elisabeth I (1558-1603).

The British Empire

English ships sailed across the Atlantic, where the first English colony in America, Virginia, was named after the Queen, who was known as the Virgin Queen. Likewise, voyages were made to Asia, India and supply posts were built in Africa. In the 18th century Britain fought a number of wars to expand its possessions, both in the new world and in Asia. Often at the expense of France who also had settlements there. However, in 1776 the French took revenge by helping the thirteen colonies on America’s eastern coast to break free of British rule and become the start of the United States of America. The British still controlled Canada as well as many West Indian islands, and in the 19th century they established a number of colonies and protectorates from the south of Africa to Egypt in the north. At the end of the 19th century Queen Victoria ruled an empire “where the sun never set” and which comprised a quarter of the world’s population.