Early 17th century
-The English East India Company founded trading posts in the East Indies (Indonesia, India, Pakistan and Bangladesh)
-Grew into settlements
-The trading companies, especially the East India Company, had enormous power: economic, political, judicial, military
-Fierce competition, for resources; spices and tea, with the Netherlands and France, Portugal and Spain
-Britain lost colonies in America and the settlements in Asia got more important --> shift in attention --> onset of the second British Empire (1783-1815)
-The English East India Company informally ruled India until 1858, when the British government took over
-Queen Victoria --> Empress of India 1876, formalized British rule of "British India" --> English was already language of administration, government, and education
Trade was cornerstone of British Imperialism --> Navy and the British Merchant fleet were present all over the world
-Made outposts (norsk: baser) in other parts of Asia: Burma, Malay, Singapore, Hong Kong
James Cook claimed Australia and New Zealand for the british throne, by 1770
-British convicts were transported to Australia between 1778 and 1868
-Penal colony
-During the Gold Rush from 1851 --> immigration increased --> large numbers of British and Irish settlers, and some from Asia and different parts of Europe
In West Africa slave trade was the most important business until 1865
-By mid 1800s --> Industrial revolution transformed England --> the industries needed raw materials from Africa
-The expanding global trade boosted the British economy --> political and military power, more economic and industrial power --> technological, scientific power--> the background for the growth of English as a global language
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