Admiral Beez
Major
The British Empire peaked 100 years ago this month
Two new books examine the history and consequences of colonialism
The British Empire peaked 100 years ago this month
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- #2
Admiral Beez
Major
It's amazing that with the taking of Palestine in 1923 the Empire was at its height and then forty or so years later it had mostly collapsed.
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Its amazing that some historian manages to mention Brexit among all the other hobby horses he had a trot around on.
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- #4
Admiral Beez
Major
I ignored the Brexit plug. I'm in Canada, but all of my UK relatives voted to exit. They're in finance and trade and knew it was going to be an economic challenge.
The rest of it is equally revisionist nonsense, the British empire was quite clearly not at its height in 1923 unless you completely ignore WW1 and its effects and the Boer War and its effects, basically you have to ignore all historical facts.
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- #6
Admiral Beez
Major
It was at its geographic height. I don't see the nonsense, but mind; my knickers are clearly unknotted.
Alan Stevens
Airman 1st Class
- 113
- May 24, 2023
More like 12-10-1941
The loss of the two battleships and the following loss of their territories in the Far East blew a hole in their credibility in that region that they never recovered from.
GrauGeist
Generalfeldmarschall zur Luftschiff Abteilung
The British Empire started it's decline after WWII.
The loss of South East Asian colonies courtesy of Japan, the turmoil in the Middle East, India's independence and a staggering price tag of two world wars are what shuttered the Empire.
The loss of South East Asian colonies courtesy of Japan, the turmoil in the Middle East, India's independence and a staggering price tag of two world wars are what shuttered the Empire.
Snautzer01
Honourably banned
- 42,934
- Mar 26, 2007
Dont forget ww1 and the price it was paying for that one.
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- #10
Admiral Beez
Major
Agreed. WW1 was a massive economic and psychological shock to the Empire.
In 1913 almost 37% of the global GDP was owned by the British Empire. Today Britain is responsible for 3% of global GDP.
Snautzer01
Honourably banned
- 42,934
- Mar 26, 2007
March 9 2015
Almost 100 years after the debt was was issued, the U.K. government has finally finished paying for World War I.
On Monday the U.K. Treasury redeemed the outstanding £1.9 billion ($2.8 billion) of debt from the "War Loan", which was originally taken out in 1917 in order to finance the country' huge debts incurred in fighting the four-year war
Originally issued with a coupon of 5 percent, the bond was converted into a lower coupon issue of 3.5 percent in 1932, after the UK's debt mountain became unsustainably high. The Debt Management Office estimates that Britain has paid some £5.5 billion in total interest on the 5 percent and 3.5 percent war loans since 1917.
"In 1914, the national debt was £650 million, but by the end of the war it was around £7 billion and it was financed by bond issuance," said head of retail fixed income at M&G Investments, Jim Leaviss. UK finally finishes paying for World War I
Almost 100 years after the debt was was issued, the U.K. government has finally finished paying for World War I.
On Monday the U.K. Treasury redeemed the outstanding £1.9 billion ($2.8 billion) of debt from the "War Loan", which was originally taken out in 1917 in order to finance the country' huge debts incurred in fighting the four-year war
Originally issued with a coupon of 5 percent, the bond was converted into a lower coupon issue of 3.5 percent in 1932, after the UK's debt mountain became unsustainably high. The Debt Management Office estimates that Britain has paid some £5.5 billion in total interest on the 5 percent and 3.5 percent war loans since 1917.
"In 1914, the national debt was £650 million, but by the end of the war it was around £7 billion and it was financed by bond issuance," said head of retail fixed income at M&G Investments, Jim Leaviss. UK finally finishes paying for World War I
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- #12
Admiral Beez
Major
I highly recommend Robert Fulton's One Man Caravan for a 1930s tour of the Empire at its height.
Sadly a lot of Fulton's footage was seized by US intel and subsequently lost.
Sadly a lot of Fulton's footage was seized by US intel and subsequently lost.
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GrauGeist
Generalfeldmarschall zur Luftschiff Abteilung
Britain and France took possession of Middle Eastern territories after the fall of the Ottoman Empire.
That area was always a potential hotbed of trouble. The Ottomans and local Sultans had traditional ways of handling the people, which the French and British lacked.
That area was always a potential hotbed of trouble. The Ottomans and local Sultans had traditional ways of handling the people, which the French and British lacked.
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- #15
Admiral Beez
Major
It doesn't. Most Empires fail due to overextending. Bigger yes, stronger no. The article was remarking on the Empire's pinnacle of size, not viability.
GreenKnight121
Senior Airman
- 734
- Mar 16, 2014
A certain British Army Officer*, in the early 1920s, said (in regards to the various war-end treaties and international agreements)
* Archibald Wavell (later Field Marshall Earl Wavell), who had served under Allenby in the Palestine campaign.
I'm sure he was thinking of the Middle East in particular (but also Europe) when he made that statement.
Meddling in the ME was one of the worst mistakes the UK ever made.
Ditto for the US, etc.
See: A Peace to end all Peace by Peter Fromkin
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