Year 8 - History
England's Empire at the beginning of the 'long eighteenth century'
The British Empire: why did it grow in the 17th and 18th centuries?
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This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
Unit Summary
In this unit pupils develop overview knowledge of why the British Empire grew in the 17th and 18th centuries. They learn about the state of Britain's empire at the beginning and end of the 'long eighteenth century' before analysing differing historians' arguments about why it grew.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to describe the relationship between England and her overseas trade and colonies in 1688.
Key Notes
- At the beginning of the 18th century England was an emerging empire-builder.
- England was agricultural with a large middling sort who provided a base to trade with and settle in distant places.
- England had established colonies in North America and the Caribbean, with which English merchants traded.
- 350 000 had emigrated to colonies in the Americas; trade with them, bolstered by enslavement, was worth a great deal.
- The Navigation Act created a mercantilist framework for English trade with its colonies.
Vocabulary To Learn
- privateer: a person allowed by a government to attack and steal from ships at sea
- customs duties: a tax paid on goods that are imported
- indentured servant: a person who is made to work without pay for a set period of time
- mercantilist: an economic practice of a country protecting their own trade and discouraging trade with rival nations
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Only Britain and Europe engaged in empire building.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Summarise this historical learning in two key ideas.
At the beginning of the 18th century England was an emerging empire-builder. England was agricultural with a large middling sort who provided a base to trade with and settle in distant places.
2. Define this history term and explain why it matters in this topic. 'privateer'
a person allowed by a government to attack and steal from ships at sea.
3. Correct this common history misconception using evidence language.
Mistake: Only Britain and Europe engaged in empire building. Correction: In fact, empires have existed across the world since at least the ancient period: several dynasties ruled across China, the Ottoman Empire spanned across Asia, Africa and Europe, and the Mali Empire controlled extensive territories in West Africa.
More Lessons In This Unit
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