was there anything uniquely superior about the British Empire which made it the biggest in the world?

Answer 1

Organised Civil Service and a potent Military power, backed up by the industrial revolution. Oh, and good old British Bulldog spirit.

Answer 2

Britain held a substantial empire (but not yet the biggest) just as it became the world's first industrialised country. This gave Britain a huge advantage over its colonial competitors.

Britain's empire-building also benefited from business-friendly policies in Westminster which allowed capital investment to flow freely throughout the empire.

Britain's long-standing concern with sea power added to her advantage in empire-building when its already established naval power was used to keep the overseas empire protected.

Britain's success at warfare against France in the Eighteenth Century and the securing of India as a British colony, gave Britain great economic leverage. It did so by providing a captive market for British manufacturing goods, as well as providing a cheap labour force, and a source of military manpower.

Answer 3

First there was political stability. After the Glorious Revolution in 1688, up until the First World war, there was an orderly progession of heirs to the throne, as well as capable monarchs and prime ministers. This is why Britain was able to not only grow, but maintain an Empire for so long.

Secondly, they had the largest industrial base in the early 18th century due to a combination of the enclosure act, which increased population in the cities, and agricultural reforms which allowed fewer people to farm. This gave Britain a technological lead which she would maintain until the First World War, allowing her to develop a large navy stronger then the other nations.

It is worth noting, that it was not until the defeat of Napoleon that Britain acheived supremacy over France, which she would maintain for a full century in the Victorian and Edwardian eras. Prior to that, her army was much smaller then France, as was her navy. What enabled Britain to catch up is that her ships were of superior maneuvrability and seamanship then the French at the time, who had larger ships.

Answer 4

The rise of the British Empire started in 1588 with the defeat of the Spanish Armada. Britain, being an island nation, had to develop a strong navy to survive and a strong international trade & commerce. The two went hand in hand. Next came colonization for their surplus population. With colonization came both the spread of their language, culture, and then a strong army to go with their navy.

The British became the Phoenicians of the modern word. Napoleon referred to them as a nation of shopkeepers. International trade, and colonization made for a strong banking system and made the British an economic power. It was a domino effect.

Interesting, America followed this blueprint. America's long alliance with its mother country has lead to the modern world we live in now.

Answer 5

For a start we had the largest and most powerful Navy in the world. This not only protected our trade routes but made it possible to project this power to almost anywhere in the world, much as the Americans do now. We were the most industrialised nation on earth and produced the most modern weapons. We also used a great deal of bribery and corruption to set occupied peoples against each other, as they say divide and conquer. We were just in the right place at the right time. or the right time for us, the wrong time for others. So a combination of trade and armed forces.

Answer 6

The way the empire was run.

Sure they had a big navy, sure they had a great army, sure they were more advanced than others. Those things contribute, but they don't make for a big empire.

Empires carry their own destruction in most cases. Rule by force eventually erodes or is overcome, that is why empires like Babylon, Rome, or any of the others like them came apart.

England ruled not so much by force, but by rule of law and fairness. Sure, they did use force, but that was not their first resort or most frequent. They kept their empire together and increased its size by being just, in most cases.
Their citizenry was more content with the rule of England than most other empires could have dreamed. That lack of conflict and discontent in their own citizenry allowed for the expansion and stability of the English Empire.

Answer 7

It had by far the strongest navy and a population of poor educated people who were willing to go out and administer the Empire.

Answer 8

Just happened at a time in history when the other great powers were under strain and going through changes in systems of government.

Answer 9

incorporated a legal system which is still in force today, the East India company opened up more trade routes, even the antiquated trains are still running on tracks laid down over a hundred years ago.

Answer 10

Control of the sea