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How Much Of The World Did The British Empire Take Over?

How about you show me a successful former British colony in Africa that can attribute its success to having turned its back on British ways, making a success of itself off its own bat.

I cannot, Africans are clearly incapable of running their own countries

Reply 41

Llamageddon

18

By population size, GDP, landmass, area? At one time or all? Do we include the areas of France we once had? Areas under our administrative control? Areas under military rule but not incorporated into the british empire?

It's really not answerable 'til you expand upon the question.

Reply 42

Snagprophet

17

We owned 25% and that which we did own was brought out of the dark ages and still remains economically strong, unless those areas became independent and brought themselves down like Zimbabwe did. We sowed seeds for many current and upcoming superpowers such as the USA and India and we contribute to a third superpower, Europe. We were the first state to ban slavery. If we had not let the US become independent then slavery would've been outlawed there even earlier than it was. Even today people still claim the Empire because it partook in slavery, even though we ended it before anyone else did. It's sad and it's even sadder we allow morons such as these to even remain in England, or the UK for that matter.

Reply 43

Riderz

16

Original post by kingsholmmad

It might be interesting for you to check out how many of our former colonies have decided to keep some part of our legacy: our legal system, our political system, transport, language etc. A lot of the time, when they've done away with that legacy, they've ended up worse off.

Almost all of them have kept our values in whole or part.

Despite what people might like to believe, we (the British) had a hugely important role in the recent world history, and are still looked upon by other countries. Whether they will be so open about it or not, you only have to live in foreign countries and see the amount of UK news to understand how people reference their country against ours. Every corner of the globe was touched by us - we exported some great things in terms of values, technology and finished products. Trading with these countries made us rich, and quite often our investment made other countries rich too. Hong Kong, Australia, America etc.

Reply 44

cl_steele

2

not nearly enough.. :colone:

Reply 45

cl_steele

2

Original post by IamBeowulf

Roughly the size of 2 Russia's

thats a lot of russians.

Reply 46

someguy113

Depends on what particular time period you are talking about. When Britain lost America that would've cut a large chunk off the empire's span.

Reply 47

pol pot noodles

19

Original post by nmudz_009

LOL. With India, Britain was a superpower, India was poorer than most African countries, :rolleyes:

despite having a population the size of the US

Per capita wise, India has always been poor.

Reply 48

Sharri5

You're all so proud of your destructive behavior. Longing for the past I see.

Thankfully, the US told you to shove it.

Reply 49

lulubel

british empire was the most civilising force in history -- it baceme the largest empire in history because of its technological, cultural and administrative genius.

it really did create the modern world.

the british empire not only abolished the concept of slavery for the first time in human history, it also abolished the concept of empire itself-- the british empire was the first ever empire in human history to voluntarily give up its empire.

subjects of the empire used to be proud of the empire before the advent of the divisive doctrines of politicial correctness told them that it was a bad thing.

(edited 12 years ago)

Reply 50

almalibre11111

17

its funny if you are greek to listen other people talk about empires in the past

Reply 51

kingsholmmad

7

Original post by Sharri5

You're all so proud of your destructive behavior. Longing for the past I see.

We may have introduced the Americans to destructive behaviour but they've taken it a lot further than we ever could. They can probably claim to have become one of the leaders in global violent population control.

Thankfully, the US told you to shove it.

It might be argued that, since having told us to "shove it", the Americans have turned themselves into a racist, Christian fundamentalist, right-wing empire-building warmonger but that would be to ignore America's good points. And you wouldn't want that.

Reply 52

nmudz_009

22

Original post by pol pot noodles

Per capita wise, India has always been poor.

It's total income in 1947 was among the loswest in the world. Now, its 4th largest

Reply 53

pol pot noodles

19

Original post by nmudz_009

It's total income in 1947 was among the loswest in the world. Now, its 4th largest

I said per capita income, yet regardless you are still wrong.
According to economist Angus Maddison, India's total GDP in 1950, when measured in 1990 US dollars, was $222 bn, which was more than France ($220 bn), Italy ($165 bn), all of Eastern Europe ($185bn), and Africa ($203 bn). So no, it wasn't among lowest in the world, no where near.
In terms of total GDP, India has always been wealthy. In terms of per capita GDP, India has always been poor. Even before the industrial revolution the average European worker was far more productive than the average Indian. British rule over India certainly didn't lead to prosperity for India, but it didn't retard growth either.

Reply 54

Rahul.S

14

Original post by Extricated

"85%" lolololol

why you laughing at your own ums :s-smilie:

Reply 55

DeadBullyMafiosi

9

Original post by Notethis

All countries were better off as British territories. Thanks to the British, India is now verging on superpower status.

NONESENSE!
Before the British took over India, it had one of the largest global economies in the world. Great source of rare metals.
At the end of colonial rule, India inherited an economy that was one of the poorest in the developing world. Just goes to show how much the British looted from the Indian territories!

Reply 56

Snagprophet

17

Original post by lulubel

the british empire not only abolished the concept of slavery for the first time in human history, it also abolished the concept of empire itself-- the british empire was the first ever empire in human history to voluntarily give up its empire.

An amazing point. The world would be better off if America didn't have so much power.

Reply 57

teamnoether

Original post by Sharri5

You're all so proud of your destructive behavior. Longing for the past I see.

Thankfully, the US told you to shove it.

Given that I've never seen a post from Sharri5 that isn't comically chauvinistic and offensive...

I can smell the neg(s) coming, but as this has been a cathartic experience I'll call it an even trade. :smile:

Reply 58

User414413

18

Original post by Snagprophet

An amazing point. The world would be better off if America didn't have so much power.

No it wouldn't because Chinese or Russians would try to aim to become superpower. The world would be better off if humans weren't so greedy and power-driven because nations are merely manifestation of people's desires.

Reply 59

Sharri5

Original post by kingsholmmad

We may have introduced the Americans to destructive behaviour but they've taken it a lot further than we ever could. They can probably claim to have become one of the leaders in global violent population control.

It might be argued that, since having told us to "shove it", the Americans have turned themselves into a racist, Christian fundamentalist, right-wing empire-building warmonger but that would be to ignore America's good points. And you wouldn't want that.

Except for the fact that the UK has wrought their racism on the world, raping the land and people as they went about colonizing. The horror that GB brought is shocking. It's the type of arrogance that unfortunately is still presence in many brits who long for the days of colonization--- aka unleashing brutality on the world. The UK is easily one of the most racist places in the world. The treatment of immigrants is astounding. The lack of creativity is even worst. British society as a whole is trash. Wrought with idiots pissing in the street, 13 year old alcoholics. An idiot society is what the UK has become. That's a fact. The UK should be ashamed of the pain it has wrought in many nations, effects that are still seen today. I'd definitely argue that the UK is a failed experiment, one that will ultimately collapse in no less than 45-50 years. The US telling the UK to get the **** out was a blessing. No success would have been had being under the brutality of the US. By god, we had a right to country.

(edited 12 years ago)

How Much Of The World Did The British Empire Take Over?

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