The territory is about 33.67 million square kilometers, accounting for a quarter of the world's total land area. After the Kingdom of Spain in16th century, the empire was called the empire that never sets.
The British mainland and its dominions, colonies, territories, trusts and protectorates together formed a great empire, which was the largest country in history at that time and the largest colonial empire in the world.
Extended data:
British colonial expansion;
British colonies expanded violently in the19th century. Ireland merged in 180 1, and the official name of Britain became the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. The aggression against Asia continues to expand.
/kloc-In the middle of the 9th century, Britain launched two Opium Wars to invade China, occupied Hongkong Island and participated in suppressing the Taiping Revolution in China. Suppress the Indian national uprising from 1857 to 1859 and strengthen India's rule. 1876, the conservative cabinet b disraeli crowned queen Victoria, making her the queen of India.
Since then, Britain has been called the British Empire or the British Empire (1947, when India became independent, the British monarch lost the title of emperor). In addition, it also expanded its aggression in Iran, Myanmar, South Africa, Egypt, East Africa, New Zealand and Australia, and gradually penetrated into South America, becoming the largest investor there. 1867, Canada became a dominion of Britain.
Baidu Encyclopedia-UK (United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland)