Key learning points

1. Perspectives on British Empire have changed over time.
2. In the 19th century, the Empire was celebrated in Britain and seen as a source of pride.
3. Many contemporary historians view the impact of the British Empire negatively.
4. Many historians have revised interpretations of Empire to include the perspectives of the colonised.
5. The theory of postcolonialism argues that the impacts of colonialism are still felt today.

Keywords

• Empire - an empire is a group of countries or provinces ruled from the centre by another person or group of people

• Imperial - something relating to empire is known as imperial

• Historiography - historiography is the study of the writing of history and of written history

• Postcolonialism - postcolonialism is a theoretical approach that is concerned with the impact of colonisation in colonies and former colonies

Common misconception