Empire : The Rise and Demise of the British World Order and the Lessons for Global Power

The British Empire was the largest in all history, its reach the nearest thing to world domination ever achieved. By the eve of the Second World War, over a fifth of the world's land surface and nearly a quarter of the world's population were under some form of British rule. Yet for today's generation, the British Empire has come to stand for nothing more than a lost Victorian past--one so remote that it has ceased even to be a target for satire. The time is ripe for a reappraisal.In this major new work of synthesis and revision, Niall Ferguson argues that the British Empire should be regarded not merely as vanished Victoriana but as the very cradle of modernity. Nearly all the key features of the twenty-first-century world can be traced back to the extraordinary expansion of Britain's economy, population, and culture from the seventeenth century until the mid-twentieth--economic globalization, the communications revolution, the racial make-up of North America, the notion of humanitarianism, the nature of democracy. Displaying the originality and rigor that have made him the brightest light among British historians, Ferguson shows that far from being a subject for nostalgia, the story of the Empire is pregnant with lessons for the world today--in particular for the United States as it stands on the brink of a new kind of imperial power based once again on economic and military supremacy. In This Book Niall Ferguson Argues That The British Empire Should Be Regarded Not Merely As Vanished Victoriana But As The Very Cradle Of Modernity. Nearly All The Key Features Of The Twenty-first-century World Can Be Traced Back To The Extraordinary Expansion Of Britain's Economy, Population, And Culture From The Seventeenth Century Until The Mid-twentieth--economic Globalization, The Communications Revolution, The Racial Make-up Of North America, The Notion Of Humanitarianism, The Nature Of Democracy. Ferguson Shows That Far From Being A Subject For Nostalgia, The Story Of The Empire Contains Lessons For The World Today--in Particular For The United States As It Stands On The Brink Of A New Kind Of Imperial Power Based Once Again On Economic And Military Supremacy. Why Britain -- White Plague -- The Mission -- Heaven's Breed -- Maxim Force -- Empire For Sale. Niall Ferguson. Originally Published: London : Allen Lane, 2002. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [377]-383) And Index. A bestselling historian shows how the British Empire created the modern world, in a book lauded as'a rattling good tale'(Wall Street Journal) and'popular history at its best'(Washington Post) The British Empire was the largest in all history: the nearest thing to global domination ever achieved. The world we know today is in large measure the product of Britain's Age of Empire. The global spread of capitalism, telecommunications, the English language, and institutions of representative government -- all these can be traced back to the extraordinary expansion of Britain's economy, population and culture from the seventeenth century until the mid-twentieth. On a vast and vividly colored canvas, Empire shows how the British Empire acted as midwife to modernity. Displaying the originality and rigor that have made Niall Ferguson one of the world's foremost historians, Empire is a dazzling tour de force -- a remarkable reappraisal of the prizes and pitfalls of global empire. In December 1663 a Welshman called Henry Morgan sailed five hundred miles across the Caribbean to mount a spectacular raid on a Spanish outpost called Gran Grenada, to the north of Lago de Nicaragua. A splendid history ... If Americans want to be convinced of the benefits of empire, as well as apprised of its costs, they need merely pick up Ferguson's dazzling book.- Weekly Standard.