The Second British Empire

At its peak, the British Empire spanned the world and linked diverse populations in a vast network of exchange that spread people, wealth, commodities, cultures, and ideas around the globe. At the turn of the twentieth century, this empire, which made Britain one of the premier global superpowers, appeared invincible and eternal. This compelling book reveals, however, that it was actually remarkably fragile. Noted historian Timothy H. Parsons uses vivid detail to tell the story of how Africans, Asians, Arabs, and West Indians brought about the unexpected demise of the seemingly invincible and eternal British Empire by refusing to be treated as inferior imperial subjects. He also explains why the empire"s most significant legacies are new cultures and norms in Britain and the Commonwealth that arose from its global networks of commerce, migration, and cultural exchange.