Britain's Imperial Century, 1815-1914

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xviii

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2. The Foundations of Power, 1815–1870

   • Ronald Hyam

   Pages 1-73

3. The Motives and Methods of Expansion, 1815–1865

   • Ronald Hyam

   Pages 74-133

4. The Decline of British Pre-eminence, 1855–1900

   • Ronald Hyam

   Pages 134-202

5. The Search for Stability, 1880–1914

   • Ronald Hyam

   Pages 203-279

6. The Dynamics of Empire and Expansion

   • Ronald Hyam

   Pages 280-337

7. Back Matter

   Pages 338-377

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The undisputed best introduction to the history of the world-wide pattern of British activity in the nineteenth century, embracing its expansive spirit as well as its formal territorial empire. The dynamics of this extraordinary enterprise are considered broadly: the high-political concerns of strategy and international geopolitics are analyzed, as well as the economic dimension, missionary activity, and racial attitudes, together with a wide range of cultural aspects, including sport and the pursuit of sexual opportunity. Nor is the personal contribution of some of the leading Victorian figures neglected.

• bibliography
• Britain
• cultural aspects
• dynamics
• empire
• expansion
• foundation
• Great Britain
• history
• history of literature
• pattern
• Victorian era

• Magdalene College, Cambridge, UK

  Ronald Hyam

RONALD HYAM is a Fellow and former President of Magdalene College, and Emeritus Reader in British Imperial History at the University of Cambridge. He is the author of numerous studies on the British Empire, including Empire and Sexuality and he has edited two volumes for the British Documents on the End of Empire Project. He was awarded the LittD degree in 1993.

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