Expert: Joseph Logue - 1/1/2006

Question
WHY DID BRITAIN WANT AN EMPIRE?

Answer
Hi Ashleigh,

I'm sorry to say that the question is simply too broad.  Very simply, all nations with aspirations to power want (or wanted) to construct empires for many reasons:  power, prestige, economic, missionary, "civilizing," increase of trade, among others.  Britain was part of the group of nations that, toward the end of the 16th century, began to take to the seas in order to increase their holdings around the world.  These nations included Spain, Holland, France, and Portugal.

I guess you could say that Britain wanted an empire because all the other nations wanted one.  That might be a bit glib, but that doesn't make it less true.  If you can narrow your question a bit, perhaps I can give you a more concise answer.

Thanks for visiting AllExperts Ashleigh

Sincerely,

Joseph Logue