The war also caused a massive buildup of the American military, challenging Britain's primacy at sea.ĭuring the cataclysm that followed thereafter - World War II - the weakened Empire found itself virtually alone against the might of Nazi Germany.

During the long, bitter struggle Britain lost a shockingly large portion of its adult male population, weakening its ability to project its power abroad. The Empire continued to expand, however, and by 1820 the Queen ruled over 200 million people, 26% of the world's total population.Īlthough it was not clear at the time, World War I dealt a death blow to the Empire. Britain suffered a huge reverse in the disastrous American Revolution of 1776 (largely brought about by governmental incompetence), and shortly thereafter the Napoleonic wars saw the Empire locked in a battle to the death with the great French warlord Napoleon Bonaparte.

In the late eighteenth century the Empire faced a number of critical challenges. Behind its unmatchable navy, over the next two centuries Britain spread its power across the world, acquiring vast territories in India, Australia, Africa, Asia, North America and the Caribbean. The British Empire was to be one based on trade and control of the seas. But by 1700 England had emerged from chaos and merged with Scotland to become 'Britain,' and thus was born one of the greatest empires the world had ever seen. A huge power struggle ensued between the nobility and the monarchy, culminating in the bloody English Civil War. The years following Elizabeth's death were extremely turbulent for the nation. Her reign ushered in two centuries of British exploration, colonization, and artistic and intellectual advances. Queen Elizabeth I (1558-1603) would prove to be one of the world's great leaders. The sixteenth century saw England's rise to prominence as a world power. There would be a number of battles for the throne in the subsequent centuries, but the country would remain united. The Norman invasion reintroduced many elements of Latin culture that had been lost in the Germanic invasions. But the English domination was fleeting the subsequent Norman Conquest (1066) resulted in the subordination of England to a Frankish aristocracy, and the introduction of feudalism to the Isles. The first political entity that could rightly be called 'England' formed out of the efforts of the kingdom of Wessex to unite the island against the invasion of Danes and Vikings in the 9th century. The Romans would hold England for some four centuries, and following the collapse of the Empire the islands would see an onslaught of invasions from various Germanic tribes that would last for centuries. Monarchy further allows for the expending of an early Great Builder to construct Himeji Samurai Castle and make its offense even more viable in the Ancient and Medieval Eras.īritain first enters Western history when the British isles were invaded and conquered by the Romans in the first century AD.

Add to that, that English ships trump non-English ships with double naval support and 1 more attack, and the fact that Longbow Archers are effectively Pikemen, and England can be a powerhouse very easily, priming them for a Domination Victory! You are also very likely to get David (a Leader) due to your lower technology count and already having Monarchy. Knights are a powerful melee unit available with Feudalism after researching just Horseback Riding and Monarchy. Add to this the extra production from hill tiles, and England becomes a decent contender for Cultural Victory.īecause they start with Monarchy, the English are able to get access to Knights by researching Feudalism. This accelerates the arrival of Great People, especially early in the game. The knowledge of Monarchy increases the output of culture as the Palace culture is doubled. Monarchy is the first government the English have. England is a civ with a military focus, as well as a strong culture.

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