This map of the British Empire was published in The Graphic in 1886. The Graphic was a weekly newspaper, and differed from most other popular newspapers of the day because it included illustrations. This map of the British Empire tells us a great deal about British attitudes towards imperialism at the end of the nineteenth century.
British territories are clearly marked in pink (the colour that would go on to become the standard colour for British territories on future imperial maps). The global extent of these territories is clear, stretching from Canada to New Zealand via India and Africa. The rest of the world is left blank, as if it has no interest to the reader. Inset is a small map showing the far smaller extent of the empire a century before — even so, the empire had still to reach its fullest extent with new colonies and mandated territories being added after the First World War.
Your organisation does not have access to this article.
Sign up today to give your students the edge they need to achieve their best grades with subject expertise
Subscribe
