The British Empire

Information pertinent to George Orwells On Shooting an ElephantThe British Empire and BurmaHistory of the British EmpireThe sun never sets on the British Empire

By 1922, largest empire in the history of human civilization458 million people (1/5), 33,700,000 km2(1/4)

Serious decline after WWII 1940s Independence of India and partitioning of Pakistan and creation of the state of Israel1950s Suez Canal crisis1960s-1980s pulled out of Africa1990s Return of Hong Kong to China

19th C. Map of the British EmpireConsider the following mapHow does the map reflect the mentality of the British towards their colonies?How is this mentality reflected in On Shooting an Elephant?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5FD8npN6Fsk 5Myanmar (Burma)Many different ethnic groups moved into region over timeOften at war both internally and externallyFell to war with British in mid-19th C.Transformed from agrarian society into industrial societyTensions between the in-groups and the out-groups were exaggeratedOrwell there from 1922-27Gained independence in 1948Under various military regimes from 1962-2010Currently undergoing democratization