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Historians often review the empire through two lenses. Some highlight the spread of the Industrial Revolution , global trade stability ( Pax Britannica ), and the eventual abolition of slavery. Others, like historian Caroline Elkins, emphasize a "legacy of violence," documenting systematic brutality, forced labor, and economic exploitation in colonies like Kenya and India.

At its peak in the 1920s, the British Empire was the largest in history, covering roughly and ruling over 400 million people . british

It began with 16th-century trading posts and grew through naval dominance, controlling territories in North America, Africa, India, and Australia. Historians often review the empire through two lenses