The British empire 🇬🇧 #british#empire#war#history#USA. The British Empire was one of the largest and most influential empires in world history, spanning several centuries and covering territories across every inhabited continent. It began in the late 16th century with England’s early overseas ventures and expanded rapidly during the 18th and 19th centuries through exploration, trade, colonization, and conquest. At its height in the early 20th century, the British Empire governed nearly a quart