英美概况英国扩张(英文版).docVIP

Small Island，Big world As it is a fact that England has been a big country in the world for a long period,not only on the land ,but also on the sea.The British Empire was the largest country at that time,which occupied about 33 million square kilometers,taken up one fifth of the world’s total dry land and about 135 tomes as large as Great Britain.It ruled over a population of 560 million,which was more than ten times as large as that of Britain.It was called an empire “on which the sun never set”.Because on almost all the continents of the world Britain had its colonies that kept the sun can be seen on the sky all the time. Britain’s Overseas Expansion British overseas expansion was clearly part of an older tradition of European empire building.They traced this back to classical Greece and Rome,Spanish and Portuguese expansion following Columbus’ voyage to the new world. Britain’s overseas expansion was begin with several battles against Spanish during Elizabeth ’era.Elizabeth avoided open hostility with Spain,but she secretly encouraged English seadogs to raid Spanish colonies and plunder the Spanish ships that were returning back home to Spain.At first,the Spanish king did not know that Britain was their most dangerous rival or Elizabeth’s intention until Spanish king Philip was at the helm of the state.So ,in 1588,the king dispatched a fleet of 130 vessels which named “the Invincible Fleet ”to England.The fleet sailed up the English Channel and a large naval battle out.The English battleships threw their enemies into panic with fire ships.The badly battered the Spanish’s fleet fled to northward in confusion.Caught in a storm ,many of the Spanish warships died and only half of them survived and went back to Spain,never dare to come to England again. The lost of the war made Spain lose its lead position on the sea,while ,on the other hand,Britian could take over Spanish power became the leader.The victory not only established the position