The British Empire: A source for good or evil? February 2014 | 页面 22

Anna BORER

Economies :
Britain and its colonies
We often say the Brirish Empire helped its colonies to become developped
nations but …
How did Britain become rich and powerful ?
Britain did not steal its colonies. It made trading so it could take advantage of all the
exotic products of Africa, Asia and America. Britain had colonies all over the world
which means very diversed ressources.The main importation were grain (wheat), fish,
potatoes, tobacco, wood (lumber), furs, coal, and ores like gold and silver.
Britain took an important part in the triangular trade, as shown in the picture below.

▲ Map of the exchanges of England in the triangular trade
It was domination through trading ; Britain exchanged british-made goods for raw
materials or slaves. This picture shows the trading with the african colonies but it was
the same with India and the other colonies (though they weren't slavering the people).