Trade and commerce
Between 1857 and 1914, Britain used its empire to dominate global trade. British merchants sold manufactured goods abroad and imported raw materials like cotton and rubber to fuel industry at home.
Real World
By the 1880s, India alone absorbed around 20% of all British exports, making it the single most valuable market in the empire; Lancashire textile mills depended on Indian consumers to absorb cloth manufactured from raw cotton imported from the same subcontinent.
Exam Focus
Quantify where possible — citing Britain's share of world trade (~25% by 1870) signals precise knowledge and impresses examiners.
Essay Framework
Use PEEL to structure every paragraph. Tap each step for guidance and an example.
How well did you know this?