Cover of The Growth of the British Empire by Margaret Bertha Synge, Volume V of the The Story of the World Series
The Story of the World Series · Volume V

The Growth of the British Empire

by Margaret Bertha Synge

6h 25m
Duration
1903
Published
Listen with Membership Browse the Library
About This Audiobook

The Growth of the British Empire, Book V in M. B. Synge’s Story of the World series, covers the period from the end of the Napoleonic Wars (around 1815) to the early 20th century (up to about 1903). It traces the remarkable expansion of British influence across the globe following the Battle of Waterloo, detailing how Britain consolidated and grew its colonial holdings through exploration, settlement, trade, and military campaigns. The book highlights key developments in Canada, Australia, South Africa, and India, as well as the opening of trade with China and Japan, while addressing challenges such as the Indian Rebellion (1857) and the Crimean War.

Synge also recounts broader international events that shaped the era, including revolutions in South America and Mexico, the unification of Italy and Germany, the American Civil War, the exploration of Central Africa (with figures like Livingstone), the Boer War, and the Greek and Italian struggles for independence. Written in the series’ engaging narrative style, the volume emphasizes themes of adventure, leadership, technological progress, and imperial responsibility, portraying the British Empire’s growth as a story of enterprise, resilience, and global interconnectedness suitable for older students and families interested in modern history.

Meet the Author
Margaret Bertha SyngeBritish historian, biographer, and author · 1861 – 1939

Margaret Bertha Synge was a British historian, biographer, and author of popular educational books for children and young readers. Born into a clerical family as the daughter of Reverend Francis Synge and Margaret Harkness, she grew up in an environment steeped in learning and faith. She never married and dedicated much of her life to scholarship and education, eventually earning recognition as a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society, an honor that reflected her contributions to historical studies.

Synge is best remembered for her engaging, accessible histories that brought the past to life for young audiences. Her most acclaimed work, A Book of Discovery: The History of the World's Exploration from the Earliest Times to the Finding of the South Pole, remains a classic. She also authored the multi-volume Story of the World series (including titles like On the Shores of the Great Sea, The Awakening of Europe, The Struggle for Sea Power, and The Growth of the British Empire), along with A Short History of Social Life in England, Great Englishwomen, and other instructional volumes. Many of these were illustrated by her brother, the etcher Edward Millington Synge, blending narrative flair with careful scholarship.

As a director of various schools and a prolific writer, Synge excelled at making complex historical topics compelling and straightforward for children. Her works emphasized exploration, British history, and social life, aligning with the educational ideals of her era. Though no known photograph of her survives, her legacy endures through the enduring popularity of her books in public domain collections, libraries, and homeschool curricula focused on living history. She died unmarried in 1939, leaving behind a substantial body of work that continues to inspire curiosity about the past.

In This Volume
  1. Paideia Introduction3:01
  2. How Spain Lost South America6:59
  3. The Heroes of Independence8:37
  4. The Greek War8:56
  5. Victoria—Queen of England8:08
  6. The Great Boer Trek8:15
  7. The Story of Natal8:57
  8. The Story of Canada8:54
  9. The Fur-Traders' Land6:42
  10. The Winning of the West8:34
  11. A Great Arctic Expedition8:55
  12. Discoveries in Australia10:08
  13. The Last King of France10:11
  14. Louis Kossuth and Hungary9:13
  15. The Crimean War10:41
  16. The Indian Mutiny10:54
  17. The Awakening of Italy7:28
  18. King of United Italy8:25
  19. Civil War in America10:33
  20. The Mexican Revolution7:21
  21. Founding the German Empire8:09
  22. The Franco-German War11:39
  23. The Dream of Cecil Rhodes7:48
  24. The Dutch Republics of South Africa9:30
  25. Livingstone's Discoveries in Central Africa10:37
  26. China's Long Sleep10:01
  27. The Land of the Rising Sun8:04
  28. Japan: Britain's Ally6:46
  29. Russia8:41
  30. The Annexation of Burma10:10
  31. The Story of Afghanistan7:45
  32. The Empire of India9:04
  33. Gordon—The Hero of Khartum10:00
  34. The Redemption of Egypt10:49
  35. The Story of British West Africa10:07
  36. The Story of Uganda9:53
  37. The Founding of Rhodesia8:52
  38. British South Africa7:46
  39. The Dominion of Canada7:34
  40. Australia—the New Nation9:21
  41. Freedom for Cuba8:14
  42. Reign of Queen Victoria7:44
  43. Welding the Empire8:41
  44. Citizenship7:36

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