The British Empire is a contentious period of history that is coming under increasing amounts of scrutiny. As a key subject for your Key Stage 3 pupils study of ideas, political power, industry and empire: Britain, 1745-1901 section of the National Curriculum and substantial portion of AQA, OCR and Edexcel GCSE specifications, the importance of this topic cannot be overstated.
We have designed the resources below to help your pupils learn, whether they are in the classroom or at home. They will also support and complement a visit. Check out out our British Empire workshop.
Download the Empire Teacher Pack (257 KB, pdf) for helpful information and tips on how these resources can assist in your lesson planning.
The Great Rebellion, 1857
Complied of original sources, the events of the Great Rebellion in 1857 are depicted from multiple points of view.
Warning: this video contains outdated language at approximately 10:56 into the video and graphic descriptions of war that may be unsuitable for young children. Teacher/Parental guidance is strongly advised.
Speech Recordings
Blood, toil, sweat and tears – Winston Churchill, 1940
The below recording is of Winston Churchill’s first speech as Prime Minister. He condemns the Third Reich of Germany and its advancements into Europe, whilst emphasising the survival of the British Empire and all that it stands for.
Excerpt from the Proclamation, by the Queen in Council to the Princes, Chiefs and People of India- Queen Victoria, 1858
This modern day recording is of an excerpt from the speech given by Queen Victoria when the British crown took control of Colonial India from the East India Company. This happened as a result of The Great Rebellion of 1857, also known as the Indian Mutiny or the First War of Independence.
All the below images are from our collection and will enhance students visual understanding of the British Empire. Hover over the image to reveal more information, including a link to further information and more images of the object.
The Pattern 1853 Enfield rifle, known as the P53, was issued to British Empire infantry troops in the mid 1850s. In 1857 the gun was given to Sepoy Indian troops serving for the British East India Company. Rumours quickly spread that the cartridges, which soldiers would have to tear open by biting one end, were greased with beef tallow, pig fat or both. This went agaisnt the belifes of Hindu and Muslim soliders and contributed to the discontent that led to the 1857 ‘Great Rebellion’.
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9 pr howitzer gun 1838 India
This is a howitzer gun (like a very short cannon) that was given to Maharajah Ranjit Singh, leader of the Sikh Empire, as a gift by the Governor-General of India, Lord Auckland in 1838. Auckland wantedr permission for British Indian armies to march across Punjab (part of present day India), with the British hoping to instal a puppet ruler on the throne in Afghanistan. The highly decorated howitzer was used to sweeten the deal. This gun was taken back by the British after defeating the Sikh empire in the First (1845-1846) and Second (1848-1849) Anglo-Sikh wars.
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Execution of mutinous sepoys on the parade, Peshawur 1857 England
This engraving featured in the October 1857 issue of the Illustrated London News. It shows a regimented and organised account of the execution of Sepoy soldiers that were involved in the ‘Great Rebellion’. Executions are clearly taking place via hanging in the image, but there are also executions by cannon taking place that may not be noticed by some viewers. When looking at this image, its place and time of publication has to be taken into account.
Anglo-African relations
Throwing spear - Isijula or Umkhonto 1800-1988 South Africa
An Isikula or Umkhonto is a throwing spear from present day South Africa, and of the type that was used by Zulu warriors during the Anglo-Zulu War of 1879. These spears were thrown towards the enemy, however they were not accurate and often missed.
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Stabbing spear - Iklwa 1800-1988 South Africa
Called an Iklwa, this type of spear was used by Zulu warriors during the Anglo-Zulu War of 1879. The weapon is designed for stabbing and is named after the sound that is made when it is withdrawn from a victim's wound. This weapon was held with one hand and was used for thrusting and slashing. Usually the Zulu warrior held a cow or ox hide shield in the other hand for protection. They were favoured over rifles by the Zulu people.
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Centrefire rifle 1950s Kenya, Africa
This is a homemade rifle that was made by members of the Mau Mau. In the early 1950s Kenya was part of the British Empire. In 1952 an uprising was led by the Mau Mau (the Kenyan Land and Freedom Army) who fought a guerrilla war against European colonialists as well as Africans who were working with the colonial powers. The Mau Mau were poorly armed and resorted to creating their own weapons, like this gun, in order to fight.
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The final repulse of the Zulus at Ginghilovo 1879 England
This is an engraving showing a British cavalry charge at Zulu warriors, at the Battle of Ginghilovo. In the foreground, the Zulu warriors are using animal hide shields and Iklwa spears, while the British are slashing at Zulu warriors with cavalry swords, their rifles strapped across their backs. In the distance British soldiers can be seen firing rifles. The battle resulted in a British victory with the Zulus losing 1,000 men.The British only lost 11 men. This image was published in the Illustrated London News in 1879.
Cetewayo, the Zulu King 1879 England
This is an engraving drawn from life of Cetewayo (1826-1884), the last King of the Zulus. In December 1878 the British offered an ultimatum to Cetewayo, that included disbanding the 35,000 strong Zulu military. Cetewayo rejected the ultimatum and thus the Anglo-Zulu war began. After the war he was restored to the throne by the British as a ‘puppet’ ruler, but his people would no longer follow him and he was driven into exile. He died soon after.
This image was published in the Illustrated London News in 1879.
Lord Roberts in Pretoria, South Africa 1900 New York and London
Lord Roberts (front soldier) was Commander-in-Chief of the British forces during the Second Boer War. Behind him is an Indian soldier. Known as ‘Bobs’, he had a long military career across the Empire. He fought in Afghanistan, India and was known as the ‘hero of South Africa’ for his success leading the British troops in the Second Boer War besides Lord Kitchener, despite the horrific and inhumane methods used in order to achieve this goal. This image was published by Underwood and Underwood in New York and London in 1900.
3 pr muzzle-loading gun 1897 Benin
Not much is known about this gun, apart from it being taken from the Kingdom of Benin (present day southern Nigeria) in 1897, the year of the Benin Expedition. As part of the punitive expedition, British troops captured, burned and looted Benin City, bringing an end to the west African Kingdom of Benin. Art, religious artefacts, weaponry and other goods were looted and sold to European museums. In recent years there have been calls for the pieces to be returned to Nigeria.
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Flintlock military trade musket - India Pattern 1793 England
‘Trade guns’ like this flintlock military trade musket were exported from Britain in the thousands as a valuable commodity. This type of musket was made firstly for the East India Company and then adopted by the Government for manufacture. Firearms were used across the world to trade, including to trade for slaves.
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Lieutenant General Lord Chelmsford 1879 England
This engraving is of Lieutenant General Lord Chelmsford, commander in Chief of the British army in South Africa during the Anglo-Zulu War. He led the expeditionary forces that invaded Zululand and caused the death of 1,300 of his men at the Battle of Isandlwana in 1879 due to lack of organisation. He was heavily criticised but restored his reputation by winning the Battle of Ulundi and winning the Anglo-Zulu War.
This image was published in the Illustrated London News in 1879.
The Anglo-Afghan War
The war in Afghanistan 1880 England
This is an engraving released in the Illustrated London News that depicts British soldiers surrounded by Afghan soldiers in the Second Anglo-Afghan War (1878-1880). The two British soldiers can be seen holding Martini-Henry rifles (Mk. II), with bayonets attached. The war was fought between the British Raj (British India) and the Emirate of Afghanistan, and began with the British invasion of Afghanistan in 1878. Britain hoped to use Afghanistan as a buffer between British India and the Russian Empire.
This image was published in the Illustrated London News 1880.
The British Empire in the First and Second World War
Lance 1860 (approx.) Britain
This Indian lance looks to be similar, but not the exact same as the type of lance used by the 29th
Lancers (Deccan Hore). Lances were used in the first stages of the First World War, however trench warfare began to dominate fighting on the Western Front, lances and cavalry charges became less effective. Unfortunately the exact type of lance used by Indian troops in British service is a bit of a mystery with much more research to be done.
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Indian cavalrymen of the 29th Lancers 1917 France
Indian cavalry regiments were part of the British Empire forces. The pictured 29th Lancers (Deccan Horse) regiment took part in the Battle of the Somme and also saw action in Palestine. The type of lances used by the Indian troops are a little bit of a mystery and more research is needed.
Priest of the SANLC 1917 France
Religion was an important part of life for many soldiers and therefore key to boosting morale. This Christian priest of the SANLC (South African Native Labour Corps) is wearing vestments over his military uniform while he performs religious duties at a camp on the Western Front.
General Wavell inspecting Sigapore defences 1941 Sigapore
General Wavell (second from left) had a long military career and by 1941 was Commander-in-Chief for India. In November 1941, he visited defences in Singapore, to which he declared upon arrival ‘I am here to see my Indians’, referring to the troops deployed in the area. In the image, a soldier of the Dogra Regiment is demonstrating a trench mortar (small piece of artillery). These defences were in anticipation of Japan joining the Second World War and invading Singapore. In February 1942 the Japanese succeeded and 55,,000 Indian soldiers were captured as POWS.
Burma Prepared 1939-1945 Burma
This photograph depicts the Indian Mountain Division preparing for invasion in Burma. The uneven ground meant that mules from Texas were required in order to move guns and equipment in this area. Burma was a British colony at this time and therefore it needed to prepare for defence against Japanese advances that occurred in 1941-1945. Fighting resulted in an Allied win.
