The document discusses the definition of an empire and provides examples to analyze whether scenarios depict imperialism. An empire is formed when a country takes over territory belonging to another group. Five hypothetical scenarios between two countries are presented and discussed to determine if they represent empires. Some examples clearly qualify while others represent nuanced situations open to interpretation, highlighting the complexity in categorizing imperialism. The purpose is to have students analyze examples, justify their positions, and develop an understanding of what constitutes an empire.

1. What is an Empire?
Learning aims:
-To be able to define what an empire is.
-To be able to discuss which examples are and are not imperialism.
-Justify my position with an evidence.

2. Language Objective
As we examine the following five scenarios,you will orally defend your
position, using accountable talk and the key Vocabulary:
● Empire
● Colony
● Annex
● Nuance

3. What is this circle?

4. The Suez Canal
• A ship called the “Evergreen” or “Ever
Given” became wedged in the canal.
• It has blocked trade between Europe and
Asia.
• 13% of all World shipping goes through this
small piece of water.
• Where did the canal come from? Why is it
relevant to our topic?

5. The Suez Canal
1) Who built the canal?
2) Who took over in the 1870s?
3) When was it built?
4) Why was it so important to Britain?
5) Why does this make it relevant to the topic
of Empire?

6. The Suez Canal
• France built it.
• In was built in the 1860s.
• Britain took over in 1870.
• The Suez Canal leads from Europe to Asia, and
cut about a month off the journey. Once this
canal was built, it was possible to move soldiers
and boats to and from India. If FRANCE
controlled it, it could stop Britain doing so, which
meant they had to control it to keep India safe.
• It was built to increase trade between European
colonies in Asia (especially French Indochina and
British India) and Europe.

7. In WWI—-
The canal was a vital transport route that allowed Allied shipping to pass
directly from the Indian Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea and Europe,
avoiding the need to travel all the way around Africa and through the South
Atlantic Ocean.

8. Keywords
• Empire – A group of countries owned by 1 country or territory.
• Colony – A country or territory governed by someone else who is
considered alien.
• Annex – To take a part of someone else’s territory.
• Nuance – It is hard to say which is the right or correct action.
Learning aims:
-To be able to define what an empire is.
-To be able to discuss which examples are and are not imperialism.
-Justify my position with an evidence.

9. What is an Empire?
An empire is formed when a country takes over at least 1 piece of territory which
seems to belong to another group of people.
Empires have been around since the start of the human race. The Ancient
Egyptians and Mesopotamians formed empires 4,000 years ago.
Empires can range from small countries invading their neighbours, to rich countries
taking significant territory, such as the British Empire, which owned 25% of the
World, or the Mongol Empire, which ruled from Ukraine in the West to China in
the East. Most empires historically have been one solid area, however European
Empires were unique in that they owned land around the World.
Learning aims:
-To be able to define what an empire is.
-To be able to discuss which examples are and are not imperialism.
-Justify my position with an evidence.

10. What is an Empire?
We are going to look at a series of fictitious scenarios.
For each one we will discuss whether it is or is not an example of
empire or not.Draw this table:
Learning aims:
-To be able to define what an empire is.
-To be able to discuss which examples are and are not imperialism.
-Justify my position with an evidence.
Example: Is it Empire? Why? Why not?
1
2
3
4
5

11. What is an Empire?
In order to be an empire, it is usually the case
that the country taking over needs to seem alien
to the one being conquered. See below:
Crown Principality
of Christina
Proud Republic
of Holy

12. #1: What is an Empire?
These 2 countries agree to join together.
Is this an Empire?
Federated Crown-dependency
of Republican ChrisHoly

13. What is an Empire?
Let us go back to our example.
Crown Principality
of Christina
Proud Republic
of Holy

14. #2: What is an Empire?
In the second example, Holy invades and takes
over part of Christina’s land.
Is this Empire?
Crown Principality .
of Christina
Proud Republic
of Holy

15. What is an Empire?
Let us go back to our example.
Crown Principality
of Christina
Proud Republic
of Holy

16. #3: What is an Empire?
Christina wants Holy’s resources. They stop anyone trading
with Holy and threaten to invade unless Holy sells them to
Christina cheaply.
Is this Empire?
Crown Principality
of Christina
Proud Republic
of Holy

17. What is an Empire?
Let us go back to our example.
Crown Principality
of Christina
Proud Republic
of Holy

18. #4: What is an Empire?
The East of Christina does not like being part of
Christina. It wants to join Holy. Christina won’t
let it. Holy invades and takes over. Is this
Empire?
Crown Principality .
of Christina
Proud Republic
of Holy

19. What is an Empire?
Let us go back to our example.
Crown Principality
of Christina
Proud Republic
of Holy

20. #5: What is an Empire?
Here we have an interesting one. A country has
claimed land. Next door there is a piece of land
with different tribes on it, but none claim the
land.
Crown Principality .
of Christina
Land with different
tribes on it.

21. #5: What is an Empire?
They expand into the land.
Land with
different
tribes on it.
Crown Principality
of Christina

22. #5: What is an Empire?
Eventually they rule it all, and the former tribes
have to listen to the rules of Christina.
Is this Empire?
Land with
different
tribes on it.
Crown Principality
of Christina

23. What is an Empire?
Now we have looked at our examples and filled in our table, we will go
through and discuss the answers.
Some of these are very debatable, so do not worry if you get a
different answer to someone else. There is no right or wrong answer.
Learning aims:
-To be able to define what an empire is.
-To be able to discuss which examples are and are not imperialism.
-Justify my position with an evidence.

24. What is an Empire?
In order to be an empire, it is usually the case
that the country taking over needs to seem alien
to the one being conquered. See below:
Crown Principality
of Christina
Proud Republic
of Holy

25. #1: What is an Empire?
These 2 countries agree to join together.
Is this an Empire?
Federated Crown-dependency
of Republican ChrisHoly

26. #1: What is an Empire?
No. Because the 2 sides clearly BELIEVE they are
similar enough to be 1 country.
Federated Crown-dependency
of Republican Christina

27. #2: What is an Empire?
In the second example, Holy invades and takes
over part of Christina.
Is this Empire?
Crown Principality .
of Christina
Proud Republic
of Holy

28. #2: What is an Empire?
Yes. It is Empire because Christina has not
decided to join. It has been forced or threatened.
This is clearly Empire.
Crown Principality .
of Christina .
Proud Republic
of Holy

29. #3: What is an Empire?
Christina wants Holy resources. They stop anyone trading
with Holy and threaten to invade unless Holy sells them to
Christina cheaply.
Is this Empire?
Crown Principality
of Christina
Proud Republic
of Holy

30. #3: What is an Empire?
Maybe. Christina is certainly acting in a way which
forces its neighbour to get what they want, but they
have not directly taken over. Examples like these are
often referred to as “Indirect Empire.”
Crown Principality
of Christina
Proud Republic
of Holy

31. #4: What is an Empire?
The East of Christina does not like being part of
Christina. It wants to join Holy. Christina won’t
let it. Holy invades and takes over. Is this
Empire?
Crown Principality .
of Christina
Proud Republic
of Holy

32. #4: What is an Empire?
Maybe. In this case there is nuance. It may depend on
different points of view. How many people in Christina want
to join Holy? Does everyone have the same rights after they
join? Are they considered to be part of Holy or a separate
country ruled by them.
Crown Principality .
of Christina
Proud Republic
of Holy

33. #5: What is an Empire?
Here we have an interesting one. A country has
claimed land. Next door there is a piece of land
with different tribes on it, but none claim the
land.
Crown Principality .
of Christina
Land with different
tribes on it.

34. #5: What is an Empire?
They expand into the land.
Land with
different
tribes on it.
Crown Principality
of Christina

35. #5: What is an Empire?
Eventually they rule it all, and the former tribes
have to listen to the rules of Christina.
Is this Empire?
Land with
different
tribes on it.
Crown Principality
of Christina

36. #5: What is an Empire?
Yes. People who previously lived on the land are
now being ruled by a government they didn’t
choose.
Land with
different
tribes on it.
Crown Principality
of Christina

37. Example: Is it Empire? Why? Why not? Explain your answer
1
2
3
4
5

38. What have we learned?
Hand in your table on Google Classroom.
Learning aims:
-To be able to define what an empire is.
-To be able to discuss which examples are and are not imperialism.
-Justify my position with an evidence.

39. What have we learned?
You will be given a piece of paper. On it, I would like you to draw an
image that shows what an empire is.
You are allowed to include up to 3 words in your drawing. Yes, a
number does count as a word.
Learning aims:
-To be able to define what an empire is.
-To be able to discuss which examples are and are not imperialism.
-Justify my position with an evidence.