Resource Pack : Beyond Britain

Despite overseas conflicts such as the Crimean and Boer Wars, Britain built up a fantastic empire throughout the Victorian age. By 1901 Queen Victoria ruled over Canada, the Caribbean, India, South Africa, Australia and parts of East Asia. The empire was huge and brought Britain great respect as well as access to the resources these countries had to offer. For example, tea became a popular everyday drink when it was imported from China and India. The life of children overseas was often very different from the existence of British children. Many did not have a formal education or access to Western medicines. Some people from other countries came to live in Britain during the Victorian age, including children. We know that some European, black and Asian children worked or went to school in this country during the nineteenth century documentary evidence is limited.

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