Cover -- Contents -- Preface -- Map 1 The British Empire in 1815 -- Map 2 British India c.1757-1947 -- Map 3 European possessions in Africa, 1914 -- 1 Introduction: what was British imperialism? -- 2 What was the nature of imperialism in the early nineteenth century -- 3 What was the nature of British rule in India, c1770-1858? -- 4 'New Imperialism' and 'Gentlemanly Capitalism' did the flag follow trade? -- 5 What were the motives and effects of colonisation and migration? -- 6 Collaboration and resistance: was the Empire held by coercion or co-operation? -- 7 Colonial discourse: was there an ideology of imperialism? -- 8 Was the British Empire racialist or racist? -- 9 What was the significance of gender to British imperialism? -- 10 The Great War: watershed or continuity? -- 11 How did British imperialism meet the challenges of the inter-war years? -- 12 What effect did the Second World War have on British imperialism? -- 13 Decolonisation after 1945: how did British imperialism end? -- 14 What was the cultural legacy of imperialism? -- Chronology -- Notes -- Select Bibliography -- Index.