In 1921 the British Empire reached its peak, ruling 35.5 million square kilometers, nearly a quarter of Earth's land. It was seven times larger than the Roman Empire and one in four people lived under its rule. The empire stretched across the globe so that the sun never set on its territories, always shining on a part of its vast domains. Spanning from Canada to India, Australia to Africa, its legacy endures in shared legal systems, culture, and the global use of English. | The History Archives

History’s first empire built the world’s first cities, created the first writing system, and even invented the wheel. How did such an impressive civilization fall? | TED-Ed