Pax Britannica

Pax Britannica, which means 'British Peace' in Latin (inspired by Pax Romana), refers to a time when the major world powers had mostly peaceful relations. During this era, the British Empire rose as the leading global superpower and took on the responsibility of being a 'Global Policeman'.^[1]

A detailed 1886 map of the British Empire, shown in pink—the traditional color used on maps to represent British dominions

From 1815 to 1914, a span known as Britain's 'Imperial Century',^[2] the British Empire expanded by adding around 26,000,000 square kilometers (10,000,000 square miles) of land and about 400 million people.^[3] Following victory over Napoleonic France, Britain didn't face any major challengers, except possibly Russia in Central Asia.^[4]

Britain's Royal Navy controlled most of the important routes for sea trade and enjoyed unchallenged sea power. Britain's powerful position in world trade meant that it essentially had a firm grip to the access of many regions, such as Asia, North America, Oceania and Africa.^[5] The British also helped the United States maintain the Monroe Doctrine which not only helped maintain peace but also supported Britain's economic strength in the Americas. British merchants, shippers and bankers held a significant advantage over their counterparts from other empires. This advantage, formed an 'informal empire' that boosted Britain's global influence.^[4][6]

References

1. Johnston, Douglas M. (2008). The historical foundations of world order: the tower and the arena. Leiden: M. Nijhoff. ISBN 978-90-04-16167-2.
2. Hyam, Ronald (1976). Britain's imperial century, 1815 - 1914: a study of empire and expansion. London: Batsford. ISBN 978-0-7134-3089-9.
3. Hyam, Ronald (1976). Britain's imperial century, 1815 - 1914: a study of empire and expansion. London: Batsford. ISBN 978-0-7134-3089-9.
4. Porter, Andrew N.; Louis, William Roger, eds. (2009). The nineteenth century. The Oxford history of the British Empire / Wm. Roger Louis, ed.-in chief (2nd ed.). Oxford: Oxford Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0-19-924678-6.
5. Marshall, P. J., ed. (2008). The Cambridge illustrated history of the British Empire (Reprinted ed.). Cambridge: Cambridge Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0-521-00254-7.
6. Cameron, Rondo E., ed. (1991). International banking: 1870 - 1914. New York, NY: Oxford Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0-19-506271-7.