From the sixteenth century the Britain began to colonise large parts of the world, mainly for economic and trading purposes. By the middle of the nineteenth century, the British Empire had spread across enormous areas of Africa,Asia and the Caribean,as well as Canada,Australia and new Zealand(and, until the War of Independence in 1776, America).

Over the last hundred years, and particularly since the independence of India in 1947, nearly all the countries that were once in the Empire have become independent of Britain,and have formed a loose organisation of states known as the Commonwealth.

Only a few,such as Gibraltar and the Falkland Islands remain as dependencies of Britain.

There are fifty three states within the Commonwealth a combined population of 1.7 billion,nearly a quarter of the total population of the world. Heads of government and minister of these states meet and consult regularly on a number of matters from trading relationships to cultural and sporting exchanges. The Queen i srecognised as the Head of the Commomwealth. In seventeen countries-- including Canada and Australia-- she is also Head of State. Some countries,like Zimbabwe and India, are republics, and a few, like Brunei and Tonga,have their own royal families.

注释: colonise v.拓殖, 殖民

commonwealth 联邦,共和国

Gibraltar 直布罗陀(西班牙南端港市, 英国直属殖民地)

Falkland Islands 福克兰群岛[南大西洋](即马尔维纳斯群岛)

Zimbabwe 津巴不韦

republic 共和国；共和政体

Brunei 文莱[亚洲]

Tonga 汤加[大洋洲]
关键字:欧美文化
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