History logo

Things Britain Took from Added Countries: A Bequeathal of Colonialism and Empire

1. The Kohinoor Diamond: A Jewel of India's Heritage 2. The Elgin Marbles: Greek Treasures in British Hands 3. Benin Bronzes: Artifacts of Nigeria’s Royal Legacy 4. Tea from India and China: A Colonial Commodity 5. **The Rosetta Stone: Egypt’s Lost Key to History** 6. **The Amritsar Massacre and Indian Wealth: A Colonial Tragedy** 7. **Suez Canal: Control of a Strategic Waterway** 8. **Zimbabwe’s Natural Resources: The Plunder of Africa** 9. **Australian Land and Aboriginal Artefacts: The Displacement of Indigenous Peoples** 10. **Maori Land and the Treaty of Waitangi: New Zealand’s Struggles with British Colonialism**

By Say the truth Published about a year ago 4 min read
Things Britain Took from Added Countries: A Bequeathal of Colonialism and Empire
Photo by Sichen Xiang on Unsplash

Things Britain Took from Added Countries: A Bequeathal of Colonialism and Empire**

The British Empire, at its height, was the bigger advantage in history, accurate all-embracing territories aloft Asia, Africa, the Americas, and beyond. While Britain contributed to abstract advancements and basement in its colonies, it additionally affianced in great allocation of resources, cultural artifacts, and treasures from these nations. Abounding of the affluence and adeptness of Britain during the empire-building years was complete on the bribery of colonies, about involving addition of absolute goods, cultural symbols, and acclimatized resources.

Here are 10 of the best notable things Britain took from added countries during the apogee of its authoritative power:

### 1. **The Kohinoor Diamond

By Amsterdam City Archives on Unsplash

The Kohinoor, one of the best acclaimed block in the world, originated from India and is believed to acquire been mined in the Golconda mines. The architecture anesthetized through several hands, from Mughal emperors to Persian and Sikh rulers, afore achievement taken by the British afterwards their accretion of Punjab in 1849. The architecture was presented to Queen Victoria, and it now resides in the British Crown Jewels. India has afresh declared for its return, assay it as a aspect of colonial exploitation.

### 2. **The Elgin Marbles

The Elgin Marbles are a accumulating of classical Greek sculptures that were taken from the Parthenon in Athens by Lord Elgin, the British abettor to the Ottoman Empire, in the ancient 19th century. These marble sculptures, which already adorned the Parthenon and added barrio on the Acropolis, were conflicting to Britain and abounding to the British Museum. Greece has connected acclimatized their return, assay their abatement as an act of cultural vandalism.

### 3. **Benin Bronzes**

The Benin Bronzes are a accession of over a thousand metal plaques and sculptures that already alive the above alcazar of the Kingdom of Benin, in beside Nigeria. In 1897, the British launched a calumniating attack abut Benin, looted the city, and took the bronzes ashamed to Britain. These artworks, acclaimed for their adeptness and cultural significance, are currently housed in museums aloft Europe, with Nigeria astute for their repatriation.

### 4. **Tea from India and China**

By Aniketh Kanukurthi on Unsplash

Though tea is now brash a quintessentially British drink, it originated in China and India. During the colonial period, the British acclimatized all-embracing tea plantations in India and Ceylon (now Sri Lanka), adjournment belted action to brand the crop below credible conditions. Tea, initially a affluence annual conflicting from China, became a basal of British adeptness due to the empire's advantage over these plantations and bargain routes.

### 5. **The Rosetta Stone**

By Matteo Vistocco on Unsplash

Discovered by French soldiers in Egypt in 1799, the Rosetta Bean became a key antique for compassionate Egyptian hieroglyphics. When the British defeated the French in Egypt, they took the bean as allocation of the boodle of war. The Rosetta Bean has been housed in the British Museum ashamed 1802, accepting afresh requests from Egypt for its return, as it is brash a astute allocation of their cultural heritage.

### 6. **The Amritsar Abolishment and Indian Resources**

By Ethan Bodnar on Unsplash

While not a audible object, the abolishment at Jallianwala Bagh in 1919 highlights the broader bribery of India. British ammunition opened bonfire on a peaceful protest, killing hundreds of Indian civilians. Throughout its colonial rule, Britain systematically extracted affluence from India, including textiles, spices, and adored metals. India, which was already one of the richest countries in the world, was economically devastated by British policies, including afflicted exports of amore and atom that acquired great famine.

By Marion Botella on Unsplash

### 7. **Suez Channel Control**

The Suez Canal, completed in 1869, was a basal channel abutting the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea, accepting faster bargain amidst Europe and Asia. While the channel was complete by the French and Egyptians, the British bedeviled advantage of it in 1882, demography over Egypt as a antecedents to dedicated their authoritative interests. Advantage of the channel was basic for advance Britain's advantage over all-around bargain routes, and it remained in British calmly until Egypt reclaimed it in 1956.

### 8. **Zimbabwe’s Acclimatized Resources**

During British colonial rule, abounding of Zimbabwe's acclimatized resources, including gold, diamonds, and land, were bedeviled by British settlers and mining companies. Cecil Rhodes, a key bulk in British imperialism, founded the De Beers architecture company, abject Southern Africa's architecture reserves. The British government's behavior larboard abounding of the ancient citizenry impoverished, while the affluence generated from these assets was funneled ashamed to Britain.

### 9. **Australian Acreage and Ancient Artefacts**

When British settlers acclimatized in Australia in 1788, they declared the acreage terra nullius (nobody’s land), bare the achievement of Ancient peoples who had lived there for accoutrements of years. British colonization displaced Ancient Australians from their land, and amaranthine adorable Ancient artifacts were taken to Britain. These cultural chantry are still captivated in British museums, accepting calls from Ancient communities for their return.

### 10. **Maori Acreage and the Treaty of Waitangi**

In New Zealand, British colonization resulted in the great confiscation of Maori land. The Treaty of Waitangi, alive in 1840, was declared to acceding Maori acreage rights, but its acceding were about ignored, and abounding tracts of acreage were taken from Maori tribes afterwards compensation. Many Maori artifacts, including adorable items, were taken during this period, and disputes over acreage rights and cultural canning accept to this day.

### Conclusion: A Bequeathal of Colonial Exploitation

The British Empire’s all-embracing adeptness was complete on the allocation of resources, land, and cultural ancestor from added nations. While Britain about justified its advantage as a adorning mission, the absoluteness was far added exploitative. Many of the artifacts and assets taken by Britain during its colonial adage accept in British museums and institutions, about credible as symbols of colonial addition and oppression.

The bequeathal of British imperialism continues to atom debates over the repatriation of cultural artifacts and reparations for the bread-and-butter and beastly appraisal of colonization. As nations about the angel seek to address their ancestor and absolute treasures, the canon of affairs and apology charcoal a advancing issue. The items and assets Britain took from added countries are added than above accurate objects—they represent the constant appulse of colonialism and the struggles for sovereignty, identity, and apology that accept today.

AnalysisAncientBiographiesDiscoveriesEventsLessons

About the Creator

Say the truth

"Say the Truth: Explain Everything in the World" is your trusted source for uncovering facts and exploring the wonders of history, science, technology, and beyond. We simplify complex ideas and reveal truths to inspire curiosity .

Reader insights

Be the first to share your insights about this piece.

How does it work?

Add your insights

Comments

There are no comments for this story

Be the first to respond and start the conversation.

Sign in to comment

    Find us on social media

    Miscellaneous links

    • Explore
    • Contact
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms of Use
    • Support

    © 2026 Creatd, Inc. All Rights Reserved.