More to come

Maritime Empires are empires with smaller pieces of land which are separated by large bodies of water.  These first began to grow after European exploration in the 1400s.

Common Features:

• Settled in areas that would provide profit to the empire
• Divided power between their lands
• Sometimes established by private investors or joint-stock companies
• Had superior navies compared to land empires
• Maritime empire’s wealth is derived from trade beyond its borders

1450-1750 Maritime Empires

Major maritime empire in this age include:

• British Empire
• Spanish Empire
• Portuguese Empire
• Dutch Empire
• French Empire 

1750-1800

Some of the previous empire shrank or disappeared, while some of the previous era empires grew into news areas in Asia, Africa and Oceania

Empires that Shrank or Disappeared

• Spanish Empire
• Portuguese Empire
• Dutch empire 

Empires that grew

• British empire
• French empire 

New Colonial Powers

• Belgians
• American Empire
• German Empire
• Japanese Empire

1900 - 1946

Most empires maintained their possession through WWII. 

Britain and France gained territory after WWI from the fallen Ottoman empire and the new mandate system. 

After WWII - Decolonization

See also:

• Land based Empires