Commonwealth of Nations: Map & History
The Commonwealth of Nations, often referred to as the British Commonwealth or simply the Commonwealth, is an international association of 56 member states, the vast majority of which are former territories of its predecessor, the British Empire.
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The Commonwealth of Nations, often referred to as the British Commonwealth or simply the Commonwealth, is an international association of 56 member states, the vast majority of which are former territories of its predecessor, the British Empire. They are connected through their use of the English language and their cultural and historical ties. Its chief institutions are the Commonwealth Secretariat, focusing on intergovernmental relations, and the Commonwealth Foundation, focusing on non-governmental relations between member nations. Additionally, numerous intergovernmental and civil organisations are officially recognised by the Secretariat.
Modern Countries Once Part of Commonwealth of Nations
At its mapped extent, Commonwealth of Nations covered territory in 4 present-day countries. The period shown is when the mapped borders include that country, and the note says how much of it.
- Bermuda2000–2024 CE · nearly all
- South Georgia and the Islands2000–2024 CE · nearly all
- United Kingdom2000–2024 CE · most
- Falkland Islands2000–2024 CE · a large part
Largest Present-Day Cities in Its Territory
Each opens on the live map inside Commonwealth of Nations's borders of that time.
Derived by testing mapped cities against this polity's dated territorial polygons, so the list is indicative and follows the borders in the source dataset.
Commonwealth of Nations in Depth
History
Queen Elizabeth II, in her address to Canada on Dominion Day in 1959, pointed out that the Confederation of Canada on 1 July 1867 had been the birth of the "first independent country within the British Empire". She declared: "So, it also marks the beginning of that free association of independent states which is now known as the Commonwealth of Nations." As long ago as 18 January 1884 Lord Rosebery, while visiting Adelaide, South Australia, had described the changing British Empire, as some of its colonies became more independent, as a "Commonwealth of Nations". Conferences of British and colonial prime ministers occurred periodically from the first one in 1887, leading to the creation of the Imperial Conferences in 1911.
The Commonwealth developed from the imperial conferences.
Economy
During the Second World War, the British Empire played a major role in supporting British finances. Foreign exchange reserves were pooled in London, to be used to fight the war. In effect, the United Kingdom procured £2.3 billion, of which £1.3 billion was from British India. The debt was held in the form of British government securities and became known as "sterling balances". By 1950, India, Pakistan, and Ceylon had spent much of their sterling, while other countries accumulated more. The sterling area included all of the Commonwealth except for Canada, together with some smaller countries especially in the Persian Gulf. They held their foreign-exchange in sterling, protecting that currency from runs and facilitating trade and investment inside the Commonwealth.
Culture
Commonwealth countries share a common culture which includes the English language, sports, legal systems, education and government. These commonalities are the result of the association's heritage, having developed out of the British Empire. Symbols of the Commonwealth include the Commonwealth Flag and Commonwealth Day. Remembrance Day is commemorated across the Commonwealth. Celebrations for Guy Fawkes Night take place in some countries.
Writing about the Commonwealth, Kenyan academic Ali Mazrui posited, "in the ultimate analysis, what could a New Zealander have in common with a Jamaican or a Zambian, if not the bonds of a shared British-ness?"
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Commonwealth of Nations (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Commonwealth of Nations: Key Facts
| Official language | English |
|---|---|
| Founded | 11 December 1931 |
Preceded by
Facts from Wikidata Q7785 (CC0).
Commonwealth of Nations: Frequently Asked Questions
When did Commonwealth of Nations exist?
Commonwealth of Nations is dated to 2000 CE – 2024 CE, in the Industrial era.
How large was Commonwealth of Nations at its peak?
At its peak in 2024 Commonwealth of Nations covered about 287,030 km².
Other Sovereign Realms
Early Modern & Age of Discovery • Capital: Söğüt, Bursa, Edirne, Constantinople
Industrial Era • Capital: London
Early Modern & Age of Discovery • Capital: Agra, Fatehpur Sikri, Lahore, Delhi
Early Modern & Age of Discovery • Capital: Raigad