In 1921 the British Empire reached its peak, ruling 35.5 million square kilometers, nearly a quarter of Earth's land. It was seven times larger than the Roman Empire and one in four people lived under its rule. The empire stretched across the globe so that the sun never set on its territories, always shining on a part of its vast domains. Spanning from Canada to India, Australia to Africa, its legacy endures in shared legal systems, culture, and the global use of English. | The History Archives

Journey through 400 years of history – from the first productions of Hamlet and The Tempest – to understand how Shakespeare’s plays have been transformed for new generations of theatre-goers. | British Library