British Imperial Trading Routes (pages 328-329)

Britain developed its imperial expansion thanks to the domination of the seas. There were several safe harbours  in the Gulf of Guinea.

Trading posts in Malaysia provided access to the Strait of Malacca, the gateway to China. Another route to China was possible with the annexation of Falkland Islands.

In 1869, with the opening of the Suez Canal, the interests in the Mediterranean increased and British controlled these routes thanks to the acquisition of Cyprus, the military occupation of Egypt and many protectorates in Somalia and Aden.

Further evidence of British influence was the adoption of Greenwich Mean Time for fixing world time zones. The growth of Christian missionary societies contributed to spreading British customes and structures all over the world.