With the help of almost 140 maps and town plans and explanatory texts, this atlas covers a vast area in terms of period and passage of time, geography, place and distance. In addition to Britain's colonial development, it touches on subjects including the changing territorial pattern of empire, exploration, trade, communications and imperial defence, war and conquest, the activities of Britain's missionaries and consuls and the shift of white settlement. `Every student of the subject should possess a copy.' - The Spectator A.N. Porter