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John Cabot was the first person who had crossed the Atlantic from England. After him, other explorer continued this task.
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This gave Britain the chance and de confidence to develope her own influence in different continents.
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English settlers founded Virginia the first permanent colonie in North America. Caribean islands were also taken by Britain during the 1600´s.
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Bengal, in the northeast of India, came under the control of the East India Company, and then other areas followed.
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Britan and France were on opposite sides, and when Britain and her allies won, France had to give Britain most of her land in North America.
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Even losing the american colonies when they decided to fight for their independence could not stop Britain's power growing around the world.
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Betwen this years and 1840, Britain got the control of Australia and New Zealand and many others smaller territories.
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The Cape of good Hope was taken from the Dutch by the British, and then later in the 19th century missionaries and merchants helped to open the wat north into the centre of the continent. By the early part of the 20th century Britain ruled over a quarter of the world.