Civilisation Royaume Uni et Irlande Programme : 1) The rise and fall of the British Empire 2) The Commonwealth 3) Britain and Ireland? A “special” political relationship 4) Britain and Ireland: economic links 5) British and Irish EU memberships 6) The UK, Ireland and Structural Funds 7) Partnerships and competition in the European and global environment 8) British and Irish regional challenges in an enlarged Europe 9) Foreign exchange and Foreign Direct Investment in the UK and in Ireland 10) British and Irish company structures 11) Key Irish and British business sectors and issues.

1) The rise and fall of the British Empire I) The great landmarks of British Empire.
1783: first steps of the building period.
Plantation of Ireland.
English settlement in North America and Caribbean.
Creation of East India Company to trade with Asia. In the XVIII century: population boom, lack of supplies, especially food. Objective of the implementation in Ireland: supply England with food. Implementation done peacefully at the beginning followed with violence when it became a colonial implementation, imposing a government and influence.
Act of Union (1800): union between Ireland and England. The two Irelands merged into one entity, ruled by England. Lasted till 1920, Ireland was then separated into two parts. Northern Ireland (6 counties) and South Ireland, a free state of 20 counties.
1949: Full fledge Republic.
England built a durable economic relationship with Asia.
Second British Empire: from 1783 to 1815.
Period of struggle and competition. Loss of 13 colonies which became the United States. That was a blow for England.
Followed by a period of Britain Imperial Century (1815-1940).
Britain defeated Napoleon, great power among other countries, strengthened the country. Russia was the main competitor left.
Colonies, expansions brought more territories and people.
Pax Britannica: period of peace in Europe,