ABSTRACT
In some ways, the colonial empire which the English built in the Americas had differed little in its origins and basic structures from those of its European rivals. For, aside from obvious differences in the timing and location of their development, the European American empires shared some fundamental similarities. All originated in the explorations and activities of small groups of individuals in search of trade, plunder and land, rather than in the initiatives of governments or ventures sponsored by the state. Similarly, although the English empire is frequently regarded as unusually diverse in character, each of the European empires drew on a spectrum of different interests and created within itself a wide range of distinctive colonial economies and societies. Another shared feature of European colonialism was its destructive ecological impact. To a greater or lesser extent, all the empires had catastrophic consequences for the native peoples whose lands they occupied or exploited; similarly, all became involved, in one way or another, in the inhuman commerce in slaves, which carried millions of Africans into lives of slavery. Finally, all were essentially maritime empires, dependent on communications by sea both to build and to sustain the links between the parent powers and their colonial possessions, and dependent on naval power to defend themselves against their competitors.
