BRITISH EMPIRE: The Victorian era of the 19th century saw the rise of Britain as the foremost global power, with its territories, under the rule of the revered queen Victoria, encompassing nearly a quarter of the globe. However, both Victoria's death in 1901 and the rise of the newly created German Empire as the dominant power of continental Europe signalled the end of this golden age of British dominance. Victoria's successor, her son Edward VII, while fostering good relations with the countr..