How did the British Empire expand during the Victorian era?

During the Victorian era, the British Empire's expansion was driven by the Industrial Revolution, which shifted trade strategies from buying colonial products to selling manufactured goods and seeking raw materials. This led to the adaptation of colonial areas to serve industrial needs, often involving significant social disruption. The empire expanded through territorial conquests and the establishment of trading networks and maritime bases.123456

Key aspects of this expansion included:
* Economic Adaptation: Colonial areas were reshaped to provide raw materials and food for industrializing nations, sometimes at the expense of local industries.12345
* Territorial Acquisition: While initial aims focused on trading posts, these often became stepping stones for territorial conquest, extending into continental interiors.12345
* Technological Superiority: Advanced Western armaments and technologies facilitated the imposition of will over larger populations.12345
* Informal Empire: Britain also exerted influence through economic and financial dominance, even without direct political control, creating a global economy with an international division of labor.15