This topic explores how Britain's expanding empire between 1688 and c.1730 transformed its economy, society, and urban landscapes, with a particular focus on migration patterns. The period begins with the Glorious Revolution (1688), which established a constitutional monarchy and a more stable political environment for imperial expansion. Britain's empire grew through trade, naval power, and colonisation, especially in the Caribbean, North America, and India. The empire brought immense wealth through commodities like sugar, tobacco, and textiles, but also relied on the brutal transatlantic slave trade. This wealth fuelled the growth of ports like Bristol, Liverpool, and London, which became hubs for trade and migration.

Urban environments changed dramatically as a result of imperial trade. Cities expanded rapidly, with new docks, warehouses, and factories. Migration was central to this growth: thousands of people moved from the countryside to cities for work, while others came from Ireland, Scotland, and continental Europe. Additionally, enslaved Africans were forcibly transported to the Americas, and some free Black people lived in Britain. The topic examines how these diverse groups shaped urban life, creating new social hierarchies, cultural exchanges, and tensions. Understanding this period is crucial because it laid the foundations for modern Britain's multicultural society and global economic role.

This topic fits into the wider OCR GCSE History course by connecting themes of power, economy, and social change. It links to studies of the British Empire, the development of towns and cities, and the experiences of different groups within society. Students will analyse primary sources such as maps, population data, and contemporary accounts to understand how empire and migration reshaped Britain. The topic also encourages critical thinking about the costs and benefits of empire, including the human suffering behind economic growth.