How was Great Britain able to conquer half the world with such a small population? The population in 1750 was 5.7m.

英国是如何用这么少的人口征服半个世界的？1750年英国人口只有570万。

以下是Quora网友的评价：

Alistair Henderson

Britain between the 16th and18th centuries had a very strong mercantile culture which spawned absurdly powerful corporations. These had enough wealth to form private armies largely drafted from the countries they were operating in. The number of actual Brits who stomped around conquering and subjugating people was tiny. There just weren't that many Brits around, and most of those were peasants working the land on the British Isles.

Britain didn't conquer India. A corporation (The EIC) did, largely with Indian troops.

16世纪至18世纪的英国有非常强大的商业文化，催生了一批强大到离谱的公司。这些公司有足够的财富组建私军，这些军队大多是从他们经营地国家招募的。到处征服和征服别人的真正的英国人很少。当时英国人口不多，大多数都是在不列颠群岛上种地的农民。

英国并没有征服印度，征服印度的是一家公司(东印度公司)，主要依靠的就是印度军队。

Combine the vast corporate wealth and rampant mercantilism (which created the motive to control resources) and you have a potent mix. The British of the era were extremely savvy when it came to adapting HOW they conquered to the most efficient way possible. Full-frontal assaults were always a last resort. They'd bribe or buy-off a warlord, engineer a civil war, etc. In a lot of cases, they just went in and persuaded the leaders of the country that suzerainty to Britain was in their best interest. In a lot of cases, all it took for Britain to conquer a country was one man with a sharp tongue and a chest of gold.

Chuck in a highly professional, technologically advanced navy, and a ruthlessly efficient (and surprisingly corruption-free) bureaucracy, and you have the means to maintain and and control a disproportionately large Empire.

将巨额的企业财富和疯狂的重商主义结合起来，这是一个强有力的组合。那个时代的英国人在用最高效的方式改造征服方式方面非常精明。正面进攻只会被作为最后的手段。他们会贿赂或收买军阀，策划内战等等。在很多情况下，他们会说服这个国家的领导人，让他们相信认英国做领主最符合他们的利益。在很多情况下，英国征服一个国家只需要一张尖牙利嘴和一箱金子就够了。

拥有一支高度专业、技术先进的海军，以及一个效率极高(而且没有腐败)的官僚机构，你就有办法维持和控制一个庞大的帝国。

I am not glorifying or celebrating Empire, nor am I particularly proud or nostalgic about it. I’m just answering the question asked as factually as possible. It’s amazing how easily those things are conflated. Yes, bad things happened via Empire. No, I am not belittling, downplaying or condoning any of it. Yes, you’re entitled to hate modern British people, Europeans or even White people for their historical colonial Empires. But, yes, I am entitled to consider you a moron for it.

可能真实地回答你的问题。但这些东西太容易被混为一谈了，我没有贬低、淡化或宽恕任何一件事。是的，你有权因为历史上的殖民帝国憎恨现代英国人，欧洲人，甚至所有白人。但我也有权因此认为你是个白痴。

Michael Betcher

Mr. Ferguson’s answer is more complete but I would like to add an observation from James Morris in his/her magisterial trilogy on the Raj known as “Pax Britannica.” Morris wrote that the early representatives of the East India Company insinuated themselves very well into the regional cultures where they were stationed. They learned local languages, often married or cohabitated with local women, and otherwise came to understand — and thus work well with — local power structures. Morris says this began to change later when officers of a more established EIC began to bring their memsahibs along with them, living apart from native communities and in many cases severing the close relationships with and understanding of local culture. When the cultural ties began to fray things like the Sepoy Rebellion began to occur. This theory seems largely valid to me.

Ferguson先生的回答更为完整，但我想补充James Morris在他/她的权威三部曲《大英帝国的和平》中的描述。莫里斯写道，东印度公司的早期代表很好地融入了驻扎地的文化。他们学习当地语言，与当地妇女结婚或同居，并逐渐了解当地的权力结构，与之展开了良好的合作。莫里斯说，后来，当东印度公司的管理层开始带着太太一起去到印度生活时，这种情况开始变化了，他们远离当地社区，切断了与当地文化的密切关系和对当地文化的理解。当文化纽带开始出现摩擦时，印度兵叛乱等事件就出现了。我认为这个理论在很大程度上是正确的。

Nitin Kumar

Great Britain's ability to establish a vast colonial empire despite its relatively small population in the 18th century (1750) can be attributed to a combination of factors:

18世纪(1750年)，虽然人口相对较少，英国还是建立了一个庞大的殖民帝国，这可以归因于以下几个因素：

Industrial Revolution: The Industrial Revolution, which began in the late 18th century, provided Britain with a significant technological and economic advantage. It led to advancements in manufacturing, transportation, and agriculture, making Britain more efficient and productive. This economic power allowed Britain to fund and support its colonial ventures.

工业革命：始于18世纪末的工业革命为英国提供了重要的科技和经济优势，带来了制造业、运输业和农业的进步，提高了英国的生产效率和生产力。这种经济实力让英国有能力资助和支持其殖民冒险。

Naval Supremacy: Britain had one of the most powerful navies in the world during this period. Its naval dominance enabled it to control crucial sea routes, establish naval bases worldwide, and protect its colonies. The Royal Navy's superiority was a key factor in maintaining control over far-flung territories.

海军霸权：当时英国拥有世界上最强大的海军之一，英国的海军优势使其能够控制重要的海上航线，在世界范围内建立海军基地，保护殖民地。皇家海军的实力正是保持英国对遥远地区控制力的关键因素。

Colonial Strategies: Britain employed various strategies to maintain control over its colonies. These included indirect rule, where local rulers were allowed to govern under British influence, as well as the establishment of trade monopolies, which ensured a steady flow of resources back to Britain.

殖民策略：英国采用各种策略来维持对殖民地的控制，包括间接统治，允许地方统治者在英国的影响下进行统治，以及建立贸易垄断，确保资源稳定地流向英国。

Economic Exploitation: British colonies were often exploited for their valuable resources, such as spices, minerals, and agricultural products. These resources were crucial for Britain's industrialization and economic growth.

经济剥削：英国殖民地的资源经常被英国剥削，如香料、矿产和农产品。这些资源对英国的工业化和经济增长至关重要。

Technological Advancements: Britain was at the forefront of technological advancements, including advancements in weaponry and transportation. This technological superiority gave British forces an edge in conflicts with less advanced societies.

科技进步：英国处于科技进步的前沿，包括武器和运输的进步。这种科技优势可以使英国军队在与欠发达地区的冲突中占据优势。

Global Trade Networks: Britain's strong position in global trade networks allowed it to establish and expand its colonies. The British East India Company, for example, played a significant role in India's colonization and control.

全球贸易网络：英国在全球贸易网络中的强大地位使其能够建立和扩大其殖民地规模。例如，英国东印度公司在印度的殖民和控制中发挥了重要作用。

Political Organization: Britain had a well-organized government and administrative system. It could efficiently manage and govern its colonies through the British Empire's bureaucratic structures.

政治机构：英国有一个组织有序的政府和行政体系。它可以通过大英帝国的官僚结构有效地管理和治理其殖民地。

Geographical Advantage: Britain's geographical location, as an island nation, offered protection from continental European powers and facilitated its naval dominance.

地理优势：作为一个岛国，英国的地理位置为抵御欧洲大陆列强提供了保护，并促进了其海军优势。

Alliances and Diplomacy: Britain formed alliances with other European powers at times to bolster its colonial efforts. Additionally, diplomatic negotiations and treaties often played a role in expanding or maintaining its colonial holdings.

联盟与外交：英国也会和其他欧洲大国结盟来加强其殖民努力。此外，外交谈判和条约也常常在扩大或维持其殖民领土方面发挥了重大作用。

Cultural Influence: British culture, language, and institutions were often introduced or imposed in their colonies, further solidifying their control and influence.

文化影响：英国的文化、语言和制度也经常在殖民地强行推广，进一步巩固了英国的控制和影响。

It's important to note that while Britain did conquer a vast colonial empire, this expansion was not without resistance, conflicts, and controversies. The impact of colonization on indigenous populations varied widely, with both positive and negative consequences. Britain's colonial legacy continues to shape the world in various ways today, and the historical factors mentioned above played a crucial role in its ability to establish such a vast empire with a relatively small population in the 18th century.

值得注意的是，虽然英国确实征服了一个庞大的殖民帝国，但这种扩张并非没有阻力、冲突和争议。殖民化对土著居民的影响差别很大，既有积极的后果，也有消极的后果。今天，英国的殖民还继续以各种方式塑造着世界，上面提到的历史因素在其在18世纪建立这样一个人口相对较少的庞大帝国方面发挥了至关重要的作用。

James Knight

Because we are a badass people who have ambition, pluck and skill, not to mention and arrogant self confidence that is probably unwarranted. We often don’t take NO for an Answer and this mentality is still with us today as shown by our Brext shenanigans, we don’t shy away from confronting larger country’s and don’t shy away from using military force to get our way, and we often used ruthless tactics to crush our enemies, that’s how a small island built the largest empire in history.

因为我们是一群有野心、勇气和技能的人，更不用说还有可能毫无根据的傲慢自信。我们经常不愿接受否定的答案，这种心态今天仍然存在，我们不回避与大国的对抗，不回避使用军事力量来达到我们的目的，我们经常使用无情的策略来粉碎我们的敌人。

Meki UNSW

A large incredibly well-trained navy, a homeland which was therefore unconquerable, clever people to invent guns and clocks and steam engines earlier and better than almost anyone else, a large merchant marine to raise money, an attitude that didn’t accept, didn’t even consider defeat, and clever invasion tactics

一支训练有素的海军，一个不可征服的家园，聪明的英国人比其他人更早发明出了枪支、钟表和蒸汽机，一支庞大的商船队搜集资金，一种不接受失败、甚至不在意失败的态度，还有巧妙的侵略战术。

Margaret Garside

It depends on who you ask:

If you ask Anthony Quinn, it’s because they have discipline.

If you ask Omar Sharif, it’s because they have guns.

If you ask Alec Guinness, it’s because they have a navy.

这取决于你问的是谁了：

如果你问安东尼·奎因，那是因为他们有纪律。

如果你问奥马尔·沙里夫，那是因为他们有枪。

如果你问亚历克·吉尼斯，那是因为他们有海军。

Robert Theobald

Our military capability was superior to that of nations we subdued, our Musketry was the best at the time. And we had some notable military leaders, two are the Wellesley brothers, Richard , and his younger brother Arthur. They came to the fore in the early 1800’s really, but were accomplished earlier.

Richard was a bold, fearless, and courageous leader, who loved to catch his enemies knap. Arthur was similar in character, and later excelled himself at the Battle of Waterloo of course, but many times before that.

Our military discipline, our Soldiers using the method of firing in Ranks, capable leaders, all allowed us to win over Armies that were much larger. Of course, we used subterfuge, outright lying, and Bribery as well. It is not all Glory, the story of Empire.

我们的军事能力强于被我们征服的国家，我们的火枪在当时是全世界最好的武器。我们有一些有名的军事领袖，比如韦尔斯利兄弟，理查德和他的弟弟亚瑟。他们在19世纪早期声名鹊起。

理查是一个大胆无畏、英勇无比的领袖，他喜欢对敌人穷追猛打。亚瑟的性格也很相似，后来在滑铁卢战役中表现出色，但在那之前就战功赫赫了。

我们的军事纪律，士兵使用列队射击的方法，富有才干的领导人，这些都让我们得以打赢比我们大得多的军队。当然，我们也使用了诡计、欺骗和贿赂等手段。帝国的故事并不完全是荣耀。

Paul Irving

A quarter, not half.

Apart from that, John Ferguson’s pretty much right. Most of the troops who conquered India for the HEIC & Britain were Indian & paid with money made in India.

Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, the several sheikdoms which now make up the UAE, & Oman were persuaded to accept a few British officials who handled their foreign affairs, but were otherwise self-governing. Same in some other places.

And a mixture of those methods accounts for much of the rest.

One colony (Sarawak) was actually conquered by a naval officer (James Brooke) who went a bit rogue in the early 1840s & ended up running the place. His family were “white rajas” until WW2. But always loyal to Britain, & British governments accepted the arrangement.

Ruthless pragmatism can get you a long way.

只有四分之一，还没到一半。

除此之外，John Ferguson的观点基本上是正确的。大多数为东印度公司和英国征服印度的士兵都是印度人，用的也是印度制造的钱。

科威特、巴林、卡塔尔等组成阿联酋的几个酋长国和阿曼被成功游说，接受了一些英国官员来处理外交事务。其他地方也是如此。

有一个殖民地(沙捞越)其实是被一个海军军官(詹姆斯·布鲁克)征服的，他在19世纪40年代早期有点流氓，最终统治了这个地方。他的家族在二战前都是“白人王公”。他始终忠于英国，所以英国政府也接受了这个事实。

冷酷无情的实用主义可以让你走得更远。

David Pritchard

It DIDN’T actually do a lot of actual “conquering”. It was mostly about trade & both sides benefiting. Alliance with small - or not so small - local rulers, guaranteeing their defence, &c. “Gunboat diplomacy” was a part of it - the Navy being the world’s biggest & best for a long period. Army was often largely locals, particularly in India.

英国其实并没有真正“征服”很多地区。主要还是通过开展了贸易，让双方都从中受益。和较小或中等规模的地方统治者结盟，保障他们的国家防务等等。“炮舰外交”正是其中之一—英国海军在很长一段时间里都是全世界最大最好的。英国的军队大多都是当地招募的士兵，尤其印度。