[Wombat101]

"That depends on what your meaning of "empire" is."

We'll put it down as the classical example of holding vast, foreign territories with the direct intention of economic or political exploitation for the benefit of a select class of landed gentry, or a gvernment made up of same.

[ruffedgrouse]

Right. Like the old days when half of Africa was pink on the map; same color as Great Britain. That kind of empire is passe.