[xzins]

Great Britain was the dominant world power for centuries and entirely without the help of any union with European countries. In fact, it was the competition with those countries that made them great.

[Cronos]

Great Britain was the leader among world powers only from 1753 when they defeated the French in NA and defeated the Marathas in India. They became the predominant power only from the defeat of Napoleon 1815. THey lost this during WWI, so it was about a century, not "centuries"

also, their rise to dominance is heavily endebted to the Dutch -- they learned from the Dutch and then, callously stabbed the erstwhile teachers in the back with the Anglo-Dutch wars.

[Cronos]

Great Britain was the leader among world powers only from 1753 when they defeated the French in NA and defeated the Marathas in India. They became the predominant power only from the defeat of Napoleon 1815. THey lost this during WWI, so it was about a century, not "centuries"

also, their rise to dominance is heavily endebted to the Dutch -- they learned from the Dutch and then, callously stabbed the erstwhile teachers in the back with the Anglo-Dutch wars.

They did form this "union" with the Dutch and then allied with various other powers to keep checks on other powers.