How Britain Controlled the Mediterranean

For over a thousand years, no empire controlled the Mediterranean. Then Britain did — one piece at a time. In this video, we explore how Britain came to dominate every major entrance to the Mediterranean Sea — from Gibraltar in the west, to the Suez Canal in the south, and the Bosporus in the east. A story of naval strategy, colonial expansion, and geopolitical ambition that made Britain the first power since the Roman Empire to hold this position. Chapters: 0:00 Introduction 0:38 Gibraltar 1:36 Suez Canal 3:11 Bosporus & Constantinople 5:29 Britain's Mediterranean Empire Topics covered: How Britain captured Gibraltar in 1704 Why Britain bought shares in the Suez Canal in 1875 The occupation of Constantinople after World War I The Treaty of Sèvres and its consequences How Atatürk ended British dominance in the eastern Mediterranean