Empires can fall like a house of cards

I was reading analysis about the drama that the US president started recently in the UK when he came out in support of independence for North Ireland and how it has rekindled independence movements in Scotland and Wales. Some commentators believe it could lead to a break-up of the United Kingdom, eventually leaving England all on its own.

In 1920, around the time my grandparents were born, the British Empire was near its peak and covered 35,500,000 square km or 24% of the landed area of Earth . A century later and it has collapsed to the point that semi-serious people are entertaining the idea that England, Scotland and Wales may split apart. This would leave behind England, the now tiny heart of the former empire at only 132,932 sq km. In not even three generation, the greatest empire the world ever seen is close to having lost over 99% of its land.

The lesson for all of us is that we should not underestimate the amount of change that is possible in our lifetimes. We need to be mentally and practically prepared for anything and not be emotionally over-invested in the status quo.