Observe Trafalgar Square and its tribute to Sir Horatio Nelson that symbolizes Great Britain's time as a naval and colonial superpower leading up to the 20th century

NARRATOR: The statue and column of Admiral Horatio Nelson in Trafalgar Square symbolize Britain's emergence as the world's greatest naval and colonial power. The colonial empire spread British culture and language around the world to North America, Africa, Asia, Australia, and the islands of the Pacific.

But Britain's position as a colonial superpower began to erode early in the 20th century and was drastically eclipsed during World War II.