The British Empire is unique in world history. How did this small island come to rule a full quarter of the globe? No other nation has matched this achievement.

The British Empire evolved over centuries, but it began to blossom in its greatest age: the reigns of Queen Elizabeth I (from 1558 to 1603) and King James I (from 1603 to 1625). Despite bitter religious struggles within and threats from nations such as Spain without, this era not only sowed the seeds of the nation’s later accomplishments but marked its greatest cultural achievement: the works of Shakespeare. It was also the age of Sir Francis Bacon, whose insights into scientific reasoning and experimentation laid the groundwork of modern science.

Durant also tells how from 1642 to 1649, England experienced a great civil war, pitting forces loyal to King Charles I against the Puritans, who sought to purge English Christianity of its Catholic elements and establish a republic. The Puritans won, Charles was beheaded, and for the first and only time in the nation’s history, it was governed by representative government without a monarch. This period (known as the Protectorate, after its leader, Oliver Cromwell, who governed as Lord Protector) marked a critical shift in the relations between the English Crown and people that resonates today.

Every educated person needs to understand this great epoch, which Will Durant, in his monumental history The Story of Civilization, calls “the English ecstasy.” In his account, excerpted here, he explores every facet of this fascinating era with brevity, insight, profundity, and wit. Sixty years later, Durant’s portrait of England remains unparalleled for its accessibility and enjoyability. An excerpt from his The Story of Philosophy (also included) shines a spotlight on the crucial figure of Francis Bacon.

Specially for this edition, author and philosopher Richard Smoley provides a foreword highlighting the context of this period. He also offers a helpful exploration of Bacon’s approach to scientific reasoning, which is known as the inductive method.

The richness and vitality of England 400 years ago furnishes a story that is more fascinating than any thriller. Durant is our ideal guide to this time.