The Victorian era began on June 20, 1837, when Queen Victoria was crowned monarch of Great Britain. This marked the beginning of a great and prosperous era for Britain: the Victorian era. Commercial expansion in Britain grew significantly due to a number of factors. The creation of factories greatly accelerated the production of cheap and standardized goods. The colonization of foreign lands allowed the importation of different products into Britain, which expanded the economy and the number of industries involved in it. The expansion of different industries within the British economy has allowed the economy to grow and develop. Commercial expansion during the Victorian era was caused by the establishment of factories, the colonization of foreign lands and the expansion of different industries within the British economy. Factories were built for the use of machines, greatly speeding up the production of cheap and standardized goods. which could be sold to the British population. Early machines were powered by water wheels and factories were located near fast-flowing rivers to provide power. Over time, the power sources of these machines were mainly replaced by steam, which increased the output and efficiency of the machines. The invention of steam greatly improved Britain's primary industries, such as textiles, metallurgy, and other manufactured goods. Factories, along with steam engines, created huge amounts of jobs for people to work in factories. This led to an expansion of trade within Britain, which allowed Britain to become the most powerful economic power of its time. After the British defeat in the American War of Independence, nearly one hundred thousand people...... middle of paper..... .ods from around the world and integrated them into the British economy. The expansion of different industries has led to growth in the British economy and the creation of many jobs, which has increased the standard of living of the people. All of these factors brought about commercial expansion during the Victorian era and contributed to its being remembered as one of the greatest and most prosperous eras in British history. Works cited Crouzet, François. The Victorian Economy. New York: Columbia UP, 1982. Print. Corey, Melinda and George Ochoa. The Encyclopedia of the Victorian World: A reader's companion to the people, places, events, and daily life of the Victorian era. New York: Henry Holt and, 1996. Print “The Rise of Technology and Industry.” Bl.uk. The British Library Board, nd Web. .