The British Empire was arguably one of the vehicles that enabled the virtual extinction of the slave trade. That must rank fairly high in a list of good things. In India, Suttee and the rigid caste system were broken under British rule, and similar improvements could probably be found for most of the other territories of the Empire. Not to mention the technological and economic improvements that occurred. One thing that is often overlooked when discussing the Empire is that without the advantages of resources, economy and manpower that the Empire brought it is doubtful whether Britain would have been able to stand up to the might of Nazism, and to some extent the ultimate defeat of Nazi Germany in WWII was a result of Britain's having an Empire.