A colony is a group of people. It is also the name for a country that belongs to an empire.

When a country takes over other countries, it makes an empire. In the past this has mostly been done by force. It is still happening today. When those countries are not attached to the country that has taken them over (the mother country), they become colonies.

Empires have been formed throughout the ages. They happened first in China. The European Age of Discovery from the 15th century, produced many colonies in Africa and the Americas. Colonies were later formed in India and other parts of Asia as well as in Australia and New Zealand.

In recent years many colonies have chosen to part with the 'mother' country and become independent. A few have chosen to remain as colonies.

The largest number of colonies, and the biggest colonial empire, was formed by the British in the 19th century. Many of the countries from that empire still belong to the Commonwealth of Nations today.

Colonies often took up the language of the mother country. This is why so many people around the world speak English, with Spanish, Portuguese and French also being important. Which language is spoken depends on who was the colonial power.