The rise and fall of European Empires

The last 200 years as told through four blobs: The British, Portuguese, French, and Spanish empires. I have to say I learned the most about Portugal which by the late 19th century was bigger than Spain and by 1967 larger than France.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EwOA8AfeHM4&feature=player_embedded

Reminded me of the above map from the Strange Maps Blog