Final answer:
The period between 1690 and 1821 is critical in history for witnessing the formation of Great Britain and the expansion of the British Empire, as well as significant population growth in the North American colonies.
Step-by-step explanation:
The period from 1690 to 1821 encompasses numerous significant historical events that help define the modern world. This era saw the birth of Great Britain in 1707 following the union of England and Scotland, and the dramatic expansion of the British Empire.
The Empire's wide-ranging influence included the control of trade in India through the British East India Company, dominance in the West African slave trade, and flourishing sugar plantations in the West Indies. Additionally, population growth was significant in the British North American colonies during this period, expanding from 250,000 in the early 1700s to over a million by 1750, comprising both British migrants and enslaved Africans. These settlers formed a near-continuous zone of settlement along the Atlantic coast.