By the 18th century , the LOCATION@1 was one of the world 's busiest waterways , as LOCATION@2 became the centre of the vast , mercantile British Empire and progressively over the next century the docks expanded in the Isle of Dogs and beyond .

By the 18th century , the LOCATION@1 was one of the world 's busiest waterways , as LOCATION@2 became the centre of the very big British Empire .
