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The Wrong Empire

Simon Schama traces the steps of the empire-makers, asking how a trading enterprise based on the idea of liberty became an empire built on slavery.

Simon Schama traces the steps of the empire-makers to tell the extraordinary story of how this small set of islands came to rule an empire that stretched around the globe. How did a trading enterprise based on the idea of liberty become an empire built on the enslavement of millions of Africans? How did Britain lose control of its own colony - America - yet go on to conquer India? On a journey that takes him to Barbados, North America, Canada and India, Schama reveals how Britain came to rule 'the wrong empire'.

59 minutes

Last on

Wed 22 Mar 2023 02:40

Credits

Role Contributor
Presenter Simon Schama
Executive Producer Martin Davidson
Producer Ian Bremner

Broadcasts

  • Tue 29 May 2001 21:00
  • Mon 11 Jun 2001 21:00
  • Tue 12 Jun 2001 00:45
  • Thu 21 Jun 2001 02:05
  • Sat 8 Sep 2001 10:00
  • Sat 8 Sep 2001 13:00
  • Sat 8 Sep 2001 16:00
  • Sat 9 Nov 2002 20:10
  • Fri 31 Dec 2004 09:00
  • Sat 23 Mar 2013 10:00
  • Thu 21 Aug 2014 21:00
  • Fri 22 Aug 2014 03:00
  • Wed 27 Aug 2014 00:00
  • Tue 21 Mar 2023 21:00
  • Wed 22 Mar 2023 02:40

Quiz: How's your British history knowledge?

Quiz: How's your British history knowledge?

Quiz featuring seven key moments between 3000 BC and 1603 AD from the first series.

Quiz: Can you answer these seven history questions?

Quiz: Can you answer these seven history questions?

Quiz featuring seven key moments between 1603 and 1776 from the second series.