Order your free Empire poster

Copyrighted imageCredit: The Open University Order your free poster

If you've enjoyed Jeremy Paxman's journey around Empire for BBC One and The Open University, why not order our free wallchart? The map shows how the Empire was invented as a Commonwealth, and explores how the idea of Empire was sold to a nation, the colonies and the world.

If you experience any difficulties ordering online, you can also call 0845 366 8021.

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Empire on BBC One

Study Empire with The Open University

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The Empire

Paul Worrall

20 Nov 201213:51

Our empire is full of amazing stories of adventure, of war, of greed and plunder, cruelty and courage, heroism and low cunning. It explains so much about who we are now, yet we usually seem to pretend it never happened.

Full credit to Paxman for making this programme. Brillliantly shot and very enjoyable.

I will be ordering a poster very shortly. Also if anyone would like a similar poster to the one you can buy, I have recently had a Christopher Saxton map enlarged upto A0 and printed online and it came out brilliantly. The company was called (External website removed by OpenLearnn Moderator 21.11.12)

Thanks

Paul

Hello, I ordered the free

Isabelle Smith

06 Jul 201209:14

Hello,

I ordered the free poster but instead received a little map of London Streets in 1898.
Not sure what went wrong?

Regards,

Isabelle.

Hi Isabelle, Can you possibly

Openlearn Moderator

09 Jul 201213:52

Hi Isabelle,
Can you possibly send your details to the openlearn mailbox (openlearn@open.ac.uk) and I will forward it onto the warehouse for the correct item.
Apologies for the mix up.
Many thanks
OpenLearn Moderator

Empire Wallchart. Many Thanks !

Andrew Brix

11 Jun 201217:24

Dear Moderator,

Many thanks for the wallchart which arrived here in Switzerland today, as you promised. It is a fine background document to Jeremy Paxman's recent series on Empire, which refreshingly turned historical "truths" and attitudes which I was taught in the 1950s and 60s pretty much on their head.

Could I make a request please? It turns out that I have been supplied with this poster only on an exceptional basis, since free OU material is not normally supplied outside the UK. This I can perfectly well understand. I am well acqainted with the OU teaching fees structure and understand the constraints you must be working under.

OU / BBC series are however widely available outside the UK and are rightly well appreciated.

There is - so far as I am aware - no message in the closing titles of the programmes, nor is there an announcement regarding this geographical restriction. I am sure I am not the only non-UK viewer to have wished for the wallchart.

I found the answer I received regarding supply outside the UK somewhat patronizing particularly as I had had to extract it from you ! I wonder how many other non-UK viewers found themselves in the same situation ?

Could not a suitable message “Not available outside the UK” be included in the closing titles and / or the audio announcement at the end of episodes of future series (to which I look forward) ?

I’ve been an OU student since the 1970s. I have great respect for the OU and the quality of its distance learning, and have always said so when the occasion arose.

Best regards,

A. C. Brix
11.6.12

Empire wallchart

Andrew Brix

03 Jun 201219:23

Thank you. Details arriving separately as requested. Regards, A. C. Brix

Empire wallchart (for the second time of asking)

Andrew Brix

31 May 201216:41

I successfully ordered the Empire wallchart 28 March, that is, over three months ago. It has not arrived.. The reference number is 17712832.
I left a request on this website on 20 May, and the following day got a promise from someone nameless (but using my first name with inappropriate familiarity ) promising to request the warehouse to despatch the chart.
Either this was not done, or it was done and not followed up, because the wallchart has not arrived.
Nobody is available to answer the phone. (More lost time)
Is there a problem because I am not resident in the UK ? No conditions are mentioned in the closing titles of the episodes of Empire.I will gladly defray postage charges if this is your problem.
If you really cannot supply the wallchart, then please say so. My student profile is up to date and you have my e-mail address.
I’ve always been a strong advocate of the OU since my earliest course in the 1970s. I am now just a rather disappointed customer.
Hoping to hear from you.

A. C. Brix

Dear Mr Brix, Can you please

Openlearn Moderator

01 Jun 201209:35

Dear Mr Brix,

Can you please e-mail openlearn@open.ac.uk with your full postal address and in this instance we will send you a poster (we only supply free material to those living in the UK). I'm afraid we cannot access your address from your student profile as OpenLearn does not come under Student Services.

Please be aware that it is a long weekend in the UK and so we will not be able to send the poster until Wednesday of next week (06/06/12).

Many thanks
OpenLearn Moderator

Empire wallchart

Andrew Brix

20 May 201210:24

Dear OU:

I successfully ordered the Empire wallchart 28 March, that is, getting on for three months ago,.and have not received it yet. Is there a problem because I am not resident in the UK ? The reference number is 17712832. Looking forward to hearing from you. A. C. Brix

Hi Andrew - I will contact

Openlearn Moderator

21 May 201210:00

Hi Andrew - I will contact the warehouse for you and ask them to re-send your poster.
Many thanks
OpenLearn Moderator

Poster on its way?

K Edwards

20 Apr 201216:28

Just as with the Frozen Planet poster, there seem to be some hitches in the shipping department. I successfully ordered my poster on 13 March, receiving confirmation number 17591865, but it has not yet arrived. Is it on its way?

Cheers

Hi, I've sent your reference

Openlearn Moderator

26 Apr 201210:29

Hi,
I've sent your reference number to our warehouse who will check to see when it was sent off. As soon as they reply I will let you know.
Many thanks
OpenLearn Moderator

Missing order.

Jai Chhibber

28 Apr 201217:51

Successfully ordered my poster on the 20-Mar-2012 and still haven't received it yet, order number is 17646140. Is it on it's way?

Big Omissions from Wallchart - and Programme!

Mark Henniker

02 Apr 201210:39

Whatever happened to the 'first' British Empire - namely, the 13 'original' North American States? There seems to be nothing in the poster to reflect this and nor was there in Paxman's very incomplete and disjointed programme - for example, missing out Burma, especially right now what with the fascinating story of Gen. Aung San and his amazing daughter, and the quite extraordinary history of the Brooke family of Sarawak (the 'White Rajah') was a massive oversight - either. And there were various British 'owned' States on and towards the US western seaboard well into the 19th Century (e.g. Oregon, Washington etc.) in addition. I don't suppose that the many south-eastern US States, where they still call the UK "the old country" even today, would appreciate being left out by Paxman and the poster anyway!

As a history of the BE (and, hence, the origins of the multi-State BC), this was an exceedingly selective and evidently highly opinionated and idiosyncratic version, so typical of Jeremy Paxman, and for anyone interested in the subject I would seriously recommend Lawrence James's "The Rise and Fall of the British Empire" (1994, Abacus) instead. Much fuller - and better! A poor, and even misleadingly simplistic, effort by the BBC, I thought. But at least Paxman's final message, as regards modern British schoolchildren specifically needing to be taught about the BE if only in order to understand the highly 'multicultural' UK as of today, was 100% right.

British North America

K Edwards

20 Apr 201216:50

While I cannot comment on what the poster does or does not display (hasn't arrived yet), I must agree that I found the treatment of the whole of British North America in the otherwise excellent series rather light to absent. While I certainly could see why Jeremy would prefer spending time filming in warm India over the typical snowbound scenes they reserve for North America, especially Canada, I must say that I found the absence of a lot of North American history, both Canada and the United States, rather puzzling.

Canadians are still members of the Commonwealth. Indeed, we didn't formally get our own Bill of Rights until 1960, succeeded by the more effective Charter of Rights and Freedoms in 1982. And Queen Elizabeth remains the Head of State, represented by a Governor General. Land-wise, Canada remains the largest single country within the British Commonwealth and therefore, its predecessor, the Empire. I believe it was claimed to be India in the show.

I suppose the Empire was just too big to cover in a single series ;-) ... or maintain once the plundering was done.

Mapping Error

Chris Locke

29 Mar 201210:06

Well, I have successfully ordered and received my poster, and apart from one thing, I think it’s excellent!

The one thing… On the copy of the original from the Empire Marketing Board, the Falkland Islands are clearly part of the British Empire, but Oh Dear, on the Key Map, Messrs Jordison have left the Falklands the same colour as Argentina!

Now that is simply not Cricket!!

Hi Chris, Thanks for your

Openlearn Moderator

29 Mar 201211:55

Hi Chris,

Thanks for your eagle-eyed observation.

The top part of the map depicts the Empire and The Falklands are quite rightly coloured red. The bottom half depicts the Commonwealth and as The Falklands don't have dominion-hood they are ineligible for membership of the Commonwealth which is why they are in yellow.

Many thanks Chris

OpenLearn Moderator

can't order map

Darren Cooper

20 Mar 201213:26

Yes the online map ordering is not working and looking at other posts you need to call the number. However, you are not given a reference as indicated and you are not told what to press after leaving the message , so it would appear the messages are not actually saved. i tried pressing the hash after the message which i think worked. A pretty shoddy system.

Hi Darren, There is a problem

Openlearn Moderator

21 Mar 201212:20

Hi Darren,

There is a problem with the pathway if you are using Internet Explorer (other browsers seem to work ok) and our IT dept. have been informed. I have asked for a note to be placed on the page so other users are aware of the problem.

If you can please send your contact details to openlearn@open.ac.uk I can arrange to send out a poster to you. On this particular poster we are not giving out reference numbers for phone requests so you may find you have two posters arriving.

Thanks Darren and I hope you enjoy the poster.

OpenLearn Moderator

Hi Darren, There is a problem

Openlearn Moderator

21 Mar 201212:16

Hi Darren,

Thanks Darren and I hope you enjoy the poster.

OpenLearn Moderator

The Guardian's comments are here

John Higham

13 Mar 201213:01

http://www.guardian.co.uk/tv-and-radio/tvandradioblog/2012/feb/28/jereme...

Oh dear, Paxo gets a stuffing.

Still it was a silly jolly, very lightweight, biased ( I expected him to quote from Kipling - the Empire's apologist) or Michael Bates blacked up (browned up?) bearer, who thought he was English, in It Ain't Half Mum!

empire poster

Julie Haqncox

29 Feb 201210:56

i am having the same problem, enter my postcode, press proceed then nothing!!

Hi Julie, Please call the

Openlearn Moderator

29 Feb 201211:35

Hi Julie,

Please call the number that is under the poster at the top of the page - 0845 366 8021. Please make a note of the reference number you will be given just in case you don't receive the poster.

Many thanks
OpenLearn Moderator

Empire poster

Terry Holmes

28 Feb 201218:11

Do you actually reply to posts on this site?

Empire poster

Terry Holmes

28 Feb 201218:10

Similar problems to other posts. Entered postcode and hit return to access address. Couldn't proceed from there. Any suggestions?

Hi Terry, Please call the

Openlearn Moderator

29 Feb 201211:36

Hi Terry,
Please call the number that is under the poster at the top of the page - 0845 366 8021. Please make a note of the reference number you will be given just in case you don't receive the poster.
Many thanks
OpenLearn Moderator

Empire Poster

STUART CHATTERTON

28 Feb 201210:48

Me too - nothing happening after the postcode

Hi Stuart, Please call the

Openlearn Moderator

29 Feb 201211:34

Hi Stuart,

Please call the number that is under the poster at the top of the page - 0845 366 8021. Please make a note of the reference number you will be given just in case you don't receive the poster.

Many thanks
OpenLearn Moderator

Empire Poster

Nicky Bainbridge

27 Feb 201223:23

I have the same problem - nothing happening after entering my postcode!!

Hi Nicky, Please call the

Openlearn Moderator

29 Feb 201211:33

Hi Nicky,
Please call the number that is under the poster at the top of the page - 0845 366 8021. Please make a note of the reference number you will be given just in case you don't receive the poster.
Many thanks
OpenLearn Moderator

Empire poster

Mark Granelli

21 Feb 201218:25

I have tried to sign up for the free Empire poster but the order form does not work. Is this item not yet available?

Hi Mark, I've just been

Openlearn Moderator

22 Feb 201210:22

Hi Mark,
I've just been through the process and it seems to be working now - it may have been a bit of a blip in the system.
Please try again and if you are still having problems let us know and we will try to solve it for you.
Many thanks and I hope you enjoy the programme.
OpenLearn Moderator

Empire poster

Mark Granelli

22 Feb 201216:49

Thanks for your response. I am still unable to proceed with an order for the poster. After entering my postcode and clicking Proceed nothing happens.

I've experienced the same

Timothy Havenith

28 Feb 201212:40

I've experienced the same issue in the past. Sometimes it seems to be due to high usage of the site. It may be worth trying a different web browser though?

Publication details

Originally published: Monday, 20th February 2012
Last updated on: Monday, 20th February 2012

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Image 'Order your Empire poster' - Copyright: The Open University

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