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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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Jeremy Paxman tells the remarkable story of the British Empire and how it shaped life today in the UK, the Commonwealth - and beyond. Read more : OU on the BBC: Empire
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Empire wallchart
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
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?
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
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.
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!
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
The Guardian's comments are here
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
i am having the same problem, enter my postcode, press proceed then nothing!!
Hi Julie, Please call the
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
Do you actually reply to posts on this site?
Empire poster
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
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
Me too - nothing happening after the postcode
Hi Stuart, Please call the
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
I have the same problem - nothing happening after entering my postcode!!
Hi Nicky, Please call the
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
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
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
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
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?