BBC
Jeremy Paxman
Empire is a major five-part series presented by one of British television’s most distinguished broadcasters, Jeremy Paxman. It tells the story of the British Empire in a new way, tracing not only the rise and fall of the empire but also the complex effects of the empire on the modern world – political, technological and social – and on Britain.
Jeremy travels to India, the Middle East, Canada, Africa, the Caribbean and the Far East in search of the extraordinary characters, burning ambitions and surprising principles which created an empire four times the size of Ancient Rome’s.
Taking the form of a personal essay, Empire will tell the story of the British Empire in five programmes looking at a single key idea in each.
Episode guide
A Taste for Power looks at the many different ways in which Britain took and held power in the Empire – from naval might to the use of local troops to a calculated display of imperial pageantry and the cult of monarchy.
Making Ourselves at Home looks at how the British created a particular idea of home wherever they conquered and settled; and how many of the millions affected by imperial expansion learned to see Britain as their home.
Playing the Game describes the growth of a peculiarly British type of hero – adventurer, gentleman, amateur, sportsman – and a peculiarly British type of obsession: sport, the Empire at play. Britain spread the gospel of sport through its public schools and throughout the Empire, laying the foundations for almost all the major sports of today.
Making a Fortune looks at how the empire began as a pirates’ treasure hunt, grew into an informal empire based on trade - and slavery - and grew into a global financial network.
Doing Good tells the extraordinary story of how a desire for conquest became a mission to improve the rest of mankind, especially in “darkest” Africa – and how that mission shaded into an unquestioning belief that Britain could - and should -rule the world.
Empire can be seen on BBC One England, Northern Ireland and across the UK on BBC One HD on Monday nights from 27th February 2012 at 9.00pm. For full broadcast details, and links to watch episodes available online, visit bbc.co.uk.
Get your free poster
Order your free Empire poster
The Open University
Follow the link to get your free map wallchart showing the British Empire and how it attempted to adapt to a changing world. Read more : Order your free Empire poster
Create your invite to the event of the centuries
RSVP Empire
The Open University
Take a walk down our RSVP Empire highstreet and you'll find all sorts of goods that originated from the British Empire. Tick items off your... Read more : RSVP Empire
Study Empire with The Open University
Empire: 1492-1975
Course
The Open University / Karen Parker
Explore the astonishing impact empires (British, French, Russian, Chinese and others) have had on the development of the modern world over the last five centuries.This... Read more : Empire: 1492-1975
BA (Honours) History
Course
The Open University / Karen Parker
Explore a diversity of people, places and periods, including the impacts of empires on world history, twentieth-century dictators, history of medicine, and global heritage.With this... Read more : BA (Honours) History
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empire
empire is what has made us what we are today, not just as brits but the world itself changed. free trade, transport, productivty, food, and real democracy theys things were posible because of the dering pianers that were british and anable us now to have so much freedom thats why we are writing over an email john!!!paxo has done a very fair account of the british empire and you maybe need to lean what side your breads butterd on sunshine.
rick the brit
Why no mention of your other empire history course - A200?
Since this is what lead me from Open Learn to this website, I can't understand why your other empire history course A200 is not mentioned.
Is it that the themes/structures of the courses are different?
Not quite true?
I've not studied either A200 or A326 but both are mentioned in your Empire poster, so why not here?I note that A326 is more suitable for the BBC's Paxo series Empire.
In the first episode I thought that Paxo's badgering of the Indian pensioner at the club to say that the British Empire was not all bad, was unacceptable. Only the good manners of the old gent put Paxo in his place, ie second rate. It reminded me of the worst excesses of Palin who travels the world so that he can mock those he finds.
Is the bullying in the OU's script or is it all down to Paxo's bad manners? I was uneasy with his sort of apologist for Empire attitude, constantly trying to get the natives to praise the British Empire, did the OU know about this in advance? Even if they did not, why are you happy to allow this to go out under the OU's flag?
Interviews and multiple perspectives in the series
Dear John,
Thank you for your comments. It is always interesting to see how differently people can perceive the same thing.
Our perception is that Jeremy sometimes presses the point to see just how far an interviewee's views go.
By persisting, and testing the limits, this can sometimes allow the interviewee's viewpoint to be made even clearer.
It can test the limits of their position, or alternatively uncover any nuances.
But we appreciate knowing that, for you at least, the persistence on this occasion seemed more intrusive than elucidatory.
Taken over the whole series, a significant number of people with negative, as well as positive, impressions of empire have been interviewed and their interviews selected for inclusion.
These include people who tried, in some cases successfully, to kill British forces and colonial officers. As such, and taken in the broader sweep of issues such as the legacy in Palestine and record over opium and slavery, we hope you will see a great variety of views and ideas.
Thank you too for the suggestion of highlighting our History course A200 Exploring History: Medieval to Modern, with its units on Nations and Empires.
Karl Hack, Course Chair of A326 'Empire'.
Hi John, Many thanks for your
Hi John,
Many thanks for your comment.
Unfortunately, sign up for A200 (Exploring history: medieval to modern 1400-1900) isn't availble yet and our academics felt that the programme relates more to course A326 - Empire: 1492 - 1975.
Thanks again John and I hope you are enjoying the programme.
OpenLearn Moderator
Paxman Empire
Have you actually mentioned the DATES of transmission? Not obviousto me!!
hope this helps
Empire can be seen on BBC One England, Northern Ireland and across the UK on BBC One HD on Monday nights from 27th February 2012 at 9.00pm. For full broadcast details, and links to watch episodes available online, visit bbc.co.uk .