Empire: How Britain Made the Modern World - Season 1 Episode 1 : Why Britain?

Season - Episode

1 Season 1 Jan 09, 2003

1 - 1

Why Britain? Jan 09, 2003
1 - 2

White Plague Jan 16, 2003
1 - 3

The Mission Jan 23, 2003
1 - 4

Heaven's Breed Jan 30, 2003
1 - 5

Maxim Force Feb 06, 2003
1 - 6

Empire for Sale Feb 13, 2003

Overview

In this programme we learn about the origins of the British empire in the 17th century and how its foundations were laid, not by a grand political strategy but by British pirates, especially in the Caribbean. The British economic style of reinvesting in places like Jamaica led to commercial success as its raw materials – sugar, tobacco and coffee – were in huge demand back at home in Britain. Seventeenth-century India was a rich nation, producing a quarter of the world's output, so it is no surprise that the major nations fought over it. The British won the seven-year war with France over supremacy in the colonies, thanks to its superior warships and much stronger finances, which left Britain as the controlling force in India. We get a glimpse of how the British lived in India, the central role played by the East India Company, and how a commercial base developed into political control.

Year 2003

Studio Channel 4

Director

Crew

Popularity 0.3875

Language English