Empire: How Britain Made the Modern World
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About
How did Britain come to rule the world? asks Niall Ferguson in Empire. What would today's world be like now if it hadn't? Could such an organisation – run by, according to Winston Churchill, 'the greedy trader, the inopportune missionary, the ambitious soldier and the lying spectator' – ever have been a force for good?
Cast
Seasons
Episodes
Season 1
Why Britain?
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.
White Plague
The concept of 'plantation' is explored in this programme, yet presenter Niall Ferguson is not referring to crops but the settlement of British people into the colonies. Without this mass white emigration there would have been no empire. Visiting Northern Ireland, the USA and Australia, we explore how the first colonies of the British empire developed. In contrast to the Spanish, the British viewed the colonies as a way to gain land to settle on and use, rather than just conquest and plunder. The east coast of the USA was first settled by puritans wanting religious freedom, including those who sailed on the famous ship 'The Mayflower' in 1620. The combination of cheap land and abundant natural resources made this an ideal location for sugar and tobacco plantations. Niall goes on to describe the American War of Independence a century and a half later.
The Mission
Following the religious revival that started in the late 18th century, missionaries began working in Africa and India in an attempt to bring Christianity and civilisation to societies perceived as heathens. We learn of David Livingstone's adventures in Africa as he attempted to link the three 'C's – Christianity, commerce and civilisation. From his discovery of the Victoria Falls to his famous meeting with Henry Stanley, we follow the career of this fascinating character. Presenter Niall Ferguson also travels to India and examines the changing attitudes towards Indian religions and culture during the 19th century. He also traces the Indian mutiny of 1857 and its brutal aftermath in which thousands were brutally killed.
Heaven's Breed
In this programme we discover how a few thousand British people ruled over India, a country of more than 250 million people and the centre point of the whole British empire. Niall Ferguson demonstrates the vital role played by the Indian army both within India and beyond, and the role of British technology in developing the army and modern Indian cities. Modern-day footage of the hill station at Simla gives us a glimpse of colonial life in late 19th century India. From the early 19th century an elite class of well-educated Indians was encouraged, with men like JN Bose becoming successful lawyers and administrators. In fact, the British administrators were so few in number that it was essential to involve Indian people in their own government. Yet by the end of the 19th century the White Mutiny threatened to end this liberal attitude and ultimately led to a genuine Nationalist movement.
Maxim Force
The 'Scramble for Africa' by competing European nations during the last years of Queen Victoria's reign is the compelling tale of this programme. We learn how 10,000 independent African kingdoms became 40 European colonies over the course of two decades, in a drastic redrawing of the map. Indeed, by 1900 Britain owned half of Africa. No longer dominated by moral and religious concerns, this new era was about power and the economy as the battle for raw materials progressed. Power was in the hands of bankers and industrialists such as Rothschild and Cecil Rhodes, as illustrated by their use of the new Maxim guns to keep any opponents in check. By this stage it was businessmen doing the colonising and not governments.
Empire for Sale
The fall of the British empire is usually attributed to Nationalist groups fighting for independence, yet as Niall Ferguson argues in this final programme of the series, it was really due to the crippling cost of running the empire and financing the two World Wars. He reflects on the achievements and problems of the empire and concludes that in its twilight years Britain did more good than harm in fighting two far worse empires, namely Japan and Germany. Visiting some of the hot spots of the two World Wars and of the campaigns for independence that followed, such as Gallipoli, Istanbul, Suez, Amritsar and Singapore, presenter Niall Ferguson gives us a vivid picture of an empire on its last legs.
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Stream Empire: How Britain Made the Modern World online free in HD on Bowood.TV. A talked-about documentary series originally produced in English and released in 2003, it's earned a solid 0.0/10 from 0 viewers worldwide.
About Empire: How Britain Made the Modern World
How did Britain come to rule the world? asks Niall Ferguson in Empire. What would today's world be like now if it hadn't? Could such an organisation – run by, according to Winston Churchill, 'the greedy trader, the inopportune missionary, the ambitious soldier and the lying spectator' – ever have been a force for good? Across 1 season and 6 episodes, originally airing on Channel 4.
Empire: How Britain Made the Modern World Cast and Characters
The cast features Niall Ferguson (as Self - Presenter). Their performances are a major reason Empire: How Britain Made the Modern World has built such a passionate audience.
Where to Watch Empire: How Britain Made the Modern World Online
On Bowood.TV you can watch Empire: How Britain Made the Modern World free — no account, no credit card, no ads in the middle of the show. We stream the full series in 720p / 1080p HD, with subtitles when available, on any device: phone, tablet, laptop, or smart TV browser.
▶ Watch Empire: How Britain Made the Modern World NowWhy People Are Watching Empire: How Britain Made the Modern World
Empire: How Britain Made the Modern World flies under the radar but it deserves your attention. What makes it work is a tone and style that's hard to find elsewhere. If you enjoy English storytelling that doesn't follow the same tired beats, this is the kind of show you'll end up recommending to friends.
Frequently Asked Questions about Empire: How Britain Made the Modern World
Where can I watch Empire: How Britain Made the Modern World online for free?
You can watch Empire: How Britain Made the Modern World online free on Bowood.TV. Just open the page and hit play — no signup, no subscription, full HD streaming on phone, tablet, or desktop.
How many episodes does Empire: How Britain Made the Modern World have?
Empire: How Britain Made the Modern World has 6 episodes across 1 season. All episodes are available to stream right here on Bowood.TV.
Is Empire: How Britain Made the Modern World good? What's the rating?
Empire: How Britain Made the Modern World holds a 0.0/10 rating based on 0 reviews — a niche pick worth checking out.
Who is in the cast of Empire: How Britain Made the Modern World?
The main cast includes Niall Ferguson.
Is Empire: How Britain Made the Modern World available in English?
Yes — Empire: How Britain Made the Modern World was originally produced in English and that's the version you'll stream here on Bowood.TV.
When was Empire: How Britain Made the Modern World released?
Empire: How Britain Made the Modern World first aired in 2003.
Do I need an account to watch Empire: How Britain Made the Modern World on Bowood.TV?
No. Bowood.TV is free and you can watch Empire: How Britain Made the Modern World without creating an account. Sign-up is optional — only useful if you want a personal Watchlist or to comment on episodes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I watch Empire: How Britain Made the Modern World for free?
You can watch Empire: How Britain Made the Modern World online for free on Bowood.TV. All 6 episodes across 1 season are available to stream in HD without a subscription, signup, or paywall. Just open the show page and press play.
How many seasons and episodes does Empire: How Britain Made the Modern World have?
Empire: How Britain Made the Modern World currently has 1 season and a total of 6 episodes. The series status is "Ended", so the episode count may grow as new seasons are released. You can browse the full episode list on Bowood.TV and continue watching from where you left off.
What is Empire: How Britain Made the Modern World about?
How did Britain come to rule the world? asks Niall Ferguson in Empire. What would today's world be like now if it hadn't? Could such an organisation – run by, according to Winston Churchill, 'the greedy trader, the inopportune missionary, the ambitious soldier and the lying spectator' – ever have been a force for good? It belongs to the Documentary genre.
In which language is Empire: How Britain Made the Modern World originally available?
Empire: How Britain Made the Modern World was originally produced in English. On Bowood.TV the show is available in its original English audio, which is the most authentic way to experience the dialogue, music, and performances. Check the player options on the watch page for available subtitle tracks.
When was Empire: How Britain Made the Modern World first released?
Empire: How Britain Made the Modern World first premiered on January 9, 2003 (2003). The series has since concluded its run.
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