03: Trade and Romance | Britain and the Sea

First English traders in West Africa | Black and British: A Forgotten History

David Olusoga investigates the first English traders in West Africa.

Jamestown colony | Empire with David Olusoga

In Jamestown, David looks at evidence of the first English colonies in the Americas and their tobacco plantations.

Shifting historical opinions on the British Empire | A Timewatch Guide

David Olusoga explains how historical perspectives of the British Empire have shifted through time.

01: Heart of Oak | Empire of the Seas: How the Navy Forged the Modern World

Dan Snow charts the role the Royal Navy played in Britain's development. How victory over the Arm...

4: Heaven's Breed | Empire: How Britain Made The Modern World

In this programme we discover how a few thousand British people ruled over India, a country of more than 250 mi...

John Blanke | Black and British: A Forgotten History

David Olusoga discusses Catherine of Aragon's black servants.

Lancashire cotton famine | Black and British: A Forgotten History

David Olusoga explains how the American civil war caused a cotton famine in Lancashire.

Slave plantation system | Britain's Forgotten Slave Owners

David Olusoga discusses the slave plantation system in the Caribbean.

The beginnings of the British slave trade | Britain's Forgotten Slave Owners

David Olusoga investigates the beginnings of the British slave trade in Barbados.

Transportation of Convicts to Australia | Empire with David Olusoga

David explains how Britian sent their problem convicts abroad to the colonies for cheap labour, and many ...

5: Maxim Force | Empire: How Britain Made The Modern World

The 'scramble for Africa' by competing European nations during the last years of Queen Victoria's reign is the com...

6: Age of Empire | Seven Ages of Britain

David Dimbleby travels through Britain, America and India, tracing the British Empire from 1750 to 1900.

Anglo-Zulu War | A Timewatch Guide

David Olusoga discusses the events of the Anglo-Zulu war and how it has been depicted in film.

Britain's Forgotten Slave Owners

In 1834 Britain abolished slavery, a defining and celebrated moment in our national history. What has been largely forgotten is that aboliti...

Bunce Island | Black and British: A Forgotten History

David Olusoga visits Bunce Island, where the first slave fortress was built in the 17th century.

Controversial argument for the benefits of the British Empire | A Timewatch Guide

David Olusoga discusses controversial argument in favour of British colonial rule in India...

Episode 1 | Empire with David Olusoga

David Olusoga tells the story of the British Empire, from its origins under Elizabeth I to the establishment of colonies in America, th...

Granville Sharp | Black and British: A Forgotten History

David Olusoga discusses Granville Sharpe and Jonathan Strong's roles in the abolition of slavery.

Immigration from the former empire | A Timewatch Guide

David Olusoga explores the immigration of people from the empire to Britain.

Implements of torture | Britain's Forgotten Slave Owners

David Olusoga views the implements of torture that slave owners used to enforce the slave plantation system.