4: Making a Fortune | Empire

Duration: 58'40''

Synopsis

Jeremy Paxman travels from Jamaica, where sugar made plantation owners rich on the backs of slaves, to Calcutta.

Further Information

More clips from Empire

1: A Taste of Power | Empire

1: A Taste of Power | Empire

BBC One | 2012 | 59'20''

Jeremy Paxman begins by asking how such a small country got such a big head and came to rule a quarter of the world.

2: Making Ourselves at Home | Empire

2: Making Ourselves at Home | Empire

BBC One | 2012 | 58'46''

Jeremy Paxman continues by examining how traders, conquerors and settlers spread the British way of doing things.

3: Playing the Game | Empire

3: Playing the Game | Empire

BBC One | 2012 | 58'45''

Jeremy Paxman continues by tracing the growth of a peculiarly British type of hero.

5: Doing Good | Empire

5: Doing Good | Empire

BBC One | 2012 | 58'44''

In the final part of his personal account of Britain's empire, Jeremy Paxman tells the story of how a desire for conquest became a mission to improve ...

1: A Taste of Power | Empire

1: A Taste of Power | Empire

BBC One | 2012 | 59'20''

Jeremy Paxman begins by asking how such a small country got such a big head and came to rule a quarter of the world.

2: Making Ourselves at Home | Empire

2: Making Ourselves at Home | Empire

BBC One | 2012 | 58'46''

Jeremy Paxman continues by examining how traders, conquerors and settlers spread the British way of doing things.

3: Playing the Game | Empire

3: Playing the Game | Empire

BBC One | 2012 | 58'45''

Jeremy Paxman continues by tracing the growth of a peculiarly British type of hero.

5: Doing Good | Empire

5: Doing Good | Empire

BBC One | 2012 | 58'44''

In the final part of his personal account of Britain's empire, Jeremy Paxman tells the story of how a desire for conquest became a mission to improve ...

More resources about The transatlantic slave trade

01: Across the Ocean Sea | Landmarks

01: Across the Ocean Sea | Landmarks

BBC Two | 1992 | 19'09''

In 1992 an American girl flies home from London. While waiting at the airport she encounters the ghost of Christopher Columbus, who tell...

02: For God and for Gold | Landmarks

02: For God and for Gold | Landmarks

BBC Two | 1992 | 18'17''

In 1992 an American girl flies home from London. While waiting at the airport she encounters the ghost of Christopher Columbus, who tell...

1: A People Stolen | Enslaved with Samuel L Jackson

1: A People Stolen | Enslaved with Samuel L Jackson

BBC Two | 2020 | 58'04''

Samuel L Jackson and a team of journalists and divers explore 400 years of slavery. What happened to the 12 million ensla...

1: Origins | Africa's Great Civilisations

1: Origins | Africa's Great Civilisations

BBC Four | 2018 | 52'45''

Henry Louis Gates Jr looks at the discoveries that point to Africa as the genetic home of all currently living humanity.

1: The Atlantic Slave Trade | History File

1: The Atlantic Slave Trade | History File

BBC Two | 1997 | 19'07''

The development of the triangular trade is described from its ancient origins, through the European involvement in the 16th and 17...

2: A Precious Cargo | Enslaved with Samuel L Jackson

2: A Precious Cargo | Enslaved with Samuel L Jackson

BBC Two | 2020 | 56'47''

Samuel L Jackson examines how, for over 400 years, the transatlantic slave trade became the greatest wealth-generating m...

2: Everyday Life on a Plantation Island | History File

2: Everyday Life on a Plantation Island | History File

BBC Two | 1997 | 19'01''

The schools history series reconstructs the day-to-day experience of slavery for Betty Newton, a field hand on a Carib...

2: Freedom | Black and British: A Forgotten History

2: Freedom | Black and British: A Forgotten History

BBC Two | 2016 | 59'00''

In the second part of his four-part series, historian David Olusoga explores the business of slavery and remembers the bl...

2: The Price of Freedom | Britain's Forgotten Slave Owners

2: The Price of Freedom | Britain's Forgotten Slave Owners

BBC Two | 2015 | 59'15''

David Olusoga traces the bitter propaganda war waged between the pro-slavery lobby and the abolitionists.

3: Empires of Gold | Africa's Great Civilisations

3: Empires of Gold | Africa's Great Civilisations

BBC Four | 2018 | 52'37''

Henry Louis Gates travels to the shores of the Sahara Desert to see the transformation of north and west Africa.

3: Moral Mission | Black and British: A Forgotten History

3: Moral Mission | Black and British: A Forgotten History

BBC Two | 2016 | 58'40''

In part three of this groundbreaking series, historian David Olusoga explores the Victorian moral crusade against s...

3: Resistance | Enslaved with Samuel L Jackson

3: Resistance | Enslaved with Samuel L Jackson

BBC Two | 2020 | 57'35''

Samuel L Jackson and the team travel through the US to tell the stories of those who resisted slavery, often making the danger...

3: Resistance, Rebllion and Abolition | History File

3: Resistance, Rebllion and Abolition | History File

BBC Two | 1997 | 19'10''

An overview of the methods used by the abolitionists, such as the famous poster of the slave ship 'Brookes'. The case of...

4: Cities | Africa's Great Civilisations

4: Cities | Africa's Great Civilisations

BBC Four | 2018 | 52'06''

This episode looks at the powerful, cosmopolitan cities that dotted Africa at the time when Europe was in its Middle Ages.

4: Guns and Government | Endgame in Ireland

4: Guns and Government | Endgame in Ireland

BBC Two | 2001 | 58'56''

In February 1991, Prime Minister John Major survived an IRA mortar attack. But this wasn't the only message he received from the ...

4: Our People | Enslaved with Samuel L Jackson

4: Our People | Enslaved with Samuel L Jackson

BBC Two | 2020 | 57'49''

Samuel L Jackson and the team examine the events that ended the slave trade and piece together the heritage and identity taken...

4: The Homecoming | Black and British: A Forgotten History

4: The Homecoming | Black and British: A Forgotten History

BBC Two | 2016 | 59'06''

Historian David Olusoga concludes his series with the three African kings who stood up to empire, an irresistible ...

6: Clash of Civilisations | Africa's Great Civilisations

6: Clash of Civilisations | Africa's Great Civilisations

BBC Four | 2018 | 52'54''

The final episode reviews the 19th century, when a fierce competition for resources and trade led to conflicts.

African Roman soldiers in Northern England | Black and British: A Forgotten History

African Roman soldiers in Northern England | Black and British: A Forgotten History

BBC Two | 2016 | 4'36''

David Olusoga visits Hadrian's Wall and discusses the Roman history of black soldiers.

Bechuanaland Chiefs | Black and British: A Forgotten History

Bechuanaland Chiefs | Black and British: A Forgotten History

BBC Two | 2016 | 5'58''

David Olusoga investigates the Bechuanaland Chiefs.