Episode 1 | Empire with David Olusoga

Duration: 59'35''

Synopsis

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

Further Information

More clips from Benefits Britain 1949

Episode 1 | Benefits Britain 1949

Episode 1 | Benefits Britain 1949

Channel 4 | 2013 | 47'27''

Benefits claimants volunteer to live by the rules of the first year of the welfare state. This first episode asks how the state should supp...

Episode 1 | Blair & Brown: The New Labour Revolution

Episode 1 | Blair & Brown: The New Labour Revolution

BBC Two | 2021 | 59'26''

Two young MPs, Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, are determined to modernise the Labour party against a backdrop of economic ...

Jamestown colony | Empire with David Olusoga

Jamestown colony | Empire with David Olusoga

BBC Two | 2025 | 8'42''

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

S06E01 | Ambulance

S06E01 | Ambulance

BBC One | 2020 | 58'13''

In the autumn of 2019, cameras follow a new cast of characters from the London Ambulance Service as they care for the nine million people of the city.

Episode 1 | Benefits Britain 1949

Episode 1 | Benefits Britain 1949

Channel 4 | 2013 | 47'27''

Benefits claimants volunteer to live by the rules of the first year of the welfare state. This first episode asks how the state should supp...

Episode 1 | Blair & Brown: The New Labour Revolution

Episode 1 | Blair & Brown: The New Labour Revolution

BBC Two | 2021 | 59'26''

Two young MPs, Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, are determined to modernise the Labour party against a backdrop of economic ...

Jamestown colony | Empire with David Olusoga

Jamestown colony | Empire with David Olusoga

BBC Two | 2025 | 8'42''

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

S06E01 | Ambulance

S06E01 | Ambulance

BBC One | 2020 | 58'13''

In the autumn of 2019, cameras follow a new cast of characters from the London Ambulance Service as they care for the nine million people of the city.

More resources about Empire, Slavery and Race

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...

1: Martial Races | The World's War: Forgotten Soldiers of Empire

1: Martial Races | The World's War: Forgotten Soldiers of Empire

BBC Two | 2014 | 59'04''

David Olusoga challenges our perceptions of the First World War with the stories of the millions of Indian, ...

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...

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...

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: 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...

Chinese Labour Corps | The World's War: Forgotten Soldiers of Empire

Chinese Labour Corps | The World's War: Forgotten Soldiers of Empire

BBC Two | 2014 | 4'01''

David Olusoga discusses the experiences of the Chinese labour corp in WW1.

Episode 1 | Slavery: Scotland's Hidden Shame

Episode 1 | Slavery: Scotland's Hidden Shame

BBC Two Scotland | 2018 | 58'55''

David Hayman presents the first of a two-part documentary exploring Scotland's role in the transatlantic slave trade.

The Indian Corps and trench warfare | The World's War: Forgotten Soldiers of Empire

The Indian Corps and trench warfare | The World's War: Forgotten Soldiers of Empire

BBC Two | 2014 | 4'45''

David Olusoga discusses the Indian corp experiences of industrialised trench warfare.

Indian soldiers in Marseille | The World's War: Forgotten Soldiers of Empire

Indian soldiers in Marseille | The World's War: Forgotten Soldiers of Empire

BBC Two | 2014 | 3'51''

David Olusoga discusses the experiences of the Indian soldiers arriving in Marseille at the begi...

7: Soldiers of Empire | Not Forgotten

7: Soldiers of Empire | Not Forgotten

Channel 4 | 2007 | 48'10''

In this special edition of Not Forgotten, Ian Hislop uncovers the overlooked stories of soldiers from across the British Empire who fou...

Slave plantation system | Britain's Forgotten Slave Owners

Slave plantation system | Britain's Forgotten Slave Owners

BBC Two | 2015 | 4'09''

David Olusoga discusses the slave plantation system in the Caribbean.

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

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

BBC Two | 2015 | 3'23''

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

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...

5: Shot at Dawn | Not Forgotten

5: Shot at Dawn | Not Forgotten

Channel 4 | 2007 | 48'06''

In this special edition of Not Forgotten, Ian Hislop uncovers the powerful stories of First World War soldiers from across the British Empire...

Episode 1 | The Birth of Empire: The East India Company

Episode 1 | The Birth of Empire: The East India Company

BBC Two | 2014 | 58'57''

Dan Snow travels through India in the footsteps of the company that revolutionised British lifestyles and laid the fo...

Episode 2 | The Birth of Empire: The East India Company

Episode 2 | The Birth of Empire: The East India Company

BBC Two | 2014 | 59'02''

Dan Snow traces the rise and fall of the East India Company, and reveals how the British government controlled the Ea...

Charles Wootton | Black and British: A Forgotten History

Charles Wootton | Black and British: A Forgotten History

BBC Two | 2016 | 4'19''

David Olusoga discusses racial violence in Liverpool.

Where did the slavery compensation money end up? | Britain's Forgotten Slave Owners

Where did the slavery compensation money end up? | Britain's Forgotten Slave Owners

BBC Two | 2015 | 4'14''

David Olusoga explains how the profits of slavery shaped the world we know today.

Implements of torture | Britain's Forgotten Slave Owners

Implements of torture | Britain's Forgotten Slave Owners

BBC Two | 2015 | 2'47''

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