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The Empire of Good Intentions

A History of Britain by Simon Schama Series 3
Episode 3 of 4

How the liberal politics and free-market economics of the British Empire unravelled, leading to the potato famine in Ireland and mutiny in India.

Simon Schama looks at how the liberal politics and free-market economics of the British Empire in the 19th century unravelled, leading to the potato famine in Ireland and mutiny in India. By the early 20th century, nationalist movements around the globe had turned their back on the British 'workshop of the world'.

6 months left to watch

58 minutes

Last on

Tue 9 Jun 2026 21:00
BBC Four

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Victoria and Her SistersSeries 3

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The Two WinstonsSeries 3

See all episodes from A History of Britain by Simon Schama

Credits

Presenter Simon Schama
Executive Producer Martin Davidson

Broadcasts

  • Tue 11 Jun 2002 21:00
    BBC Two except East, South East & Yorkshire
  • Fri 5 Jul 2002 21:55
    BBC Four
  • Sat 30 Nov 2002 20:05
    BBC Two except East, South East & Yorkshire
  • Sun 2 Jan 2005 10:30
    BBC Two except East, South East & Yorkshire
  • Thu 11 Sep 2014 21:15
    BBC Four
  • Fri 12 Sep 2014 03:00
    BBC Four
  • Wed 17 Sep 2014 00:45
    BBC Four
  • Tue 11 Apr 2023 21:00
    BBC Four
  • Wed 12 Apr 2023 02:25
    BBC Four
  • Tue 9 Jun 2026 21:00
    BBC Four

Quiz: How's your British history knowledge?

Quiz: How's your British history knowledge?

Quiz featuring seven key moments between 3000 BC and 1603 AD from the first series.

Quiz: Can you answer these seven history questions?

Quiz: Can you answer these seven history questions?

Quiz featuring seven key moments between 1603 and 1776 from the second series.