BBC Empire Episode 2 - Making Ourselves at Home Documentary - Jeremy Paxman

Jeremy Paxman traces the story of the greatest empire the world has ever known: the British Empire. He continues his personal account of Britain's empire by looking at how traders, conquerors and settlers spread the British way of doing things around the world - in particular how they created a very British idea of home.
He begins in India, where early traders wore Indian costume and took Indian wives. Their descendants still cherish their mixed heritage. Victorian values put a stop to that as interracial mixing became taboo.
In Singapore, he visits a club where British colonials gathered together, in Canada he finds a town whose inhabitants are still fiercely proud of the traditions of their Scottish ancestors, in Kenya he meets the descendants of the first white settlers - men whose presence came to be bitterly resented as pressure for African independence grew.
And he traces the story of an Indian family in Leicester whose migrations have been determined by the changing fortunes of the British empire.

[@TGStamfordPark]

I wish this documentary series went from start to finish in chronological order... jumps from early 1900s back to 1700s and 1800s etc.

[@lw3646]

Yes in the other episode he jumps from 1700s India to 1857 in about 30 seconds. 😁

[@TheGrandmaMoses]

Almost as if this documentary was laid out in a such a way as to deal with one topic per episode, not one specific time in history. Don't you guys think you have enough chronological documentaries, university lectures and podcasts on the British Empire to choose from already?

[@anthonyi7834]

'The empire was coming home' the funniest line there that speaks volumes!

[@370530e]

Paxman moves effortlessly from a scene mocking the British obsession with cleanliness to one during which he describes the mortality rate as 3 times that in Britain - without connecting the two.

[@e.jenima7263]

That Lady at the End is not "Politically Incorrect" she makes a good Point and is telling the truth.

[@chriscross5617]

If you spend any time in Africa (& I mean outside the cities) you learn two things: 1) You either love it or hate it 2) That you are no longer at the top of the food chain.

[@FRANKTHRING1]

A couple of historical points: the officer who saw a white man staked out and tortured, and responded by slaughtering a village in retaliation was Richard Meinertzhagen (see his `Kenya Diary`) in 1902. White settlers to Kenya were not all rich. To encourage immigration small farms of under 200 acres were given away free. The aristocrats like Lord Delamere got big estates in Kenya because they had the big money to buy them. This land grab, pushed through by Delamere and his cronies, was opposed by the Colonial 0ffice. British officials in London were appalled by what had been done to the Masai tribe and others, but by then it was too late after vast numbers of people and livestock had been moved onto reserves.

[@e.jenima7263]

His Wife Lady Gladys Delamere was said to be a brutal Whitt and a snob..............in other words a real Bitch. but you made a good point.

[@GVAjaxNow]

Richard Meinertzhagen of the Nili, a Jewish spy network , Frederick Huth & Co. merchant-banking dynasty, married to Victor Rothschild. We know EXACTLY what he was.

[@dorianphilotheates3769]

Whether for good or ill, the British Empire really DID transform the world more than any other in history.

[@bryguy1502]

The Roman Empire, arguably.

[@dorianphilotheates3769]

Bryguy150 - Arguably; but the British Empire’s reach - geographically, if not temporally - was much wider.

[@ivx8345]

Like abolshing slavery! Of course also bad things.

[@cranekraken24]

For the better.

[@k915]

Thank you for uploading!

[@HrhFish]

A quiet evening in with 13 wives. Think of all those mother in laws he has to deal with

[@fullthrottlealways]

The British had is made son. I would love to be able to take a time capsule to that early period of tolerance during colonization. If the Brits had continued down that path they may have been able to keep the Crown jewel.

[@jaywalker0112]

+Chris Reed I was just watching the 13 wives part & thinking "That fella had it MADE!" LOL!

[@darkspark525]

+Hrh Fish The nagging killed them I reckon, not the Malaria!

[@aishwarya_1524]

And 13 elephants

[@outtheboxkenya9227]

HE SERIOUSLY WENT TO THE POOREST PART OF NAIROBI...WTF...NAIROBI IS A MASSIVE MODERN CITY...the pearl of East Africa

[@kingmatt2563DABEST]

+outthe boxkenya IKR. Booming property market with house prices going up by 25% every year.

[@Jasondfilms]

+outthe boxkenya I just had a look on google maps, you're absolutely right!

[@kingmatt2563DABEST]

Kenya has the highest percentage of its population with internet access. Kenya or Namibia will develop first.

[@zzyzxzee6374]

They always call these shitholes pearls

[@hippymama100]

@@zzyzxzee6374 I say, old chap. Your racism is showing.

[@eatiegourmet1015]

Did he only have 1 shirt?

[@AlternityGM]

Another good episode in this fascinating documentary about the British Empire.

[@dorianphilotheates3769]

0:35 - I’m from the “wastes of Canada”🇨🇦, eh?...

[@grayday5177]

😂

[@Vanessa-pu5qg]

In the terms of large land of forests and snow.

[@olegshyshkov4740]

The empire had only one golden centre, the rest was wastes.

[@kitiowa]

@@olegshyshkov4740 Canada was the Golden Centre.

[@xweetokfairy]

Thank you for uploading this series. Even though I'm English I don't know anything about the British Empire as it wasn't taught in schools. So right now I'm trying to educate myself. If anyone has any recommendations of docos and books that are easy to digest then please let me know.

[@cleopatrawf]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/iXTdgmh6r9SEeqM

[@carolynwestlake7670]

Same with me.😊

[@aishwarya_1524]

I appreciate you for being open minded and trying to learn.colonial history was taught to us when we were as young as 4 years old to remind us how hard earned thay freedom is .Please feel free to find me on facebook if you are interested to learn about how we live and learn from it . (I am an indian woman)

[@DrAshokSharmaa]

watch shashi tharoor about how Brits looted India.

[@Jack_Stafford]

@@DrAshokSharmaa but it is undeniable that they now have benefited from the ritual cultural trading back and forth with the empire. Indian would not be the PowerHouse it was today if it were not for its membership in the Empire and the Commonwealth.

[@edoremus19]

The segment about Anglo-Indians was really uncomfortable to watch: "I can't tell you apart from a regular Indian!"

[@DrDonnyTheBookofYou]

Whew, yes it was!!!! "I can't tell you apart from any other Indian!!"

[@carolynwestlake7670]

He’s not known for tact or subtlety 🤦‍♀️

[@biribabu5878]

I think the british had the biggest power of education and knowledge which was required to rule the world..cambridge and oxford is still the living example..

[@dennisconroy3459]

Johnothan good eye opening episode about India, Well structured I can imagine a lot of countries could have similar situations ,and it is only natural to be so. For those times in history, self anylises to overcome task that needed attention.

[@biribabu5878]

Very informative and educative dicumentary

[@sexynelson100]

55:33 that woman makes a good point.. and I think many Indians living in the UK think the same

[@apexxxx10]

The settlers: " Parasites in paradise"

[@davidsegun]

***** they are leaching of the resources on the land that needed to be shared

[@invisibleman4827]

6:34 There's Paxman just on the centre right in a red frock coat. 😂

[@DarthCoco]

Voiceover for the BBC news after, is nostalgic

[@dr.balajichirade4944]

very informative documentary

[@ramsg9988]

Missing Episodes 1. A Taste for Power 3. Playing the Game. If you could.. Please.

[@madzangels]

Nnneuuuuuuuuuuuwwwwwwww!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@biribabu5878]

AFTER WATCHING I CAME TO KNOW BRITISH WERE VERY TALENTED, VISIONARIES,SMART,EDUCATED,INTELLIGENT,HARDWORKING

[@benjaminkwingwalidman2412]

Well that is not the whole story being delivered here 😂

[@robw7676]

Sounds like the British chaps were having a great time in India - until the memsaabs showed up.

[@clockwinder1149]

Pull yourself together, what, they'll be inspecting you for signs of frivolty at Lady Shrewsbury's tea.

[@e.jenima7263]

@@clockwinder1149 well if she is a best friends with of lady Chatterley and Lady Caroline Lamb I do not think we need worrie .

[@t-saucy1942]

Mans really said “you all have British blood ? I couldn’t tell you from the rest of the Indians” LIKE WHAT😳 who tf says that.

[@adventureriders4515]

This is such a fantastic made documentary . Really facinating... shows some places I as a British expat have worked in east Africa.

[@ShTahir]

Hi! Have you uploaded parts 1 and others ?!?

[@chriscross5617]

He walks into someone's home, place of business or social club, immediately insults them and treats them like they're total idiots. He also fails to mention that 90% of the "Settlers" in Africa (particularly the 'toffs') went home within two years. It was just too bloody difficult to make a go of things. He really is a deeply unlikable & charmless man - at least Jeremy Clarkson is amusing

[@twelvecatsinatrenchcoat]

This is true. I liked the historical parts of this, but that host is a real dickhead. "OI, BROWNIE! TELL ME WHY YOUR GRANDDAD WAS HAPPY TO BE A SLAVE."

[@Ukie88]

Who taught this guy how to interview . I wouldn’t even talk to him in Canada.

[@juliet4928]

I KNOOWW!! "Haven't we Brits done anything great and wonderful in your opinion? Aren't you at all grateful for all the wonderful things white people dit to you?" - Is this a method of journalism to insult, humiliate, shake people like that? Descendants of the occupied, exploited, robbed, tortured, raped? Maybe it is, but MUST it be??? Isn't this neo-colonialism at it's worst???

[@agh.abolfazl204]

i was waiting for "here's your starter for ten points: what is British Empire?"

[@BobbyKimani]

Why did they NOT interview any native Kenyans in this segment???? What's their point of view on the British in Kenya?

[@bunney3272]

This episodes want you to know who the Brits lived in their colonies

[@hugbugDS]

BobbyKimani maby they couldent find any that spoke english?

[@hugbugDS]

BobbyKimani maby they couldent find any that spoke english?

[@adamcae]

King of the seals Yes, your English skills are obviously fantastic. Maybe you should learn how to spell 'maybe'.

[@kingmatt2563DABEST]

+BobbyKimani It's interesting to see Brits that remained their especially relatives of governors.

[@craigterris1802]

i love how paxman spends half of his time talking about how awful the british empire was and the other half being vaguely racist.

[@soulscanner66]

People in KZbin comments are perpetually angry and butthurt, so they see insults that aren't there. .

[@dorianphilotheates3769]

craig terris - Ah, well...there’s no winning for losing...

[@jazzhands7771]

❄️

[@be5952]

*Please turn on the automatic closed captions!* This is useful for many people, _besides the hearing impaired_---if children are playing in the backgroud; outside noise coming through an open window; listening late at night when others are asleep, and other reasons. *_PLEASE TURN ON AUTOMATIC CLOSED CAPTIONS._*

[@flygerianfugee]

Reading through the comments makes me laugh.

[@zzyzxzee6374]

Me 2

[@peterhamlinhamlin8908]

Chairman Mao,Ho Chi Minh dealt with the British and French more completely. It took longer but no British rule exists today.

[@aghaayubahmadzai3046]

The British Kenyan said corrugated Iron at 4101 sheets we call them chadar in Pakistan, I heard him saying that 0454. 0502, 25/06/2020.

[@Ukie88]

“How do we live with the people we rule? “ We own their wealth and property in the long run by calling it civilizing the natives. Two parallel caste systems.

[@cranekraken24]

You've lost your ability to reason. You are ideologically possessed. You believe you're well informed, as you've fallen prey to an ideologically driven education system, but I assure you, history is MUCH more complicated than your silly indoctrination process has forced you to believe.

[@luciusveritas9870]

My god that Paxman guy...

[@TheMaxx111]

Episode 3 on sports? Any chance of getting that up?

[@sonampaldensherpa]

Nothing says Scotland like a cold can of IrnBru

[@rharland1066]

The sun never set on the British Empire because God couldn't find an Englishman he could trust in the dark.

[@e.jenima7263]

LOL ! who was it that said the Devil as well as God IS a Englishmen ? ha ha!

[@guoyicong9595]

Wonderful series. But does Mr.Paxman have only one shirt?

[@bunney3272]

Episode 3?

[@eastafrika728]

There are no empires in history greater than Ancient Egypt, these European ones only lasted 200 years Max.

[@cooleraffe96]

East Afrika i d argue for the romans or the cinese

[@mikewatte4478]

Are you stupid. The brits were global the others stayed local

[@madzangels]

Egypt is hugely over-rated - Egypt stood still for pretty much 25 centuries and did nothing but glorify itself. It's got Pyramids and treasures, slavery and the Nile. That's about it. It's not about how long you last, it's what you contribute to the World in the time you did. You're not speaking Egyptian, you're speaking English. There's a reason for that.

[@teviottilehurst]

British Empire ushered in the Industrial Revolution which caused seismic changes in world history.

[@tomsoki5738]

In terms of land, population, money and power you are very wrong

[@cerberus6654]

His mask slipped a bit here at the beginning of Episode 2 when he says, 'the wastes of Canada'. I bet our First Nations didn't think they inhabited 'a waste'. But for the British to see it as such gave them free rein. Also he seems to think that becoming a Dominion didn't make us anything different than, say, Egypt or Malta, insofar as our relationship to the Empire went. The Canada of 1880 related quite differently to the Empire than the Canada of 1850.

[@3506Dodge]

Is anywhere a 'waste"?

[@bunney3272]

Wastes as in there are few people there. Wasn't Canada the Viceroyalty of Nouvelle-France

[@nader50752]

But Malta is Independant.....

[@cerberus6654]

Blackforest98 Malta did not become independent until later in the 20th century. It was never a colony, but a possession. Canada went from colony to Dominion. And a Dominion was not, and is not, an imperial possession. Malta went from a possession to a republic.

[@nader50752]

Jim Bruce We became independant in 1964,around 50 years ago,the unique thing about Malta is that we asked Britian to govern us,way back in 1890

[@AnimatedBlast]

God bless England. God bless our British Empire. ‘A home away from home’. The British Raj - HOME. I wish I hadn’t been robbed of the opportunity to see it. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🇬🇧

[@dorianphilotheates3769]

“Hin-DOO Stuart...”

[@KienyejiChicken]

"Everywhere the British left, things went downhill" This lady should visit Kenya. The British left with us the railway, tea farms, one tiny city, a few secondary schools (less than 50) built by missionaries, and zero universities or colleges plus 1% literacy rate.

[@willmartin1033]

So....much better than most of Africa.

[@e.jenima7263]

so in other words you guys were left better off than when they came and better off than the rest of Africa after they left? but for a vast majority of the world anywhere wear they did leave it went downhill...........had the British been able to act out there plans and slowly withdraw from these country (Including yours) over a 30-40 year period after WW2 like planned making Shure there was a peacefully transference of power things would not have been too bad....but revolution and gorilla warfare kindda screwed all that up and simply Further Proved the belief that non white races can not effectively run there own societies without white people at the helm. Nothing good ever comes out of revolution or sudden and dramatic Political change and Progress. Progress politically , socially ect. must come about in a slow and Orderly fashion....but in this day and age everybody want change now and fast and we are surprised when things go Horribly horribly wrong .

[@KienyejiChicken]

@@e.jenima7263 You don't get it. The British built the colonial empire to serve themselves & impoverish locals. It was good riddance they were kicked out. Our grandpas went to the US & USSR to get an education and skills and came back to build an ultra-vibrant economy. The British would never have done it. It's only a matter of time before we build an ultra-modern nation. Their quick exit was a huge blessing.

[@KienyejiChicken]

@ferzy09 It made the world better and opened a world of opportunities to majority than a few cadre of colonial administrators. I think the presence of US & USSR on the world stage in the 50s and 60s helped a lot in that regard.

[@revol148]

@Kienyeji Chicken 1% literacy rate? - that's one percent more than most useless negroid African states then ! LOL

[@francesca7142]

The Empire strikes back.

[@easternyankee2096]

Yeah, they made themselves at home alright! A whole lot is watered down here!

[@dean1039]

"The British Empire gave us everything. We are what we are today because of it, so we must thank the British Empire" Paxman: "Do you know how politically incorrect you are?" That exchange sums up modern Britain. You're only allowed to focus on the negatives of the UK, not the positives.

[@Perrygallo]

Agreed, I find this documentary repugnant and offensive. I am proud to be British, I am proud of who we were and I am so proud that the Commonwealth nations can stand together and bring peace to one another. I am so sick and tired of being told I have to feel ashamed of my nation's history

[@dean1039]

@@Perrygallo Since the election of Tony Blair in 1997, this nation has gone through an identity crisis of enormous magnitude. I recall during his Premiership how it was even deemed abusive to fly the Union flag. Many cultures were imported and not integrated into our own, and pride in Britain was seen as repugnant. It did tremendous damage to our nation, and the way we viewed ourselves. But in recent years we've seen the British public finally throw off the memory of those years, and say yes, we are a great nation, we're proud of our country and our culture and we want them defended. Many in the media and political class have yet to catch up to this change in the British mindset, but no doubt there has been a change; and if anyone were to say it's abusive to fly the Union flag these days, they'd be the one who would receive the backlash. There's a long way to go, but our nation has taken the first steps in reclaiming who we are as a people, and a country. A country that will forever be known as one of the greatest and most influential in the entire history of mankind.

[@guccigoldberg5303]

He was obviously being light hearted, he wasn’t actually saying they shouldn’t have said what they did.

[@danhall6922]

This lie of "we spread enlightenment" has been the properganda tool of all empires. This was used well before the british and is still being used today You invade another country murder a bunch of barbarians, infidels, fuzzys or harjees and then justify this to the people back home by telling them "Well were bringing them advancements they will benefit," In a sence its not entirely false, a few do benefit. Empires work better with puppet regimes of the what went before. But this is only a minority everyone else sufferes since the true goal of imperialism is the exploitation of reasorces. And the countries being exploited are made poorer because Unfortunately this properganda is much like the fake news we see today and people have trouble disbelieving it when its proven false Just like we see today ...

[@danhall6922]

@@dean1039 im no lefty im proud of the empire Why? The moguls murdered 100 million people does any one ask them not to be proud of there empire ? The Romans empire was built on slaves, do anyone say Italians shouldn't be proud The ottoman comitted genocide on the armenian Christians ask the turks how they feel about there empire ? Bollox am i guna be the only nation that says "oh our empire was bad dont be proud," Fuck off this tiny little island owned a quarter of the world But lets not kid ourselves We murdered more people than all the empires combined We committed genocide on our subjects We got a whole nation addicted to drugs We invented concentration camps We introduced biological warefare and massacred whole populations with smallpox We staved an entire country half to death We exploited the globe and got rich doing it The british empire was an empire just like the rest Expansionism is built of the bodys of those being invaded and the rulers take what they can while the ruled are left with little or nothing This is the same throughout history and thr British empire was no different from those before it and the empires preceeding it The left annoys me by the hypocracy of telling me i can't be proud of my history while letting other cultures take pride in theres The right annoys me through there insistence not to learn or even out right deny the facts of what the empire actually was Both sides can fuck off

[@myriaddsystems]

I'm very unhappy about the prejudice though- such a pity

[@irishguy5712]

The empire where the blood never dried

[@e.jenima7263]

well how else would they make Blood Puddings???

[@rosshartley1397]

No part three

[@sadabtajuddin4752]

The British make the best documentary

[@latifamiah5742]

What about Americans?

[@niktoo6668]

*sad nostalgic tea drinking noises*

[@mercomania]

Rather than watching this sugar coated, whitewashed version just watch the 1985 series End of Empire for the real truth.

[@TheSquad4life]

so all these Indians glorify colonization (well at least the ones he interviewed ) ...mmmh some people like the idea of servitude to another. human sheep

[@shayanchamas60]

TheSquad4life He interviewed me and I said FUCK COLONIZATION! I guess that part didn't get aired! :P

[@HugoDBPHuguenot]

Ah for EMPIRE!

[@siyabongamngomezulu9743]

General Wellesley.

[@mikailmandhu8209]

I'm guessing the phrase 'the elephant in the room' originates here

[@mikailmandhu8209]

So those guys see themselves as Anglo-Indian, in that case everyone is just everyone. A little bizzare but I guess in a caste system if it can either make you feel superior or inferior depending on the view point. Paxmans effort in explaining colonialism and empire is weak.

[@dorianphilotheates3769]

2:35 - From traders, to raiders and invaders...

[@e.jenima7263]

Talking about Mongolians are we ?? LOL !

[@dorianphilotheates3769]

E. jenima - 🙂

[@peterhamlinhamlin8908]

Britain never mentions the bloodshed,wars and millions of indigenous peoples killed around the planet. Gunpowder,rifle,cannon and gatling gun installed Imperialism around the planet. Hundreds of years of rule gradually became adopted and accepted......language,custom,commerce,indirectgovernment. World History.

[@e.jenima7263]

Well Last I saw they have been bending over backwards in the last 20 years Apologizing to natives but doing very little to make there lives better......Christian Charites seem to be the only ones making any attempt to do that. and to be fair native peoples of Africa, North and south America and Oceana were killing and whipping each other out long before they came into contact with any whites

[@hebekid8540]

Hong Kong would prefer a return to British colonial status over the tyranny of their fellow Chinese.

[@peterhamlinhamlin8908]

We'll have a few years for some chinese to get back to USA and the rest to rejoin Asia. There'll be a choice. Similar to Vietnamese,Korean, Cuban,Algerian,Indian. World History million years.

[@dougspray7160]

Hebekid must surely be very young. The Opium Trade and Wars, a crime of enormous proportions with similarities to the Holocaust, carried on by the British ruthlessly for so many years. On winning these outrageous wars the Empire insisted Hong Kong was ceded to them , Democracy for the indigenous Chinese was never on the agenda until those final years before Hong Kong was returned to its original owners. We Brits for most of our time in Hong Kong looked upon your forebears as inferiors and wogs. The Chinese Communists can surely never be as greedy, exploitive,racist and hypocritical as your former masters.

[@kitiowa]

One wonders how much further along Kenya would be today had the South Asians stayed on and contributed to that country.

[@e.jenima7263]

Still Kenya is not as bad off as many other African Nations.............almost all of them in fact. Even today Kenya more than any other Place in Africa attracts lots of wealthy Ex Pats who invest some way into the country.

[@kitiowa]

@@e.jenima7263 It does now. That was decades in the making. Kenya could have been that country 40 years ago.

[@lenniefei6710]

Kenya would have slipped into an Indian Colony.......

[@kitiowa]

@@lenniefei6710 That's a rather ludicrous notion.

[@lenniefei6710]

@kitiowa In fact, u should see how they treat Kenyans in their companies today!

[@felixthecat3n2]

13 wives! Well, Indian women are the prettiest in the world, so why not!

[@CARLIN4737]

Bloody good show chaps. India was just too hot? Simples. Back to a more temperate climate. Canada?

[@JaspreetSingh-hb2mr]

Great documentary, one mistake though, he forgot to include pakistan under the Empire.....

[@1aatlas]

Wasn't it was still part of India back during the Empire? I thought India fractured into India/Pakistan after the British left.

[@Conform2survive]

"how do we live with the people we rule" ???? Not very well, if history is anything to go by.

[@e.jenima7263]

Yes human beings historically do not fair well when coming across other Cultures or TRIBES. as much as we have evolved human beings are very TRIBAL at hart and we like to be with people who think like us, look like us and have the same or similar customs and even religion to our TRIBE . That does not mean we can not admire others cultures..........but as a general rule we should admire them in there respective places in the world.........like one mike admire a chaeta or a kangaroo but it would not do to have them running wild in London or or Vienna or even Louisiana now would it?

[@herrnkniebolo1180]

There is nothing seriously intoxicating about being caught off-guard inside of a paganistic abomination, save that most good Christians would see the land for what it is and make their exit before becoming mad.

[@Pemma200]

43:20 “ … they are proud of it… “ “ nothing to be ashamed of…” 👏👍

[@JixYT02]

13:25 DINOSAUR!!

[@ML-mu2qr]

Aside from the virtue signaling, this documentary is pretty interesting

[@sillywill72]

lol "As we made ourselves at home" #smh

[@jamespaul4878]

55:56 very few people speak the truth

[@biribabu5878]

ITS A VERY EDUCATIVE AND INFORMATIVE DOCUMENTARY IV EVER SEEN ABOUT BRITISH EMPIRE..

[@allazharduisenbek9936]

I think if you compare all European empires, Russian Empire was the most tolerant and merciful. For instance, they treated their central Asian subjects such as Kazakhstan better than let’s say Britain treated India. They opened mosques under the empress Anna Ionovna, and tried to integrate us by opening schools, allowing Kazakh elite to join army, gain education etc.

[@aishwarya_1524]

That is why Indians love Russians. We are taught from childhood taht Russia is a friend

[@ziffification]

34:49 "Clung tenaciously to their past" what!!!???? we dont play any English school boy sports we made our own super sports all using sticks like Lacrosse and Hockey

[@Pretermit_Sound]

Beware those who venture into the comments below: there be dragons 🐉

[@sirjammer]

Jeremy Paxman seems like he's ashamed of his country, does all of Briton feel like this?

[@myriaddsystems]

+Sir Jammer 'Course he doesn't- we just try to be aware that we are not bleedin' perfect- and have as many flaws as all the other human beings on this planet.

[@p.jacobs643]

Actually, this documentary seems very pro-empire. There is little mention of any of the great atrocities perpetuated by colonial forces. The African slave trade has been mentioned but only fleetingly. The avoidable famines that killed up to 30 million Indians, the genocides in Tazmania, Australia and North America as well as the enforced Chinese opium trade have all been entirely ignored thus far. Of course, many people, including local people, profitted from the empire; that is the nature of the beast, but hundreds of millions also lost their land, their livelihood, their culture and their lives.

[@gavin7821]

@@p.jacobs643 Couldnt have put it better myself (another brit)

[@carolynwestlake7670]

Not ashamed but I don’t mind learning and acknowledging the past. That way we learn for the future.

[@geemo4284]

I, personally, could never say I'm proud to be British, because of our appalling past. I do, however, love and appreciate many things about our nations, such as our ability to be able to find the funny side of most things. I thing the reason why patriotism isn't really 'a thing' in Britain is because of a vague awareness amongst most of our populations, that we might not have been very 'nice' in the past. Oh yes, and the way we still behave abroad - the shame

[@andrewau1993]

good music.

[@cerberus6654]

You know, I was thinking the same thing!

[@zsackor]

Jim Bruce h uu

[@_ruddegar]

Moral of story; dont use people as latrines..

[@bunney3272]

God save the Queen!

[@bennettbullock9690]

It is often de rigeur do criticize the fall of the white mughals, who were interested in all the sensual pleasures of their environment, and the rise of Victorian Puritanism. What we have to remember, however, is that the British before the mutiny were horribly corrupt, sitting on top of the local leaders and encouraging them to tax the population into starvation. One of the concerns and priorities of the British after the mutiny was to create a more transparent administration of the country, to go from corporate administration by the British East India Company to civil administration by the Crown. Whether this had beneficial effects is certainly up for debate. The Raj was haunted by a cycle of famines that seemed to occur every 10-20 years, in my opinion caused by an oppressive taxation regime and suppression of local industry. India certainly had plenty of famines after the mutiny, a cycle that did not characterize Mughal rule and seems to have disappeared after Independence, although the latter could be attributed to the Green Revolution.

[@amanchaudhary742]

These chennaites aren't Angloindians. Converts to be precise. Go a bit up north you will find Anglo Indian towns. Oh, what a shirk!😂😂😂

[@Random-xs8dp]

Gruß an die K1a

[@ultranobody5549]

Was ist das? :D

[@natnasci]

Haven't seen the rest of the series yet, but I don't have much hope. As usual, Canada gets 5 minutes, shot in the middle of winter, shows nothing of the indigenous peoples that were here, ( lumps them in quickly with others the Brits destroyed ). If you thought you were getting any useful information on colonialism in Canada, this show is not it.

[@revol148]

@Nat Nasci perhaps because Canada is cold and dull compared to somewhere warm and interesting like India

[@natnasci]

@@revol148 it's not. That's my point. The reputation of Canada is much different than the reality. It's a vast country with four seasons, incredible cities, outstanding natural landscaper and a variety of peoples. However, if you want stereotypes to be your guide, so be it.

[@revol148]

@@natnasci "incredible cities" - have you ever been to Hamilton or Brampton ? The natural beauty of Canada is incredible - on that I would agree with you however by contrast India has snow capped mountains, tropical beaches, incredible diverse food, fascinating cities, ancient monuments, vast deserts and malaria jungles - Canada by contrast does not have that diversity.

[@natnasci]

@@revol148 You think Canada doesn't have snow capped mountains? Anyway, my point is not to compare India to Canada. Totally different places, and I know which one I prefer to live in. My point was that a lot of UK shows when doing shows about empire, or the commonwealth, glance over Canada quickly. The general ignorance of Canada in the world, makes some people equate their ignorance being the result of Canada being boring. Or nothing to see etc.

[@revol148]

@@natnasci I would prefer Canada over India on account of urban India being just too damn depressing. Boring is a word often used when describing New Zealand - which is odd as it's one of the most beautiful places on earth - perhaps it's better to be boring than overated?

[@olegshyshkov4740]

-But you are a sign that India was a British colony, isn't it awful? -A possible answer: So what, do you want me to give you a slap in the face? What the question he asks and how indians tolerate his demeanor? Shame on you!

[@latifamiah5742]

“British

[@CARLIN4737]

Just glad its not Dan Snow presenting. Absolutely cant stand the bloke and i absolutely hate nepotism. Anyway back to the Doc?

[@vladynick]

Jeremy Paxman is an INCREDIBLY arrogant and patronizing commentator, doesn't appear to be much different that the colonizing British that this series talks about! HE'S A TOTAL BUT TOTAL TURNOFF!!

[@e.jenima7263]

I kind agree with you but Me Personally I found Him very Patronizing at times especially to the people he interviewed who had no shame about Brittan Colonial past and even were Proud of it........he seemed hell bent on shaming them almost.

[@biribabu5878]

The people who have knowledge can really rule the world...the best example is british..they had oxford and cambridge.

[@maryslade8760]

Or course 1/2 my family came from the British isles via what is now the USA.

[@cameroncarter6789]

He should have done France.

[@laniesenagonia3104]

The British empire. Built by the Irish , enjoyed by the Scottish , ruined by the English

[@fyrdman2185]

How was it built by the irish, it was started by the English, the soldiers were mostly Scottish and English and the administrators and civil servants were mostly Englishmen

[@maryslade8760]

The Irish built the Rideau canal then, those who survived, built the stone houses between Ottawa & Kingston.

[@thelemontothemaggy]

Who’s here for homework?

[@andi-oop656]

Me ugh And the others episodes are blocked in my country (-_-°)

[@frankdunbar2560]

The series is well done, and unbiased for the BBC. All crimes against humanity are nt listed, probably too many. The British had a nerve prosecuting the Nazis for what they have been doing for centuries.

[@lickspittle1]

+Frank Dunbar lol

[@tdh2005]

wow... an amazingly ignorant comment

[@NLS_7]

Frank Dunbar You are so right! They are untrustworthy and liers

[@e.jenima7263]

Humans have been committing atrocities against other humans and even there own blood relatives since before time began after our fall from grace. it is not unique to the British. India for example was committing atrocities against there own people and other Asian nations close to them for 100's of years. by the time the British came to India Inda had no strong central government power anymore and there own rule of laws were breaking to pices and was breaking up into fiefdoms that were waging war against one another and killing and enslaving innocent peasants. it was like a house of cards.....India with or without the British would have burst into flames and destroyed itself or been taken over by another power weather it had been European or Ashian. The same goes for many of the places Brittan COLONISED . All Brittan did was saw a situation exploited the shit out of it and milked it for all it was worth no more or less better or worse than any other nation or race of people throughout human history.

[@MrSimplyfantabulous]

Where's the part where the English win the war?

[@mrmartin2079]

The English brought structure ( through great hardship ) to parts of the world ( that needed it ) undoubtedly ,but it has come back to haunt them through so much immigration which has changed England for the worse

[@e.jenima7263]

Agreed. If England would have Kept there Laws restricting how many Immigrants came init might not have been so bad...but at least many of them were very patriotic and assimilated as best they could to the Mother country. many of these Immigrants going to England and Europe today unless they are white American European Ex pats have no intentions to assimilate { Which is Important to Non Melting Pot countries} and suck off the blood of Brittan and do everything they can to turn it into the hellhole they were running away from. but yes the culture regardless has changed.

[@henriettanovember4733]

That white man in the big house on stolen land showing photographs of his family and saying that the British Empire is "nothing to be ashamed of" (even being proud of all that violence) really scares me...how can it be he is not deeply ashamed, even mortified over what his homeland and his own family and he himself has done in the world. All he says could have been said a hundred or two hundred years ago of a white man in a big house on land that has been stolen...I feel sad. Sad for my Africa...sad for all the places in this world defiled by the British Empire...sad for all the colonization still going on in so many places whit white people stealing land and talking about "development"...

[@mikito00]

The host of this doc is insufferable too

[@robandrews4815]

Test post

[@inotaishu1]

Nice xenophobic statement there buddy, tell the guy that since his ancestor were from India he is an alien in Africa and will never be anything else. Also: Europeans descend from immigrants coming from Asian!!! Aka nearly all Europeans and therefore also British are technically of "Asian descent".... incredible how people like this man try to change things but actually keep the old myths in place. I quit this series. I am going to read books now.

[@inotaishu1]

BeatniKkers Not quite. They of course did not go there immediately, but did stay in Asia for some time until they could settle Europe. Also both the Hun and Mongol invasions did leave some genetic marks on Europe's population. However my main point was that its enophobic to call someone an Alien because his/her ancestors were not from that region he was living now, since by that logic the majority if not all humans are aliens to the region they live in.

[@inotaishu1]

BeatniKkers I would advice you to be careful as well. 1) Whether skin color adapts to a region or not is not fixed. 2) The Hunnic Empire reached practically as far as the Rhine river, therefore covering nearly all of Eastern and Central Europe. Their movements reached as far as central modern France. 3) True that the Mongol empire did not reach as far into Europe as the Hunnic one but still there has been later migrations of Eastern Europeans into Central Europe as family names alone indicate. 4) Also Western and Central Europeans are not linguistically related to Asians from the Middle East and India? Why on earth do you think its called "Indo-European languages"? 5) You might want to check the expansion into Europe.

[@inotaishu1]

BeatniKkers You really only read what you want to read don't you? That Arabs usually don't have an Indo-European language is clear, but nonetheless Indo-European languages are spoken in the Middle East. But anyway, you are a waste of time. You were just one of many who reacted exactly like I expected you to react. You are really fucking boring. And don't bother replying, when I say I won't reply, I keep my word.