Empire, David Olusoga at his best.

I've recorded it, look forward to watching on a wet, miserable afternoon!

Yes. He also does a podcast that is worth listening to.

Thanks WWM2, I’ll look for that podcast. I’ve enjoyed all his programmes.

It was fascinating and I've learned a lot.
I love his presentation style.
I've got tickets for his show "A Gun Through Time" and have heard that there is a new House series soon.
A very busy man.

I very much admire Prof David Olusoga and his view of the UK and Imperial history.

Amongst historians there is a debate as to whether slavery gave Britain the capital to exploit the Industrial Revolution and David Olusoga is definitely on the side that it did.

I thoroughly enjoy watching his historical investigations. As OP said we see history through very different eyes.

We were watching it last night, still one episode to catch up on. It was a marvellous and modern retelling of the British Empire in all it's glory and sad insensitivity to the presence of different people's in the world. The interweaving of details of the slave trade and of convict exile to the other end of the world were staggering. What marvellous administrators there have been through the centuries. David O is very impressive as a historian and presenter.

I always enjoy David Olusoga’s quiet, forensic examination of historical documents to support the overarching themes of his series. Whether he’s looking at something very specific e.g. A House Through Time or T^he People’s Piazza, A History of Covent Garden^, black history or national politics e.g. 2023’s excellent Union, he brings history to life in a very accessible way. His latest - Empire is no exception.

I would also recommend watching David Harewood on Blackface (iPlayer) where Olusoga helps his friend locate shocking documents and archive footage about the history of this very strange cultural form that was part of mass TV viewing for so many decades.

Yes l have watched all of the episodes and found it enlightening and informative, on some aspects of how the present day UK came about

Where it falls down for me is. The way in which some of these slaves were violently rounded up and sold as slaves to the British and other countries by their fellow countryman for large profits

For years his was a routine commonplace practice

This is a very controversial subject,which has been swept under the carpet and hushed up for years.

Maybe Mr Olusoga can make a programme on this subject in the future.

He has. 2015's Britain's Forgotten Slave Owners on iPlayer.

www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b062nqpd/britains-forgotten-slave-owners-1-profit-and-loss

WithNobsOnIt

Yes l have watched all of the episodes and found it enlightening and informative, on some aspects of how the present day UK came about

Where it falls down for me is. The way in which some of these slaves were violently rounded up and sold as slaves to the British and other countries by their fellow countryman for large profits

For years his was a routine commonplace practice

This is a very controversial subject,which has been swept under the carpet and hushed up for years.

Maybe Mr Olusoga can make a programme on this subject in the future.

Did David Olusoga mention the black slave owners too, ie the plantation owners who had 20+ slaves?

Indians, Irish, Chinese and others, too, were taken out to the Caribbean as indentured workers after the abolition of slavery, but we hear little of them.

PaynesGray

He has. 2015's Britain's Forgotten Slave Owners on iPlayer.

www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b062nqpd/britains-forgotten-slave-owners-1-profit-and-loss

Perhaps he mentions it on there, I can't listen at the moment.

I think he did at one point. How it looked as if they would eventually become free, but not all made it through the difficult work forced on them.

Whatever programme he is on he never fails to bring up racism and how “his people” have suffered under British rule. He also talks over people very loudly and does not listen to anybody else’s opinion. He never gives the other side of things as someone above mentioned earlier.

Primrose53

Whatever programme he is on he never fails to bring up racism and how “his people” have suffered under British rule. He also talks over people very loudly and does not listen to anybody else’s opinion. He never gives the other side of things as someone above mentioned earlier.

😄😄 if you were an ancestor of slaves in the British empire, what would you “balanced”argument sound like?

Whitewavemark2

Primrose53

Whatever programme he is on he never fails to bring up racism and how “his people” have suffered under British rule. He also talks over people very loudly and does not listen to anybody else’s opinion. He never gives the other side of things as someone above mentioned earlier.

😄😄 if you were an ancestor of slaves in the British empire, what would you “balanced”argument sound like?

From descendant of slaves to National Treasure?

if you were an ancestor of slaves

descendant!!

David Olusoga is not, in all probability, descended from slaves as his background is British/Scottish/Nigerian.
It has been questioned if his ancestors could have been involved in slavery as many Nigerian tribal leaders were, but that has not been established.

It's his field of expertise. He knows his subject.

Indentured workers were paid, not much but they received pay.
They were free after their period of indenture; usually 3-5 years.

No such luxury for slaves. They had no rights whatsoever, not even that of animals.

Primrose53

Whatever programme he is on he never fails to bring up racism and how “his people” have suffered under British rule. He also talks over people very loudly and does not listen to anybody else’s opinion. He never gives the other side of things as someone above mentioned earlier.

What is “the other side” of slavery? Interested to hear about that.

You seem to think the subject unworthy of discussion, better forgotten.

Thought you might like a picture of this:-
Mary was ‘adopted’ by a local family, went in to marry and had a number of children. She died in her ‘90s.
Her statue was unveiled a couple of weeks ago, well supported by the locals, who braved dreadful weather.

I’m afraid I don’t like him, so don’t watch his programmes any more.

Actually thats where you're wrong ..Oliver Cromwell sent out Irish catholics as indentured slaves to the plantations for minor crimes….And often they were not paid and when their time was up they were Not released..

WithNobsOnIt

Yes l have watched all of the episodes and found it enlightening and informative, on some aspects of how the present day UK came about

Where it falls down for me is. The way in which some of these slaves were violently rounded up and sold as slaves to the British and other countries by their fellow countryman for large profits

For years his was a routine commonplace practice

This is a very controversial subject,which has been swept under the carpet and hushed up for years.

Maybe Mr Olusoga can make a programme on this subject in the future.

It's been known for years and not hushed up at all. I did history at Uni in the 1970's.

It doesn't make what we did OK, does it

I heard something very surprising on one or other of those shows where a celebrity visits India. Can't remember which one. The celebrity was talking to an Indian teacher who said 'The British gave us many things. Education. Law for all. And the most valuable thing of all - the English language, which has enabled our country to take part in global enterprises.' Probably not verbatim, it was a while ago.

Probably the only time I have ever heard a former British colonist have anything good to say about the British, so it stuck in my mind.

I was also surprised to see that the only trains available to most are the original railways and trains installed by the British during the Raj, without which many Indians would be unable to travel large distances. Sadly the safety and maintenance aspects of British rail don't apply so they are beginning to fall apart and have accidents.