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A History of Britain by Simon Schama
A History of Britain by Simon Schama Episodes
Series 3 - The Two Winstons
Examining the 20th century through the lives of Winston Churchill and George Orwell, who both wrote about the Depression, empire, world wars and the Cold War.
18-04-2023
BBC 4
Series 3 - The Empire Of Good Intentions
How the liberal politics and free-market economics of the British Empire unravelled, leading to the potato famine in Ireland and mutiny in India.
11-04-2023
BBC 4
Series 3 - Victoria And Her Sisters
A look at the social and economic changes which took place during Queen Victoria's reign, such as industrialisation and changing roles for women.
04-04-2023
BBC 4
Series 3 - Forces Of Nature
In a programme focusing on the French Revolution, Simon Schama explores why the British proved immune to the siren call of liberty, equality and fraternity.
28-03-2023
BBC 4
Series 2 - The Wrong Empire
Simon Schama traces the steps of the empire-makers, asking how a trading enterprise based on the idea of liberty became an empire built on slavery.
21-03-2023
BBC 4
Series 2 - Britannia Incorporated
Simon Schama's epic history reaches the 18th century where, due to an economic explosion, the consumer society is born and agriculture becomes big business.
14-03-2023
BBC 4
Series 2 - Revolutions
Featuring the revolutionary period in Britain after the execution of Charles I, from Cromwell's iron rule to Charles II's attempts to restore the lustre of the monarchy.
07-03-2023
BBC 4
Series 2 - The British Wars
Simon Schama looks beyond the romantic stories of Cavaliers and Roundheads to the real story of the English Civil War, in which hundreds of thousands died.
28-02-2023
BBC 4
Series 1 - The Body Of The Queen
Simon Schama examines the long, tangled relationship between Queen Elizabeth I and her cousin Mary, Queen of Scots, who was executed by royal command in 1587.
21-02-2023
BBC 4
Series 1 - Burning Convictions
Simon Schama tells the story of the Reformation, from Henry VIII's love for Anne Boleyn to Bloody Mary's unsuccessful attempt to return England to Catholicism.
14-02-2023
BBC 4
Series 1 - King Death
Simon Schama continues his look at British history with the greatest horror of medieval Britain - the Black Death.
07-02-2023
BBC 4
Series 1 - Nations
The story of Edward I - The Hammer of the Scots - whose attempts to force English rule on Scotland and Wales strengthened the identities of all the British nations.
01-02-2023
BBC 4
Series 1 - Dynasty
The documentary series taking a comprehensive look at British history. Henry II built a great medieval empire - which was then torn apart by his scheming family.
24-01-2023
BBC 4
Series 1 - Conquest
Simon Schama recounts the saga of blood, betrayal and ambition that led up to the pivotal Battle of Hastings and describes the profound consequences that followed.
17-01-2023
BBC 4
Series 1 - Beginnings
Simon Schama begins his history of Britain at the miraculously preserved Stone Age cottages of Skara Brae in Orkney and then moves on to the world of Anglo-Saxon England.
12-01-2023
BBC 4