BBC Empire - Episode 5 - Final Episode - Doing Good - Jeremy Paxman
n the final part of his personal account of Britain's empire, Jeremy Paxman tells the extraordinary story of how a desire for conquest became a mission to improve the rest of mankind, especially in Africa, and how that mission shaded into an unquestioning belief that Britain could - and should - rule the world.
In Central Africa, he travels in the footsteps of David Livingstone who, though a failure as a missionary, became a legendary figure - the patron saint of empire who started a flood of missionaries to the so-called 'Dark Continent'.
In South Africa, Paxman tells the story of Cecil Rhodes, a man with a different sort of mission, who believed in the white man's right to rule the world, laying down the foundations for apartheid.
The journey ends in Kenya, where conflict between white settlers and the African population brought bloodshed, torture and eventual withdrawal.
This was an excellent BBC series/documentary. I highly recommend people watch this to learn about the former British Empire, how it came to be, and it actually ruled the colonized territories.
Ya, also look up Richard Grove & his website. Here's a video on Rhodes: kzhead.info/sun/o9uwidmPaaawiKc/bejne.html
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That first statement about customs was brilliant! The Brits had it right there!
Not making excuses for them but that practice is barbaric!
Yes one of the few selfless deeds done by the British.
@@whatonearth9809 pandemic era 27th of April only the difference the living and dead
Great series. Well done BBC for making such a great piece for future generations.
One of the best series I have seen. I was very impressed with the writing. I detected no bias but lots of thought provoking ideas.
I didn't think it was so good. No interviews with any experts or historians oddly, Paxman knows all....... He also jumps all over the place in the narrative and timeline, he has a slightly sneering superior manner too when he talks to people which works well in political interviews but not here. Check out the BBC documentary of Kippling in India, much better. Really Delves into life in India in the 1880s. You get a real feel for the Brits living there at the time, Kipplings development as a fiction and non fiction writer. There's commentary from experts and historians, it dispels a lot myths about Kipling, and also gives you a flavour for modern Pakistan too.
would have been nice to have subtitles for those taking notes
You probably dont give a shit but if you are bored like me during the covid times then you can stream all the latest movies on Instaflixxer. I've been watching with my brother recently xD
@Luka Finnley yup, have been watching on instaflixxer for years myself =)
Whilst the Empire unofficially ended in 1997, officially it lives on. In fact, the sun still never sets on Britain and her overseas territories.
@Ready For Anything. well, some languages have been lost to time of course though I do believe English will be with humanity forever. But my original comment was something else: the sun literally does not set on all of the British Overseas Territories, though it wouldn’t be true if not for the Pitcairn Islands. The idea that legacy of Empire never sets is also true, even if people don’t realise it. Same with the Roman Empire.
@@Marc-bv8td that’s not true of Britain. The British Empire was actually an administrative marvel made much more efficient by modern inventions like the telephone, radio, aeroplane and fuel-burning ship. It is true that many colonies had very few people actually in the civil service but despite this, governing the colonies was remarkably well done. The near-total collapse of the British Empire was rather due primarily to political pressure, economic decline and, to some extent, war fatigue from WW2. As the USA took Britain’s place as no.1 superpower, they pressured the Europeans to decolonise. The USSR also pressured Europeans to decolonise and backed many separatist groups in the former territories. I do believe that if Europe had America’s support, the Empires would be more or less intact today.
Sure if you include some minor territories like Pitcairn you can say the sun never sets on Britain's territories. So what? But no one in their right mind seriously believes Britain is now a Super Power or has an Empire. You are dealing in semantics, not the reality which the phrase stands for when it was originally spoken
Outstanding BBC series/documentary. I do recommend it for everyone who wants to know more about the rise and fall of the incredible British Empire. Make sure to see the whole 5 episodes: 1. Taste of Power, 2. Making Ourselves at Home, 3. Playing the Game, 4. Making a Fortune, 5. Doing Good.
Any of my A level history bois n girls in this comment section?
Damn right
Hi Jeremy, Don’t be so hard on yourself, the empire was not all bad. I like a lot of things about the British except some of your food. Most of all, I like the sound of RP accent such as yours. Besides, I can’t go without mentioning afternoon tea, the custom of having afternoon teas is both fun and elegantly stylish. By the way, I am from Singapore.
Although such a mammoth global enterprise as Empire invariably would have its ugly bits, I have often been amazed at how the British Empire influenced my life even decades after independence. Grew up avidly watching English football every Saturday, playing rugby in school, reading every Enid Blyton book etc. Family always had afternoon tea as well. From Singapore too!
Very good series thanks for posting it.
Sweet !Paxman,great doc'
Excellent documentary, entertaining and informative.
“Entertaining.” ? 🤔
Inaccurate too.
Did anyone catch the 50 Cent quote "Get Rich or Die Tryin" LOL
Yo just because 50 cent is the first place you heard something ,or anything for that matter doesnt mean he wrote it. As awsome as 50 cent is that saying is old school. Cheers.
@@deprime3360 you're an idiot. Find something better to be offended by. 💁♂️
watchin this for hw its very helpful
Same
Imagine...
Imagine...
@@framenoodles ok then le
Hello noodles sub to me pls
nice series, enjoyed that
Excellent.
Pretty awesome doc...us yanks can learn much from this since we perpetuated that mentality and in some sense, still do. Say no to racism. 🌎 ☮
Wel done.
As Monty Python said," what have the Romans ever done for us?" You say the same as British Empire.😊
Great Effort Jeremy!
Somebody explain to me what's wrong with bringing food and medicines to people (if requested) and skipping the whole religion thing?
Always thought that when the British arrived, these lands were divided and do not have a common language. After years of colonization, they gain a common language, unite and threw the British out.
Would Been Better if there were timestamps for each chapter.
Christianity and Commerce. As I understand the christian bible, one would think that according to it's precepts, those two things are incompatible.
R.I.P John Chilembwe
One of the true heros of Africa. No dispute.
28:23 lmao mans said the n-word like 20000 times
Malawi was brutally ruled for 30yrs by Hastings Banda after the British left.
Moment mal, die Briten waren also die ersten mit der Idee der Herrenrasse, nicht die Deutschen. Man lernt nie aus.
Nicht nur das, KZ ist ne britische Erfindung.
So - what happened to Episode 3?
@Jamie Felton it was two episodes ago. Musta missed it bro.
Documentary HD has it.
Ubuntu comes from Africa and means if one is unhappy, we are all unhappy, if one suffers, we all suffer. A concept foreign to the thieving, torturing, arrogant ignorant colonists. There is no honour in what Britain did. Stealing and butchery isn't civilised, it's barbaric. That is why British people who have a conscience, feel ashamed. And the ones who have a conscience and don't feel ashamed, go on the defensive, because they know deep down that there was no honour in what was done. Being ashamed redeems Britain in my eyes. At least there is some semblance of conscience. It's the arrogance of the rest that sickens the world. Even the things that were grown for the empire, sugar, tea, coffee, are all poisons. Oh and the opium. The British cut off the hands of Ayurvedic doctors in India, and guess who have the cures for cancer today? Yes, Ayurvedic doctors. Everyone today is touched by cancer in some form. You can thank your arrogant leaders for suppressing this knowledge when you have to suffer and watch a loved one or yourself die from cancer. I doubt anyone defending their beloved Britain will research what I'm saying. Your arrogance may make you dismiss this information. That's your choice.
What is almost never mentioned unless you have personal experience, and i know many many Indian people - is that many people in India liked and still do like white people and the British, and in many ways admire Europeans and wish to have closer relations to them. Unfortunately the negative always floats to the top.
What are some facts that you guys found interesting ?
#coronaferien
how come theft and stealing is a crime in Britain?
min 31:00 Cecil Rhodes was right : the more Britain there is in the world, the better.
What about the French?
shana schwartz "What about the French?" Yer kidding , right? Please.
JamesMan80 The French had colonized many foreign places, they have an outstanding language and culture, and they're also very civilized. You said "the more Britain in the world, the better." In what way? What makes British cultural influences better or preferable than that of another culture, like France, Spain, Italy, Japan, etc.? Britain already has ruled a lot of the world and most countries wanted independence from it. BTW I was surprised to see the US wasn't included as part of Britain's empire, b/c it was once part of Britain.
Rule Britannia dude! What if Cecil Rhodes had pulled off the Trans-African railroad? Africa would be like another USA today. Beacon of freedom and prosperity for the entire world.
tom o connor (yawn) anyhoo....Trans African railroad dude!!!! woulda been Fu%$in awesome!!!!
After watching from start to finish..... What about Australia & New Zealand???? NOT ONE scene, person, mention or clip............. Rather shoddy on Paxman's part !
The essence of colonialism min: 43:00
Why is Ireland not mentioned here in any episode. It is where the greatest British crimes of them all took place and their British troops are still on Irish soil today. Ethnic cleansing , famine and genocide all swept under the carpet
You sound a bit butt-hurt.
whats your problem?
Me? Oh nothing, just embracing Britains glorious past mate :)
past mate.. the past...kicked out of everywhere and hated everywhere. Beating up farmers in afghanistan now...brave men those brit soldiers
You are one very angry, misinformed and ignorant young man.
The biggest bluff of all is the Royal Family. Their power is not given by the gods. They are nothing if we all ignore them.
As far as India is concerned, Brits gave us a f***ing reason to unite.....
Unite or divide? Britain united the subcontinent as one polity, it was brutally divided as two by the clashing Muslim League and INC.
@@TygerTyger24 Sad truth man😔
Apart from ruling with iron fist, I believe British Empire has developed nations as well.
+Faizul Adlan Anuar These episodes are blatant attempts to white-wash the British Empire's evil deeds. The British Empire was not the benevolent force as the presenter portrayed. Rather it was an oppression that half the world's population was trying to eradicate, beginning from the American Revolution to the 20th century.
+minixboy so you are saying that they make these episodes to legitimise their current domination to the world, no? I think so too.
These episodes seemed to glorify the empire while glossing over the horrible misdeeds that the British did over more than 500 years. The atrocities were too many to innumerate, from starving the people of Bengal in WWII to shipping opium to China, slavery in Africa and genocide of North American natives. The vile things they have done far outweigh any contribution they brought to the world.
+minixboy +minixboy May I remind you that the Bengali famine of 1943 was caused by a drought. Churchill was left with the option of being defeated by the Japanese in Burma or allowing this famine to happen. I'm sure most people would see the bigger picture. It's unfortunate but an army without food cannot fight. The atrocities against the North Americans were committed by the U.S.A. NOT the British empire. In fact, a large amount of tribes fought with the British against the Americans. And last but not least, Opium, which was a perfectly normal commercial product at the time. Yes we had a couple of wars to make sure the Chinese government would allow it's people to buy it. But it's no different to how the U.S.A. is and has been waging war for the last half century to fuel it arms industry.
+Rory Murphy That's the kind of excuse from Nero to Napoleon, that we're fighting to protect the "mother" country be it Rome or England. Please reread historical text. The Bengal famine would not have happened if the British did not ship crops away from India to feed England.
THE LIGHT of THE WORLD THE REDEEMER STATUE LIGHTHOUSES CALATAGAN BATANGAS one of them i slept underneath it's BEACON LIGHT
Kneeling and praying to a black God.
I often wonder what would have happened to Africa had it not been colonized.......or perhaps if there had been a more civil approach towards the Africans.......try as I might, I used to think that colonization had been beneficial in some way to former British colonies, but the results of exploitation, and the making of artificial boundaries, placing tribes that had never got along in centuries together, seems to make me think there was nothing good that came of it....as evidenced by the many former colonies that today are near failed states.
The biggest problem with Empire was the way it collapsed. The boundaries across the world should have been completely redrawn, in the way Europe was after World War 1.
Breda Jake Japan was never colonized by Europeans and it turned out great. Iran and Thailand were never colonized either. Once again, both of them have been touched by modernity without the need for Imperial domination.
***** Good points.....
***** You seem to be oddly bitter towards Britain. Insisting we should be destroyed by immigration for the crimes of a small number of our great grandfathers and constantly painting the empire as a hellish nightmare. Why is that?
***** I did read it but many of your other comments seem to be triumphantly saying we Brits 'deserve' what we're now getting even though we had nothing to do with the empire. I can see the bad things the empire did, and I'm not proud of them, but why should I have to see my country completely transformed against my will by immigration just because of what happened all that time ago?
Quite British.... the English come out with their hands clean and...white .They still have the same mindset.
+Daniel Provencher if we still had the same mindset we would still have an empire, and we dont.
How could the British complain about immigration? W
***** If you think colonialism is the same as immigration then does that not give Europeans the same right as Africans, Native Americans, Arabs and Asians to resist what they see to be as a threat to their traditions and the makeup of their society from foreign immigration/colonialism. nice double standard there m8
Boi where is Godfrey
This makes me so angry!
Good seres
The UK provided the ideological foundations for what the nazis would later on come to replicate back home in europe
Why did England have the need to conquer all of these far-away lands to begin with? I know the UK is an island and doesn't have many natural resources of its own. So did they set out to conquer these foreign places to use their natural resources for England's own gain of wealth, and to civilize the people once they were there?
rubber , cocoa, cotton and every other precious metal you could think of
Lisa 123 Britain had started to industrialise with the coal and iron in the uk and was becoming very wealthy and it needed lots of resources to keep this up. A lot of it comes down to the concept of our empires bigger than yours.
By the 19th century to be a great power you needed an empire. All important nations had overseas territory, France, Spain, Turkey, Portugal, Germany, Belgium, Holland. Even America flirted with having an empire. The UK was ahead of the game, it gives you unique trading opportunities, a chance to spread your culture, values and religion abroad. It means your navy can resupply in friendly ports across the world. In times of war you have extra manpower. Empires are nothing new and the concept of nationalism and nationhood didn't really gain traction until the 1800s, and then only on Europe and USA.
250 metres from my home in Cork City is a mass grave with the bodies of 16,000 people who perished in the Great Irish Famine, only one of countless mass graves. While Paxman made an effort at acknowledging some of the dreadful things done in the name of the British Empire couldn't help but feel there was also some effort at normalising a criminal enterprise. 'We know there were wars, famines, trading in drugs, exploitation, and oppression but look at those roads and bridges we built'. Doesn't rise above the absurd.
Just watched this.... i am Malawian... there is a patronising tone.... i just cant take it. Jeremy needs to do more research.
as expected of a neo-colonialist
Jeremy is paid by BBC. Blitch bias company. Being British as ever.
*Railways were to ship African resources to the UK, and no a single road was built by the British empire in Africa unless it was serving the colonisers. And if setting up extremely rudimentary so-called schools in an open space in a village to fool locals, is to you providing education to the locals, then you must be part of such a colonial mindset.*
If only the Brits had learned to extend and share true political power; installing new constituencies, not colonies; centuries ago, the empire would still be intact. Of course that would mean allowing the possibility of white people to be judged and ruled by black people. A concept a lot find difficult today.
That would have been a disaster Remember many in Britain’s colonies were not literate, a basic requirement for a democracy to function is a literate population
@@sircoloniser5454 I agree. But by the late 19th and early 20th centuries, literacy was more commonplace.
@@robertmoore6149 true At the start of British rule in India literacy was around 3% at the end it was 17%
@@sircoloniser5454 Well again they kinda screwed themselved by not dedicating more resources to improving literacy in India. But i was referring to Great Britain proper. Westminster would decide politcial representation, not Calcutta.
@@robertmoore6149 it was one of the few actually profitable colonies and helped support much of the rest of the empire. Cold logic would dictate that it profit be held over rapidly increasing literacy. Interestingly mostly Protestant African nations had and have higher literacy due to Protestants highly valuing literacy so people can read the bible
IS THE OXFORD DICTIONARY MEANING OF GENOCIDE DOING GOOD??? SOMEONE PLEASE CLARIFY!
Viva John Chilembve
why is it called bbc
This documentary totally glosses over the colonial history and impact in Africa. Justifying the Empires actions by saying that the English brought religion, development and education to Africa, as if those things didn't exist before....
exactly
Paxman: was there no way to achieve freedom besides killing No like you guys executed jallianwala bagh massacre Tit for tat
Exhaustion and diarrhoea... guess that'll do. About he sent a letter asking for a steamer to stop slavery, more like send a good steamer so he can send them by the boat loads, squeezing the last few dineros out of the SICK trade for him and his gang of slave traders before the games up. I always suspect missionary's intentions, dunno... if he was doing Gods good work then why did God strike him with such awful death. Also why would you go to that length of asking for money for a boat? Surely he could have just gone there some other way... I mean if he was doing such good work then surely any good man would be too glad to help him get there. Livingston, what a way to die! Why do they need to edit and leave large portions out of his diary? Probably it was more of a ledger lol. HAHAHA... That good 'missioner', did I just see him being carried by slaves? Seriously.
28:22 Jeremy Paxman drops a red pill.
14:25
Neo colonialism is just as putrid as the old settlers being there. ..Fanon talks about this in wretched of the earth.
All due respect but this sounds like so much baloney..
ORIGIN & REASONS OF SATI: The ritual of Sati Sahagamana (departing this world together w/ deceased husband) originated to preserve sanctity & to protect vulnerable & helpless Hindu widows from forced conversion to Islam, rape, treachery, molestation from Muslim invaders which started from 7th century AD when Muslim invasion from Persia (Iran) , Arabia & Central Asia. Islam which is the youngest religion has spread to all parts of the world by forced conversion @ the point of sword, become a Muslim or get butchered, unlike Christianity which spread by kindness & compassion. Islam, youngest religion was founded in 7th century AD. Prior to founding of Islam in 7th century, Afghanistan part of Pakistan & Bangladesh was Hindus & Buddhist, India & Bangladesh was Hindu, Buddhist, Christians, Jains; Persia (Iran) was a Zoroastrian, Jews & Christians; Indonesia & Malaysia were Buddhist, now Indonesia has 360 million is the largest Muslim country in the world; middle East, Europe & West were Jewish/ Christianity. Due to forced conversion, now India is the 2nd most Muslim population in the world has 200 million Muslims, has more Muslims than Pakistan & Bangladesh. In 7th century, Zoroastrians to preserve their religion from forced conversion to Islam, fled & sought refuge in India. India is the largest Zoroastrian country in the world. Example: World famous Western Classical music conductor Zubin Mehta, India’s richest industrialists Tatas, Godrej etc., Indira Gandhi former Prime Minister (PM) of India, Rajiv Gandhi former PM of India & General Manek Shah, liberator of East Pakistan to become Bangladesh) are Zoroastrians. Hinduism does NOT convert other religions to become a Hindu. Hinduism does/did not have widow remarriage tradition. Unfortunately, once a woman becomes a widow, she will remain as a widow for rest of her life. There was no Sati ritual before Muslim invasion started. in 7th century AD. Evidences: Lord Rama’s mother Kausalya in Ramayana & 5 Pandava’s mothers Kunthi & Madri when they became widows, did not commit Sati. Therefore, to protect, preserve sanctity & religion helpless & vulnerable widows started Sati ritual in 7th Century when the Muslim invasion to India started.
Islam brought light to India. for thousands of years the caste system where children of janitors had no hope , child sacrifice , murder of female babies was common. Even in London many hospital will refuse to give Indians sex of baby because a female is likely to be aborted.
remember the most famous landmarks in India were built by the Muslim's and they enlightened the Indians with poetry, art, cuisine , architecture. You were backward then. what has India achieved since Taj mahal was built?
thanks for telling us this im hindu boy age 26
india went to mars since then i guess
Hate to sound racist but bring back colonialism to Africa. At least an independent body can govern. It worked better than today's self government.
Only a brutal system like communism would have created a new people from many tribes.
Hi Pakka here . I am glad my program is starting to re-educate people to understand that the British have contributed almost nothing to advance human civilization and that civilizations like the Watungi of central Africa in the 17th century, The Quresh tribe of Islam and Mohammad in the 7th century Middle East and the Arapaho tribe of Red Indians in North America have contributed at least as much if not more to the furtherance of science, Culture and philosophy than the overrated British Empire.
Jontibloom, you talk some shit
I wish the presenter were a black or indian guy/girl
this is so boring
HR1002 No it’s not
@@The_Fat_Controller it is 59 mins, I am only here because of homework but I am not watching 59 damn minutes of this shit, smh.
delete urself It’s interesting
@delete urself this is some boring as shit I cba to watch it for my history work and @Captain Rex stfu