A look at the social and economic changes which took place during Queen Victoria's reign, such as industrialisation and changing roles for women. Show more

Simon Schama continues his look at British history with the greatest horror of medieval Britain - the Black Death. Show more

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. Show more

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. Show more

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. Show more

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. Show more

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. Show more

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. Show more

Simon Schama's epic history reaches the 18th century, where an economic explosion gives birth to the consumer society and agriculture becomes big business. Show more

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. Show more

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

An introduction to the documentary series A History of Britain. Mark Lawson talks to Simon Schama about the background to the series.

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. Show more

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. Show more

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. Show more

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. Show more