Dan Snow's History Hit How Did the British Empire Build the Modern World?
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Dec 25, 2025 
Join journalist and bestselling author Sathnam Sanghera as he explores the immense legacy of the British Empire. Delve into its influence on global commodities like sugar and cotton, and the dynamics of settler colonies in America and Australia. Discover how empire shaped language, time zones, and today’s corporations. Sathnam also examines the darker side of imperialism, including the transatlantic slave trade and its cultural impacts. Gain insights into why understanding this history remains crucial in today's multicultural world.
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Empire Reshaped The Modern World
- The British Empire rewired global trade, ecosystems, and population movement from a tiny island state.
- Dan Snow and Sathnam Sanghera argue its reach reshaped diets, diasporas, and world borders still felt today.
Nutmeg Fights Shaped Colonies
- The hunt for nutmeg led Europeans to fight over tiny islands like Run and shaped global possessions.
- Sathnam Sanghera recounts the odd fact that control of nutmeg ultimately tied into colonial exchanges like New Amsterdam becoming Manhattan.
Commodities Fueled Empire Expansion
- Commodity demand (sugar, tea, rubber, cotton) drove empire-building and massive social change.
- Those crops created wealth, migration patterns, and industries that tied colonies directly to Britain.