Imperial Preferences — A Greater Britain? [audio 15min]

"Empire" 77th of 90: At the start of the 20th century, Britain controlled the economic valuation of the world because many important trading nations had succumbed to Britain's insistence on a gold standard. Britain traded with gold as the convertible currency of Sterling. So, in theory, the British could govern every aspect of the colonies. In practice, this was increasingly unlikely to continue. "This Sceptred Isle: Empire" is a narrative history of the British Empire from Ireland in the 12th century to the independence of India in the 20th, told in 90 programmes written by historian Christopher Lee and narrated by actor Juliet Stevenson. ~Visit website to listen again to 5 most recent episodes, plus interactive maps and timeline, biographical dictionary, image galleries, quizzes, sources, resources, listeners' comments.