Modern humans first appeared on the planet around 200,000 years ago, and just over 10,000 years ago humanity began the 5,000 year transition from being hunter-gatherers to being farmers. From there, it was another 4,500 years before Europeans starting spreading outwards from Europe in large numbers. So the history of the last 500 years is, in terms of the life of humanity, very recent. If so, it is not credible to believe that the expansion of Europe beyond its geographical boundaries does not continue to have ramifications for people around the world to the present day. In this light, this Episode surveys the history of colonialism from 1500 to 1950, and explores how colonialism shaped and continues to shape contemporary poverty and inequality.

Part 2 of this Episode examines the history of colonial enslavement, and discusses how enslavement was intimately bound up with the industrial revolution and the development of capitalist economies in both Europe and North America.