Film on the Copper Belt region of Northern Rhodesia (Zambia), specifically the interaction of Christianity and commerce in this region ...
Empire and Religion
With territory stretching around the globe, the British Empire counted millions of believers, from all of the world’s major religions, as colonial subjects. While official Imperial policy rarely sought to impinge directly on religious beliefs, the redrawing of political boundaries was often undertaken with scant regard for religious sensitivities, and in some cases laid the groundwork for future sectarian conflicts. The Empire also provided an umbrella under which Christian missionaries could spread their faith. As a result, Christianity underwent an unprecedented expansion during the Imperial period. At home in Britain, Christian proselytising was commonly seen as an integral part of Empire’s ‘civilising mission’. Many of the films selected here are missionary society productions, illustrating the way in which the missions extended their activities within the Empire.
The Colonial Film website is funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council and features films from the British Film Institute, the Imperial War Museum, and the British Empire and Commonwealth Museum.
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