Rephonic
Artwork for Empire: World History

Empire: World History

Goalhanger
British Empire
Gaza
Ireland
Bronze Age Collapse
India
China
East India Company
The Great Famine
Soviet Union
Suez Crisis
Israel
Rudyard Kipling
Mughal Empire
George Orwell
Yalta Conference
Algeria
Irish Nationalism
Hungary
Colonialism
Mao Zedong

The rise and fall of empires and the events that shaped world history. William Dalrymple and Anita Anand explore the intricate stories of revolutions, imperial wars, and the people who built and lost empires. From the British Empire to the Ottomans to Ancient India, history is shaped by power struggles and territorial conquests. How does it continue to affect the world today? Empire Club: Become a... more

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes504Founded4 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
History

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Empire: World History

Latest Episodes

How did Normans from Western Europe reach as far as Antioch in what is now Turkey? What was their role in The First Crusade? Who was the Byzantine Alexios I Komnenos and how did he summon Normans to support his campaign?

In the final episode of this... more

They are best known for invading England in 1066, but the Normans conquered territories in the East too.

Who was Robert The Weasel, and did he operate like a Mafia boss in the 11th century? How did the Normans thuggishly conquer Sicily and Southern ... more

How did the Normans conquer the Celts on the fringes of their territory after 1066? What led to the events of the Norman Conquest of Ireland, which still affects the nation’s politics today? And how did the Norman invasion of Wales change the landsca... more

For weeks, William the Conqueror has been stuck on the Normandy coast, waiting. Then the wind changes. The Normans land in England, and the stage is set for the most famous battle in English history. The Bayeux Tapestry made these events immortal, bu... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

Recent Guests

Peter Frankopan
Historian and author of The First Crusade: The Call from the East
Episode: 406. Norman Conquest: The First Crusade (Part 6)
Marc Morris
Historian and author of The Norman Conquest and The Anglo-Saxons
Episode: 404. Norman Conquest: Colonising Ireland (Part 4)
Eleanor Barraclough
Historian
Episode: 401. The Norman Conquests: Secrets of the Bayeux Tapestry (Part 1)
Fiona Hill
National intelligence officer on Russia; former senior Russia advisor, U.S. National Security Council; co-author of Mr. Putin, Operative in the Kremlin
Brookings Institution (as referenced in discussion)
Episode: 400. Stalin: A Poisonous Legacy (Part 6)
Antony Beevor
Author of Stalingrad, a redefining work on the battle
Author
Episode: 399. Stalin: Hitler’s Downfall At Stalingrad (Part 5)
Giles Milton
Historian and author of The Stalin Affair and The Impossible Alliance
Author/Historian
Episode: 398. Stalin: The Great Terror (Part 4)
Peter Bergen
CNN national security analyst and author
CNN
Episode: 394. Road To 9/11: Hijackers, CIA Failures, and America’s Darkest Day (Part 6)
Steve Coll
Pulitzer Prize–winning author and journalist
Columbia Journalism School; author of Ghost Wars and The Bin Ladens
Episode: 392. Road To 9/11: Bin Laden vs Saudi Arabia (Part 4)
Jason Burke
Author, journalist, scholar of radical terrorism and revolutionaries
Author of Al-Qaeda: The True Story of Radical Islam and Revolutionists
Episode: 389. Road To 9/11: Origin of Al-Qaeda (Part 1)

Hosts

Anita Anand
Host of Empire: World History; co-host; affiliations commonly listed as Empire: World History / Goalhanger or Empire (Goalhanger)
William Dalrymple
Co-host; Host of Empire: World History; author and historian

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 16.6k ratings
  • This is amazing exceptional podcast series. I am only part way through, however the Ottoman Empire series was a revelation to me and excellent. I have even been moved to read William's book On The Holy Mountain which again I would strongly recommend. This is accessible stuff - often with great knowledgeable guests which add to it. There is some fun too.

    Podcast Addict
    5
    Alan from Leeds
    7 days ago
  • The best history podcast out

    So informed, knowledgeable and entertaining. I love the guests, host takes and the range of topics covered.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    NickMojoHolmes
    South Africa8 days ago
  • Great pluralistic analysis of the world

    I love this podcast, so interesting (though sometimes you talk over your guests a bit too much) i don’t at all agree with the 1⭐️ reviews saying it’s anti western civilisation, it seems they haven’t bothered to actually listen to much of it! This podcast shines a light on areas of history and perspectives that were mostly missing from our basic education and are important to learn about and consider. It’s a discussion. The veracity of sources is assessed. It’s interesting and educational.

    When ... more

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    acudunc
    United Kingdom9 days ago
  • Excellent and entertaining

    Very well done and fun to listen to. It may be history light but you learn a lot. Thank you!

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    basel100
    Switzerland11 days ago
  • Anti-western self-flagellation

    A pair of simpering metropolitan progressives tell us how awful western civilisation is.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Tomwoodhams
    United Kingdom14 days ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Many praise the hosts' approachable storytelling and broad topic coverage.
Listeners appreciate deep historical context and engaging guest experts.
Some reviews criticize perceived bias or editorial stance, indicating mixed reception among audiences.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

404. Norman Conquest: Colonising Ireland (Part 4)
Q: Take us there.
Morris traces the invasion of Ireland to Dermot MacMurrough's exile and recruitment of Norman forces from southwest Wales. Strongbow arrived in 1170, captured Dublin and secured the succession to Leinster through marriage, prompting Henry II to intervene. Morris also discusses how invasion proponents used hostile accounts of Irish society to rationalize conquest.
404. Norman Conquest: Colonising Ireland (Part 4)
Q: Tell us about Scotland.
Morris says the Kingdom of the Scots emerged amid political disruption following Viking activity, with a small original territory north of the Tay. Norman expansion and Scottish raids brought the kingdoms into conflict, while dynastic marriages and David I's rule strengthened connections with England and continental Europe.
405. Norman Conquest: Medieval Mafia Invade The East (Part 5)
Q: Is that also the case when they're in the South Italy? Have they got something that no one else has got that's leading them to be able to carve out this territory?
Frankopan says Norman cavalry was formidable in battle, but horses were expensive and demanding to maintain. Away from combat, they also served as costly status symbols that helped project the power of Norman knights.
405. Norman Conquest: Medieval Mafia Invade The East (Part 5)
Q: Tell us a little bit about Sicily. Who is in charge? Who was running the place before the Normans wash up?
Frankopan explains that Southern Italy was divided among competing city-states, while the Byzantine Empire considered the region and Sicily part of its sphere. Previous Muslim incursions had been pushed back, and the Normans saw Sicily as a major prize.
406. Norman Conquest: The First Crusade (Part 6)
Q: Is this the beginning of the First Crusade, when Alexios turns west and asks for help?
Frankopan explains that Alexios sought assistance from multiple leaders and needed heavy cavalry and large numbers of people to retake Nicaea and potentially Antioch and Jerusalem; Pope Urban II later helped galvanize the Western response.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Empire: World History

What is Empire: World History about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The episodes routinely explore big-picture histories of empires, revolutions, and imperial dynamics, with a strong emphasis on how power, conquest, and governance shape today's world. Hosts bring scholarly context, vivid storytelling, and contemporary parallels, often connecting ancient or colonial-era events to modern politics, technology, and memory. A standout element is the clear collaboration with guest historians and specialists, which deepens analysis while keeping complex histories accessible for curious, globally minded audiences.

Where can I find podcast stats for Empire: World History?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Empire: World History. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Empire: World History and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Empire: World History get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for four million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for Empire: World History, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for Empire: World History?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Empire: World History, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does Empire: World History have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Empire: World History has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Empire: World History?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Empire: World History:

1. The Rest Is History
2. The Rest Is Classified
3. The Book Club
4. The Rest Is Politics
5. Dan Snow's History Hit

How many episodes of Empire: World History are there?

Empire: World History launched 4 years ago and published 504 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Empire: World History?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Empire: World History?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Empire: World History from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Empire: World History?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Empire: World History. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on Empire: World History?

Recent guests on Empire: World History include:

1. Peter Frankopan
2. Marc Morris
3. Eleanor Barraclough
4. Fiona Hill
5. Antony Beevor
6. Giles Milton
7. Peter Bergen
8. Steve Coll

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days