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Artwork for Empire: World History

Empire: World History

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

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

PublishesDailyEpisodes458Founded4 years ago
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History

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Artwork for Empire: World History

Latest Episodes

Who was Bamba Duleep Singh, the self-styled 'Queen of the Punjab'? How did she survive Partition to become one of the last Sikh residents of Lahore? Why did she turn her back on British high society in favour of radical Indian revolutionaries? Why wa... more

**Unlock the entire First British Indians series ad-free by joining the Empire Club at empirepoduk.com**

During the rise of Hitler, how did a brown-skinned Indian princess survive living in Germany? Who was Catherine Duleep Singh, the ‘Indian Schind... more

**Unlock the entire First British Indians series ad-free by joining the Empire Club at empirepoduk.com**

Sophia Duleep Singh: heiress to the Sikh Empire, ward of Queen Victoria, suffragette and revolutionary. How did this Indian princess end up figh... more

Was monotheism passed down from Pharaoh Akhenaten of Ancient Egypt? Who was the ancient goddess Asherah? How did exposure to other empires shape the Hebrew Bible?

William is joined by Francesca Stavrakopoulou, author of God: An Anatomy, to explore t... more

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Recent Guests

Francesca Stavrakopoulou
Author of God and Anatomy, expert in ancient religion
Episode: 368. Ancient Egypt: The Origin of Abrahamic Religions? (Ep 7)
Dr. Campbell Price
Historian; Egyptology expert
Manchester University Museum
Episode: 367. Ancient Egypt: “Tut-mania” And Tutankhamun’s Tomb (Ep 6)
Aidan Dodson
Professor of Egyptology
University of Bristol
Episode: 364. Ancient Egypt: The Fall of Akhenaten (Ep 3)
Lloyd Lewellyn-Jones
Professor of Ancient History at Cardiff University; author
Cardiff University
Episode: 363. Ancient Egypt: Destroyer Of Gods – Pharaoh Akhenaten (Ep 2)
Louis Theroux
Documentary filmmaker focusing on social and political themes
BBC / Netflix (The Settlers, The Ultra Zionist; Inside the Manosphere)
Episode: 361. Louis Theroux On The Settlers, The Manosphere, & Tribalism
Michael Bass
Anthropologist and author, senior research fellow at the Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology
Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology
Episode: 360. Spice Wars: The Battle of the East India Companies (Ep 3)
Herold van der Linde
Guest with finance/Asia experience and deep history of the VOC
HSBC (Asia/finance)
Episode: 358. Spice Wars: The Rise of the Dutch East India Company (Ep 1)
Raja Shehadeh
Palestinian writer and founder of Al-Haq, an influential Palestinian human rights organization.
Al-Haq
Episode: What Is Life Like For Palestinians Under Occupation?
Jung Chang
Author of Wild Swans; historian providing eyewitness accounts of the Cultural Revolution
Author
Episode: Jung Chang On Life Under Mao & Being Banned From China

Hosts

William Dalrymple
Host of Empire: World History, historian and author with a focus on imperial history
Anita Anand
Host and historian, co-host with a strong emphasis on world history and imperial contexts

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 16k ratings
  • A Bad Joke

    Never ceases to amaze me hearing arab muslim imperialist propaganda from ostensible “anti-imperialists.” Apparently all it takes to get them to uncritically adopt the far right viewpoint that minority immigration and civil rights are obviously “unjust” and “oppressive” is for that minority to be jews. “Both sides”-ing the HEBRON MASSACRE, are you JOKING?! You may notice the conspicuous absence of corresponding massacres of the arab population by jews under the mandate. I guess the podcast is apt... more

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    CrimsonEquine
    United States10 days ago
  • Fantastic

    The world needs more decent history!!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Hobie26
    Japan19 days ago
  • Meh...

    The format is different from the Rest is History. Instead of 2 EXTREMELY well informed/ well researched hosts WITH amazing chemistry that present facts in an engaging way that keeps me riveted to my iPod, this show includes a 3rd "expert" that contributes info. But there is no chemistry, no entertainment. It's less engaging stories and more like dry facts and dates. It's good to help with insomnia though!!

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    manayunk wall
    United States19 days ago
  • Something Of A Let-Down

    There are so many fascinating stories and facts that can help listeners understand the civilizations that arose, fell, and emerged once again long before the modern West was conceived. However, this smug pair of hosts are way too pleased with themselves, and in the case of Dalrymple, absorbed in his own clear personal biases, to allow the real experts a chance to be heard without interruption. The subject matter deserves better; probably at least one cast change away from letting the voices of t... more

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    The_Time_Being
    United Kingdoma month ago
  • Your daily dose of flagellation

    Shame, shame, shame on Britain!

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Bibliophenia
    United Kingdoma month ago

Listeners Say

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

Highlighting deep, credible historical analysis with engaging hosts and strong guests.
Listener feedback often notes both high-quality episodes and some polarization in topics or presentation.
A few reviews criticize perceived bias or interruptions, but overall praise the show's depth and storytelling.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

364. Ancient Egypt: The Fall of Akhenaten (Ep 3)
Q: What explains the rapid erasure of Akhenaten's name and image after his death?
A combination of political backlash, religious restoration, and a deliberate attempt by successors to erase the memory of a controversial ruler and reestablish the old gods and state religion.
362. Ancient Egypt: Great Kings of The Bronze Age (Ep 1)
Q: What exactly did Akhenaten change about religion and governance, and why does it matter for understanding the period?
Akhenaten centralized religious power around the Aten, closing temples and reconfiguring the state to control economy, religion, and diplomacy, which transformed Egypt's internal governance and its external relations, revealing a calculated, strategic approach behind a dramatic shift rather than a purely spiritual revolution.
362. Ancient Egypt: Great Kings of The Bronze Age (Ep 1)
Q: Tell us about Amenhotep III and how his reign shaped Egypt before the revolution.
Amenhotep III was a consummate diplomat and ruler who unified a broad network of marriages, alliances, and cultural exchange, strengthening Egypt's foreign reach and solidifying Egypt's status as a major hub of wealth and power before Akhenaten redefined the religion and foreign policy.
361. Louis Theroux On The Settlers, The Manosphere, & Tribalism
Q: Final question: who would you most like to interview that hasn't been easy to secure?
Theroux expresses interest in high-profile tech and AI figures like Peter Thiel and Demis Hassabis, signaling a desire to juxtapose political extremism with other powerful global narratives.
361. Louis Theroux On The Settlers, The Manosphere, & Tribalism
Q: Louis, why did Daniella Weiss say yes to you for interviews despite criticisms of bias?
Theroux suggests it's a mix of believing in the importance of engaging with controversial figures and the belief that balanced exposure can reveal truth, even if the subject challenges him; the interaction is provocative and reveals the subject's conviction.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About Empire: World History

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

A rigorous history-focused conversation that spans ancient empires to modern power structures, featuring deep dives with scholars and historians. Episodes frequently center on imperial politics, statecraft, and the cultural, economic, and diplomatic dynamics that shaped major civilizations. Noteworthy traits include a strong emphasis on archival context, interwoven narrative storytelling, and incisive guest expertise that propels nuanced debates about leadership, colonization, and empire-building. The show often pairs seasoned hosts with subject-m matter guests to unpack complex historical episodes, offering listeners valuable context for understanding today's geopolitical landscape through the lens of past empires.

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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 Rest Is Politics
4. The Rest Is Politics: Leading
5. The Rest Is Politics: US

How many episodes of Empire: World History are there?

Empire: World History launched 4 years ago and published 458 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Empire: World History?

Recent guests on Empire: World History include:

1. Francesca Stavrakopoulou
2. Dr. Campbell Price
3. Aidan Dodson
4. Lloyd Lewellyn-Jones
5. Louis Theroux
6. Michael Bass
7. Herold van der Linde
8. Raja Shehadeh

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.

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