Rephonic
Artwork for Empire: World History

Empire: World History

Goalhanger
Islam
Endeavour
Muhammad
Sasanian Empire
Joseph Banks
Persia
Timur
James Cook
Nader Shah
Byzantine Empire
Zoroastrianism
Roman Empire
Alexander Dalrymple
Captain James Cook
HMS Endurance
Antarctica
Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition
South Georgia
Ferdowsi
Ottoman Empire

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 weeklyEpisodes410Founded4 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
History

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Empire: World History

Latest Episodes

Mao has declared that China is a communist republic. How did life change for ordinary people living in this new nation? To what extent was Mao’s China modelled on the USSR, and how did Mao and Stalin feel about each other? And how did Mao destroy the... more

How did World War II break out in Asia in 1937? Why did Mao Zedong and his fellow communists live in caves after the Long March? How did the notorious Nanjing Massacre occur?

** Binge all six episodes of the series on Chairman Mao by joining the Emp... more

Why did the communists and nationalists join forces with the USSR during the Chinese Civil War? When did the nationalists purge communists in what is known as the “White Terror”? Why did 80,000 communists walk across the country in the “Long March”, ... more

A revolutionary hero or a brutal despot? Mao Zedong has one of the most recognisable portraits on Earth. How did he rise to become the founder of the People’s Republic of China?

** Binge all six episodes of the series on Chairman Mao by joining the ... 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

Eric Cline
Professor and Author specializing in the Bronze Age collapse
George Washington University
Episode: 335. Bronze Age Apocalypse: Solving The Mystery of The Collapse (Ep 4)
Simon Goldhill
Professor in Greek literature and culture at King's College Cambridge
King's College, Cambridge
Episode: 334. Bronze Age Apocalypse: Did Homer Write History? (Ep 3)
Stephen Fry
Author of books on Greek myths, the Iliad, and the Odyssey, as well as a prominent figure in comedy and film.
Episode: 333. Bronze Age Apocalypse: The Fall of Troy with Stephen Fry (Ep 2)
Professor Josephine Quinn
Professor of ancient history at Cambridge University
Cambridge University
Episode: 332. Bronze Age Apocalypse: Before The Collapse (Ep 1)
Scott Anderson
Author who has explored the Iranian Revolution and its modern implications.
Episode: 330. The Iranian Revolution: 1979 vs. 2026 (Ep 1)
Ramita Navai
Former Times correspondent in Iran, with extensive knowledge of the country's current political landscape.
Channel 4
Episode: 330. The Iranian Revolution: 1979 vs. 2026 (Ep 1)
Ira Mukhoty
Historian of the late Mughal era
Episode: 326. Indian Uprising 1857: India’s Joan of Arc – Rani of Jhansi (Part 5)
Emily Burns
Art historian and editor of 'Women of Influence, The Paddle Sisters'
Episode: 321. Exploding Rum-filled Coffins, Anglo-Indian Sisterhood, & Julia Margaret Cameron
Ben Moser
Pulitzer Prize-winning biographer
Episode: 315. Controversy, Colonialism, & V.S. Naipaul

Hosts

Anita Anand
Host of Empire and Empire: World History series; frequent cohost, with focus on historical analysis and narrative.
William Dalrymple
Co-host and primary guide through discussions; known for historical breadth and engaging storytelling.

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 15.2k ratings
  • Best history podcast. Great presenters and even greater guests.

    Podcast Addict
    5
    Touho
    2 days ago
  • Difficult listen

    Love this podcast and the presenters. However its guest presenters determine whether I listen or not. Although all are experts their delivery can prove very difficult. Both Caroline Elkins and Rana Mitter speak far, far too quickly and I gave up in the second episodes. Can you tell your guests to slow down if possible please!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Benarchie
    United Kingdom5 days ago
  • A fantastic podcast with a collection of guests so fanstastic their input overides the constant distractions from Anita Anand. While I have deep sympathy for anyone unable to work due to illness it's impossible not to note the best episode of the Bronze Age Collapse was when she was off sick. This a specialist series and if it must have two presenters perhaps the producers could hire a historian as the other talking head. Though Dalrymple does an excellent job on his own and it's not needed

    Podcast Addict
    5
    Tamerlanebangkok
    5 days ago
  • Mai

    Mao

    Very interesting as always but seemed a bit biased.More banter

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    veganman1961
    United Kingdom5 days ago
  • So good

    My new favorite history podcast.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Ronniecinct
    United States6 days ago

Listeners Say

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

Some listeners note perceived biases in certain topics, which may color interpretations.
Content is thorough and well-researched, with strong narrative flow.
The hosts' chemistry and deep knowledge make history engaging and entertaining.
High quality production and compelling storytelling keep listeners coming back.
Guests bring substantial expertise, enriching the discussions.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

338.Chairman Mao: Birth of A Dictator (Ep 1)
Q: Can you talk about Mao's birth and childhood and how those early years influenced his later ideology?
Rana explains Mao did not come from poverty, had a relatively comfortable rural upbringing, and developed a strong autodidactic drive and early exposure to reformist and revolutionary ideas, which later fed into his political trajectory and his focus on education and physical discipline.
338.Chairman Mao: Birth of A Dictator (Ep 1)
Q: Do you still, if you go to China today, do you still see those epic portraits, you know, the side of billboards or...?
Rana notes that Mao's image remains visible in Beijing and across public spaces, especially the Tiananmen portrait in the central axis of Beijing and typical state-sponsored iconography, though there is a complexity in how openly the history is discussed due to sensitivities around the Cultural Revolution.
334. Bronze Age Apocalypse: Did Homer Write History? (Ep 3)
Q: Would you say that the poems are both haunted by the idea of collapse, this pervasive sense of an ending of a world passing away?
Yes, there's a sense of a lost world everywhere in Homer, but there's no real description of the destruction of Troy.
334. Bronze Age Apocalypse: Did Homer Write History? (Ep 3)
Q: Is there any reason to believe that there actually was a bard who was so spectacularly good that he had the whole tradition gifted to him?
It's fascinating; we depict many bards, yet Homer produced extraordinary structured epics.
336. Bronze Age Apocalypse: How To Survive The End of The World (Ep 5)
Q: Why does writing suddenly evaporate?
It became unnecessary as the palatial economy collapsed, leading to a rapid loss of literacy.

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?

A globe-spanning history show hosted by two established historians who push deep-dives into empires, revolutions, and long arcs of power. Episodes mix scholarly context with vivid storytelling, bringing on a rotating lineup of top historians, archaeologists, and regional experts to unpack the rise and fall of civilizations, from ancient to more recent eras. The format leans into nuanced analysis, lively banter, and connections to today's world, with a paid membership pathway offering early access, ad-free listening, and live-event perks. This combination of rigorous research and accessible narration has helped the program attract a dedicated, well-educated audience of history enthusiasts, students, and professionals.

A standout trait is th... more

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 three 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 Rest Is Politics
4. Journey Through Time
5. The Rest Is Politics: US

How many episodes of Empire: World History are there?

Empire: World History launched 4 years ago and published 410 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. Eric Cline
2. Simon Goldhill
3. Stephen Fry
4. Professor Josephine Quinn
5. Scott Anderson
6. Ramita Navai
7. Ira Mukhoty
8. Emily Burns

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