Empire: World History

Empire: World History

Goalhanger

39 episodes

Episodes

383. Romans vs Druids: The War For Celtic Britain (Ep 1)
Aug 2, 2026 · 47m
Hosts Anita Arnon and William de Rumpel interview Professor Ronald Hutton on the earliest religions of Britain and Ireland.
382. Empire of AI: Karen Hao On Today’s Hidden Colonialism (Ep 2)
Jul 29, 2026 · 56m
381. Musk, Bezos & The New East India Companies (Ep 1)
Jul 26, 2026 · 53m
Hosts Anita Arnon and William de Rumpel compare modern tech billionaires to historical imperial powers, particularly the East India Company.
380. Algerian Revolution: The Rise of Le Pen (Ep 6)
Jul 22, 2026 · 34m
This final episode of the Algerian series examines how colonial history shapes modern France, focusing on the 1961 Paris massacre and its suppression.
379. Algerian Revolution: Black Panthers, LSD, & Nina Simone (Ep 5)
Jul 19, 2026 · 46m
This episode explores post-independence Algeria as a glamorous yet authoritarian hub for global liberation movements.
379. Algerian Revolution: Birth of Independence (Ep 4)
Jul 15, 2026 · 31m
This episode explores the Battle of Algiers, detailing General Massoud’s brutal counter-insurgency tactics, including systematic torture and the use of informants to dismantle the FLN network.
378. Algerian Revolution: The Battle of Algiers (Ep 3)
Jul 12, 2026 · 37m
Hosts Anita Arnhem and William Drupal explore the Algerian War of Independence, beginning with the FLN’s 1954 attacks and the subsequent Philippeville massacre that radicalized the population.
377. Algerian Revolution: Repression and Rebellion (Ep 2)
Jul 8, 2026 · 43m
Hosts Anita Anand and William Dalrymple explore the roots of the Algerian War, tracing the 1848 decision to integrate Algeria into France while enforcing a racist dual legal system.
376. Algerian Revolution: The French Invasion (Ep 1)
Jul 5, 2026 · 41m
Hosts Anita Anand and William Dalrymple explore the origins of French colonization in Algeria, triggered by the "fly whisk incident.
375. Ken Burns on the American Revolution and Empire
Jul 4, 2026 · 36m
Acclaimed filmmaker Ken Burns joins Empire to discuss his new series on the American Revolution, challenging nostalgic myths by highlighting the…
374. The Dark Truth About Mount Rushmore
Jul 1, 2026 · 53m
Hosts interview Matthew Davis, author of *Mount Rushmore*, to explore the landmark’s controversial history.
373. The First British Indians: The Sisters Rejected By Queen Victoria (Ep 4)
Jun 28, 2026 · 54m
This final episode of the Duleep Singh sisters series examines the tragic lives of Princesses Pauline and Irene, daughters of the Maharaja’s second wife, Ada.
371. The First British Indians: Last Sikh In Lahore (Ep 3)
Jun 24, 2026 · 42m
This episode of Empire: World History features host William Dalrymple and author Anita Anand discussing Bamba Duleep Singh, the eldest daughter of the last Maharaja of the Punjab.
370. The First British Indians: Saving Jews In Nazi Germany (Ep 2)
Jun 21, 2026 · 42m
Anita Anand and William Durrampel explore the life of Catherine Duleep Singh, sister of suffragette Sophia.
369. The First British Indians: The Suffragette Princess (Ep 1)
Jun 17, 2026 · 54m
Hosts Anita Anand and William Dalrymple launch a series on the daughters of Maharaja Duleep Singh, focusing on Sophia Duleep Singh.
368. Ancient Egypt: The Origin of Abrahamic Religions? (Ep 7)
Jun 14, 2026 · 44m
Host Jessica and guest Francesca Stavrakopoulou examine Sigmund Freud’s controversial theory linking Akhenaten to monotheism.
367. Ancient Egypt: “Tut-mania” And Tutankhamun’s Tomb (Ep 6)
Jun 10, 2026 · 44m
Hosts Anita Anand and William Dalrymple, joined by Dr.
366. Ancient Egypt: Tutankhamun The Boy King (Ep 5)
Jun 7, 2026 · 53m
Hosts Anita Anand and William de Rypel join Dr.
365. Ancient Egypt: Who Was Nefertiti? (Ep 4)
Jun 3, 2026 · 50m
Hosts Anita Arnon and William de Rimpel welcome Egyptologist Aidan Dodson to discuss Nefertiti’s life, challenging myths about her foreign origins…
364. Ancient Egypt: The Fall of Akhenaten (Ep 3)
May 31, 2026 · 53m
Host William de Rimpel interviews Professor Aidan Dodson on the collapse of Akhenaten’s Amarna Revolution.
363. Ancient Egypt: Destroyer Of Gods – Pharaoh Akhenaten (Ep 2)
May 27, 2026 · 56m
In this episode of Empire, hosts William Durand and Anita Anand join historian Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones to explore Pharaoh Akhenaten’s radical religious revolution.
The Scandal That Shaped Partition: Heartbreak & Secret Deals
May 26, 2026 · 6m
This episode explores the romantic relationship between Jawaharlal Nehru and Edwina Mountbatten during India’s partition.
362. Ancient Egypt: Great Kings of The Bronze Age (Ep 1)
May 24, 2026 · 53m
Historian Eric Cline joins hosts Anita Anand and William de Rypin to discuss his book on the Amarna Letters, ancient clay tablets revealing a interconnected Bronze Age world.
361. Louis Theroux On The Settlers, The Manosphere, & Tribalism
May 20, 2026 · 49m
Louis Theroux joins Empire hosts Anita Arnon and William Durimple to discuss his documentaries on Israeli settlers and the online manosphere.
The Scandal That Shaped Partition: The Affair
May 19, 2026 · 6m
This episode explores the controversial legacy of Subhash Chandra Bose, who allied with Axis powers to fight British rule in India.
360. Spice Wars: The Battle of the East India Companies (Ep 3)
May 17, 2026 · 54m
Hosts Anita Anand and William Dalrymple welcome Michael Bass to discuss the decline of the Dutch East India Company and the rise of the British East India Company.
359. Spice Wars: The Birth of New York (Ep 2)
May 13, 2026 · 53m
Host William de Rumpel and historian Giles Milton explore the brutal 17th-century rivalry between the English and Dutch East India Companies over nutmeg.
The Scandal That Shaped Partition: The House of Mountbatten
May 12, 2026 · 4m
This episode explores rumors of Edwina Mountbatten’s affairs with African-American entertainers Paul Robeson and Les Hite.
358. Spice Wars: The Rise of the Dutch East India Company (Ep 1)
May 10, 2026 · 51m
Host Will and guest Harold van der Linde explore the rise of the Dutch East India Company (VOC), detailing its origins in 17th-century espionage and financial innovation.
357. Liberator of Latin America: Revolutionary Hero Or Dictator? (Part 4)
May 7, 2026 · 42m
This episode explores Simon Bolivar’s descent into dictatorship, highlighting his racist execution of naval hero José Padilla and his deteriorating health.
The Scandal That Shaped Partition: India’s First Prime Minister
May 5, 2026 · 9m
This episode explores the complex love triangle between Edwina Mountbatten, her husband Lord Mountbatten, and Jawaharlal Nehru during India’s partition.
356. Liberator of Latin America: Descent Into Tyranny (Part 3)
May 4, 2026 · 41m
Hosts Anita Arnon and William DeRumpel trace Simón Bolívar’s evolution from a self-interested creole to a revolutionary leader influenced by Haiti’s Toussaint Louverture.
Should The Koh-I-Noor Be Returned? Mamdani vs King Charles III EXPLAINED
May 1, 2026 · 29m
Anita Anand and William Dalrymple discuss the renewed controversy over the Koh-i-Noor diamond, sparked by NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s call for its return to India.
355. Liberator of Latin America: Napoleon & The Legions of Hell (Part 2)
Apr 29, 2026 · 43m
This episode explores the complex origins of Simon Bolivar’s liberation campaign, focusing on tensions between Spanish peninsulares and local Creole elites exacerbated by Bourbon reforms.
354. Liberator of Latin America: Simón Bolívar vs The Spanish Empire (Part 1)
Apr 27, 2026 · 35m
Hosts Anita Anand and William Dalrymple explore the life of Simón Bolívar, linking his legacy to modern Venezuelan politics.
353. Hezbollah, Hostages, & Exploding Pagers (Part 8)
Apr 22, 2026 · 58m
Host William Durimple and guest Kim Gattas trace Hezbollah’s origins from the 1982 Israeli invasion and Iranian intervention to the 1983 US embassy and Marine barracks bombings.
352. Israel’s 1982 Invasion of Lebanon (Part 7)
Apr 20, 2026 · 51m
This episode details the 1982 Israeli invasion of Lebanon, driven by Ariel Sharon’s ambition to dismantle the PLO and install a friendly Christian government.
351. Camp David: The Day Israel & Egypt Made Peace (Part 6)
Apr 15, 2026 · 54m
Hosts Anita Anand and William de Rimpel welcome historian Eugene Rogan to explore the geopolitical aftermath of the 1973 Yom Kippur War.
350. 1973: The Yom Kippur War & The First Oil Crisis (Part 5)
Apr 13, 2026 · 41m
Hosts Anita Anand and William Dalrymple examine the 1973 Yom Kippur War, detailing Egypt’s surprise attack, the Bar Lev Line’s breach, and Israel’s counteroffensive led by Ariel Sharon.
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