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Empire: World History

Empire: World History

Goalhanger

370 episodesEN

Show overview

Empire: World History has been publishing since 2022, and across the 4 years since has built a catalogue of 370 episodes, alongside 2 trailers or bonus episodes. That works out to roughly 290 hours of audio in total. Releases follow a several-times-a-week cadence, with the show now in its 31st season.

Episodes typically run thirty-five to sixty minutes — most land between 42 min and 52 min — and the run-time is fairly consistent across the catalogue. It is catalogued as a EN-language History show.

The show is actively publishing — the most recent episode landed earlier today, with 45 episodes already out so far this year. The busiest year was 2025, with 107 episodes published. Published by Goalhanger.

Episodes
370
Running
2022–2026 · 4y
Median length
47 min
Cadence
Several per week

From the publisher

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 member of the Empire Club to receive early access to miniseries, ad-free listening, early access to live show tickets, bonus episodes, book discounts, our exclusive newsletter, and access to our members’ chatroom on Discord! Head to empirepoduk.com to sign up. For more Goalhanger Podcasts, head to www.goalhanger.com.

Latest Episodes

View all 370 episodes

359. Spice Wars: The Birth of New York (Ep 2)

May 13, 202653 min

The Scandal That Shaped Partition: The House of Mountbatten

May 12, 20264 min

358. Spice Wars: The Rise of the Dutch East India Company (Ep 1)

May 10, 202651 min

357. Liberator of Latin America: Revolutionary Hero Or Dictator? (Part 4)

May 6, 202640 min

The Scandal That Shaped Partition: India’s First Prime Minister

May 5, 20269 min

356. Liberator of Latin America: Descent Into Tyranny (Part 3)

May 4, 202641 min

Should The Koh-I-Noor Be Returned? Mamdani vs King Charles III EXPLAINED

Apr 30, 20264 min

355. Liberator of Latin America: Napoleon & The Legions of Hell (Part 2)

Apr 29, 202643 min

354. Liberator of Latin America: Simón Bolívar vs The Spanish Empire (Part 1)

Apr 27, 202635 min

353. Hezbollah, Hostages, & Exploding Pagers (Part 8)

Apr 22, 202658 min

352. Israel’s 1982 Invasion of Lebanon (Part 7)

Apr 20, 202651 min

351. Camp David: The Day Israel & Egypt Made Peace (Part 6)

Apr 15, 202654 min

350. 1973: The Yom Kippur War & The First Oil Crisis (Part 5)

Apr 13, 202641 min

What Is Life Like For Palestinians Under Occupation?

Apr 9, 202635 min

349. Occupation of The West Bank (Part 4)

Apr 8, 202648 min

348. How 1967 Changed The Middle East Forever (Part 3)

Apr 6, 202653 min

Jung Chang On Life Under Mao & Being Banned From China

bonus

To listen to the full bonus episode, join the Empire Club at empirepoduk.com. Wild Swans author, Jung Chang, joins William to discuss her family’s harrowing experiences during Mao’s Cultural Revolution and how Xi Jinping continues his memory in China today. She tells the story of how her father defied Mao and paid the price in a detention facility. She explains how she travelled across the countryside as a teenager, working as a peasant labourer and a barefoot doctor. And she discusses how Mao’s legacy in China continues to shape global politics, from Iran to Venezuela. Jung Chang’s Fly, Wild Swans, is available to buy now. Join the Empire Club: Unlock the full Empire experience – with bonus episodes, ad-free listening, early access to miniseries and live show tickets, exclusive book discounts, a members-only newsletter, and access to our private Discord chatroom. Sign up directly at empirepoduk.com For more Goalhanger Podcasts, head to www.goalhanger.com. Email: [email protected] Instagram: @empirepoduk Blue Sky: @empirepoduk X: @empirepoduk Assistant Producer: Imogen Marriott Editor: Josh Smith Social Producer: Charlie Johnson Producer: Anouska Lewis Executive Producer: Dom Johnson Wild Swans author, Jung Chang, joins William to discuss her family’s harrowing experiences during Mao’s Cultural Revolution and how Xi Jinping continues his memory in China today. She tells the story of her 2 weeks as a Red Guard, and how her father defied Mao and paid the price in a detention facility. She explains how she travelled across the countryside as a teenager, working as a peasant labourer and a barefoot doctor. And she discusses how Mao’s legacy in China continues to shape global politics, from Iran to Venezuela. Jung Chang’s Fly, Wild Swans, is available to buy now. For more Goalhanger Podcasts, head to www.goalhanger.com. Email: [email protected] Instagram: @empirepoduk Blue Sky: @empirepoduk X: @empirepoduk Assistant Producer: Imogen Marriott Editor: Josh Smith Social Producer: Charlie Johnson Producer: Anouska Lewis Executive Producer: Dom Johnson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Apr 2, 202619 min

S31 Ep 2347. Arab-Israeli Conflict: The Six Day War (Part 2)

**Listen to the first 4 episodes of the series today by joining the Empire Club at empirepoduk.com.** How did Israel defeat the armies of Egypt, Jordan and Syria in just six days in 1967? Why did Egyptian media report victory whilst their army was retreating? How did the war replace Palestinian hopes of liberation with the tragedy of a ‘second exodus’? William and Anita are joined by Eugene Rogan, Oxford Professor of Modern Middle Eastern History and author of The Arabs: A History, to explore how Israel won the Six-Day War of 1967. Join the Empire Club: Unlock the full Empire experience – with bonus episodes, ad-free listening, early access to miniseries and live show tickets, exclusive book discounts, a members-only newsletter, and access to our private Discord chatroom. Sign up directly at empirepoduk.com For more Goalhanger Podcasts, head to www.goalhanger.com. Email: [email protected] Instagram: @empirepoduk Blue Sky: @empirepoduk X: @empirepoduk Assistant Producer: Imogen Marriott Editor: Bruno Di Castri Social Producer: Charlie Johnson Producer: Anouska Lewis Executive Producer: Dom Johnson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Apr 1, 202650 min

S31 Ep 1346. Arab-Israeli Conflict: From Suez To The Palestinian Liberation Organisation (Part 1)

**Listen to the first 4 episodes of the series today by joining the Empire Club at empirepoduk.com.** What was the Arab Cold War, and how did it violently divide the Middle East in the 1950s and 60s? What is the origin story of the Palestine Liberation Organisation? And how did Soviet disinformation and a closed maritime strait push the region to war? This series explores the history of this pivotal fifteen-year period and how its events mirror the crises in the Middle East today, and in Episode 1, William and Anita are joined by Eugene Rogan, Oxford Professor of Modern Middle Eastern History and author of The Arabs: A History, to discuss the build-up to the Six-Day War 1967. Join the Empire Club: Unlock the full Empire experience – with bonus episodes, ad-free listening, early access to miniseries and live show tickets, exclusive book discounts, a members-only newsletter, and access to our private Discord chatroom. Sign up directly at empirepoduk.com For more Goalhanger Podcasts, head to www.goalhanger.com. Email: [email protected] Instagram: @empirepoduk Blue Sky: @empirepoduk X: @empirepoduk Assistant Producer: Imogen Marriott Editor: James Clayden Producer: Anouska Lewis Executive Producer: Dom Johnson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mar 30, 202639 min

S29 Ep 6345. Chairman Mao: The Cultural Revolution (Ep 6)

What were Mao’s motivations for launching The Cultural Revolution? Who were the Red Guards, and why did Mao indoctrinate teenagers? How did Mao die, and who came next? Anita and William are joined once again by Rana Mitter, author of A Bitter Revolution: China’s Struggle with the Modern World, and Modern China: A Very Short Introduction, to discuss the final years of Mao’s rule. Try Attio for free at attio.com/empire Join the Empire Club: Unlock the full Empire experience – with bonus episodes, ad-free listening, early access to miniseries and live show tickets, exclusive book discounts, a members-only newsletter, and access to our private Discord chatroom. Sign up directly at empirepoduk.com For more Goalhanger Podcasts, head to www.goalhanger.com. Email: [email protected] Instagram: @empirepoduk Blue Sky: @empirepoduk X: @empirepoduk Editor: Bruno Di Castri Researcher: Imogen Marriott Assistant Producer: Alfie Norris Producer: Anouska Lewis Executive Producer: Dom Johnson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mar 26, 202649 min