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Empire - Live

Empire Live: William Dalrymple and Anita Anand

How do empires rise? Why do they fall? And how have they shaped our world today? William Dalrymple and Anita Anand explore the stories, personalities and events of empire over the course of history. 

 

For most of human history, the world has been ruled by empires. From the first in the 24th century BC right up to the present, empires have risen and fallen like the ebbs and flows of the tide, altering history with every wash. Through this they have shaped the very world around us today. To understand that world, you have to understand the empires that made it. 

Why does Putin believe Russia should rule Ukraine? What's the real story behind Iran's support for Hezbollah and other Shia militias? How did Buddhism spread from a region of Northern India across the entire continent of Asia? 

Empire. 

In blending deep learning with funny, accessible narratives, William Dalrymple and Anita Anand explore the stories, personalities and events of empire over the course of history.

Running time approximately 120 minutes, including interval

Anita Anand

Anita Anand is the prize-winning journalist, presenter, and historian, who has written a number of books on British and Indian history. Her most recent book, The Patient Assassin, won the Pen Hessell-Tiltman prize for high literary merit. She hosts the BBC4 radio show, Any Answers, regularly hosts their flagship show, PM, and co-hosts the multi-million downloaded Empire Podcast.

William Dalrymple

William Dalrymple is the best-selling historian and art-historian, who has written a number of books on Indian history including most recently the prize-winning The Anarchy. He is one of the co-founders and co-directors of the world’s largest literature festival, the Jaipur Literature Festival, is the host of the multi-million downloaded Empire Podcast, and in 2018 he won the President’s Medal at the British Academy for “outstanding service to the cause of the humanities and social sciences”. 

Barbican Hall