Giles Milton is one of my favourite authors producing narrative history today. The stories he tells are just jaw dropping. We talked about his book White Gold which tells the stories of Thomas Pellow who was seized and taken off into slavery in 1714. Looming large in the story is the remarkable Moulay Ismail, ruler of Morroco at the time. He makes his entrance on his chariot pulled by some of his eunuchs and some of his 500 wives. A brutal and cruel ruler but a fascinating character.
The title of the podcast refers to the song Rule Britannia, written around this time. Its boast was that Britons never, never will be slaves. Well they were, and in large numbers.
Giles is in great form here - he is a compelling storyteller in his books and he repeats the trick for the podcast.
Anthony Kaldellis on Byzantium (Part 1)
Hampton Sides - the last voyage of Captain Cook
The Sin Eater
Ed West - From the Romans to Alfred the Great
John McWhorter and Scott Sumner - talking movies
Dikötter on Dictators
The Lives of East Germans - Katja Hoyer
Italy, a ruin - part 2 of the Adventures of Belisarius and Antonina
Constantinople show its teeth - part 1 of the Adventures of Belisarius and Antonina
Mao's China with Frank Dikötter
Shipwreck, mutiny and murder
Sharp and Sumner: 6 Japanese movies
McWhorter and Holland - On dinosaurs
Acre 1291 - the final showdown
The Salem Witch trials with Stacy Schiff
Suleiman the Magnificent with Christopher de Bellaigue
Slavery in the Mediterranean in the Middle Ages
Talking movies with Scott Sumner
The war against Antony and Cleopatra
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