Pax Britannica: A History of the British Empire

Pax Britannica: A History of the British Empire

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743 Followers 232 Episodes
Pax Britannica is a narrative history podcast covering the empire upon which the sun never set. Shortlisted for the 2023 Independent Podcast Awards, Pax Britannica follows the events which created an empire that dominated the globe. Hosted by Dr Samuel Hume, a historian of British Imperial history, Pax Britannica aims to explain the rise and eventual fall of the largest empire in history. After all, how peaceful was the 'British Peace'?

Episode List

04.10 - The Cabal

Jan 26th, 2026 11:32 PM

With the downfall of Clarendon, the CABAL takes centre stage in Restoration politics. But it's never so simple... Join the ⁠Mailing List⁠! Join the ⁠Patreon ⁠House of Lords for ad-free episodes! Buy a ticket to Intelligent Speech 2026 and use the code PAX for 10% off. Go to AirwaveMedia.com to find other great history shows. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

04.09 - The Raid on the Medway

Jan 19th, 2026 9:05 AM

Bankruptcy forces the Royal Navy into port. I'm sure it'll be safe. Nicholas Rodgers, The Command of the Ocean: A Naval History of Britain, Volume 2, 1649–1815 Anna Keay, The Restless Republic, 2022. Rebecca Rideal, 1666: Plague, War, and Hellfire, 2016. Frank Fox, The Four Days' Battle: The Greatest Sea Fight of the Age of Sail, 2009. David Onnekink & Gijs Rommelse, The Dutch in the Early Modern World. Steve Murdoch, The terror of the Seas: Scottish Maritime Warfare, 1513-1713, 2010. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

04.08 - The Four Days' Battle

Jan 12th, 2026 8:05 AM

The Royal Navy and the Dutch fleet square off. Michiel de Ruyter needs to clear the way for the merchant fleet to get home, or else the Dutch economy might collapse. George Monck, Duke of Albemarle, is outnumbered and outgunned, and Prince Rupert races to join him. Nicholas Rodgers, The Command of the Ocean: A Naval History of Britain, Volume 2, 1649–1815 Anna Keay, The Restless Republic, 2022. Rebecca Rideal, 1666: Plague, War, and Hellfire, 2016. Frank Fox, The Four Days' Battle: The Greatest Sea Fight of the Age of Sail, 2009. David Onnekink & Gijs Rommelse, The Dutch in the Early Modern World. Steve Murdoch, The terror of the Seas: Scottish Maritime Warfare, 1513-1713, 2010. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

04.07 - A City of Ash

Jan 5th, 2026 8:05 AM

After the Great Fire of London, the city needed to be rebuilt. Rebecca Rideal, 1666: Plague, War, and Hellfire Jacob Field, London, Londoners and the Great Fire of 1666: Disaster and Recover. Clare Jackson, Charles II: The Star King For other great shows on the Airwave network, go to AirwaveMedia.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Slavery throughout History with Patrick Wyman

Dec 22nd, 2025 8:05 AM

Today I speak with Dr Patrick Wyman, host of The Fall of Rome, Tides of History, and his new show Past Lives. He's also published The Verge: Reformation, Renaissance, and Forty Years that Shook the World, and has a forthcoming book, Lost Worlds: How Humans Tried, Failed, Succeeded, and Built Our World. We talk about public history, slavery, and the podcast industry! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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