Ruling in the 3rd century BC, Ashoka was one of India’s greatest ever rulers. Under his rule, the Mauryan Empire grew into the largest empire India had ever seen. Its capital, Pataliputra was a dazzling, glorious, cosmopolitan city that was eleven times larger than Athens. After a brutal conquest of the Kalinga kingdom, Ashoka suffered from intense guilt and ... Show More
Jul 2023
Chandragupta Maurya: Hero of India
<p>Evolving from an obscure ancient ruler to a contemporary national icon, Chandragupta Maurya's story is finally being told. However, despite tales of leading empires and defeating the successors of Alexander the Great, there is no official record of his events- only moments tak ... Show More
37m 44s
Apr 2022
Manu Pillai, "False Allies: India’s Maharajahs in the Age of Ravi Varma" (Juggernaut, 2021)
It can be easy to think of the recent history of India—especially for those who aren’t from there—as a straight line, from the Mughal Empire, through the British Empire, to independent India.
That, of course, is hugely simplistic, missing the mess of competing polities, interests ... Show More
48m 25s
<p>In this episode we explore the religious ideas and explorations of the Mughal empire's most famous emperor.</p><br><p><br></p><p>Sources/Suggested Reading:</p><ul><li>Eaton, Richard M. (2020). "India in the Persianate Age: 1000-1765". Penguin.</li><li>Wink, André (2012). "Akba ... Show More
