History Unwritten

The Classical Age of Southeast Asian history laid the foundation for the future Tai kingdoms of the Chaophraya, the Khmer and Dvaravati civilizations especially. Today, we explore these cultures and their legacy on the region.

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Introducing Southeast Asia: The land and people who live there.

The history of Ayutthaya begins with the peopling of the Indochinese Peninsula, ca. 40,000 years ago. Since then, the development of agriculture, metalworking and urbanization led to the rise of states and kingdoms. Before we learn about Ayutthaya, we have to set the stage for its emergence.

In which we see what Tibet was up to ca. 842-1642, starring old friends like the Fifth Dalai Lama and new ones, like the mystics Atisha and Tsongkhapa, or Emperors like Kubilai Khan and Jangchub Gyaltsen.

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The last Emperor of Tibet, Darma "the Bull", waged a campaign of persecution against the Buddhists of Tibet. In doing so, he opened the floodgates to chaos and instability that would cost him his life - and the Empire itself.

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Ralpachen, son of Sadnalegs, was the last Dharma king - and the last Buddhist Tsenpo - of a united Tibetan Empire.

His reign is remembered for his religious contributions, but his death did as much to define Tibet as his life.

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In which we look at legal and medical knowledge in the Tibetan Empire.

Tibet was a litigious society, and to remedy this, widespread use of contracts, legal documents and complex civil and criminal codes were used in order to make sense of it all. Combined with the deep medical traditions, borrowing from three distinct backgrounds, the Tibetan Empire's framework of knowledge - far more than any table of ranks for the ministers - was deeply intertwined with the average person's life.

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Trisong Detsen, Second Dharma King of Tibet, is not long for the world. But of the four sons who he fathered, who would succeed him? One died a premature death, another exiled for a vile act, still another a hopeless dreamer, and the last too young to take up the throne.

Tibet would see its first Tsenpos raised in the Buddhist faith in the early 9th century. Even more committed to the religion than their father had been, they sought to cement the Dharma's legacy in their country, permanently.

Check out the series page on the website for a glossary, bibliography, images and maps!

In which we discuss the Bon religion of Tibet, its past and present, and unpack how much we can know about a religion whose identity has changed so much over the last thousand years.

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Check out the History of Africa Podcast!

In which we cover the life of the historical Buddha, the context in which he lived, and the meaning and significance of the belief system he founded.

Buddhism is complicated, too much so to truly cover in just 40 minutes. But we do our best to lay the foundation of a faith so often misunderstood by western observers.

Check out the series page, including glossary of terms, maps, gallery and bibliography.

In which we announce our third season of History Unwritten.