The Burning Archive

What is a cradle of civilisation? A simple question, but quality world history gives us a more complex, but satisfying answer. There were many in different environments.

This episode will inform you about the well-known 'cradle' of civilisation in the fertile crescent of Western Asia, but also tell you about less honoured starting points for civilisation in East Asia and the Eurasian Steppe.

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Civilizations are back in 2024. There is talk of Western civilizations, the diverse civilizations of the multipolar world, and the upcoming release of the game Civilization 7. It is a great time to explore the real history of the many civilizations that have flourished and fallen in every environment around the world.

This 2nd episode of the Summer of Civilizations series explores new and old ideas of civilization. Is it the biggest and baddest idea in world history?

If you would like to explore world history and civilizations more, then visit ⁠courses.jeffrichwriter.com⁠ and join the upcoming world history explorers membership club.

Civilizations are back in 2024. There is talk of Western civilizations, the diverse civilizations of the multipolar world, and the upcoming release of the game Civilization 7. It is a great time to explore the real history of the many civilizations that have flourished and fallen in every environment around the world.

This introduction to the Summer of Civilizations series explores how the game Civilization 7 is a great way to become curious about world history.

If you would like to explore world history and civilizations more, then visit courses.jeffrichwriter.com and join the upcoming world history explorers membership club.

I review the highlights of the world in history that appeared on the Burning Archive podcast in 2023.

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Ridley Scott's movie Napoleon has sparked controversy? Is it great cinema yet terrible history? Jeff Rich gives his assessment of the movie, and points you to other classic movies about Napoleon made over the last 100 years. The podcast also shares some of the best recent history books on the intriguing character, myth and historical impact of Napoleon Bonaparte.

Read more of Jeff Rich's writing on mindful world history and cultures from all around the world at jeffrich.substack.com

My reflections on the death of US diplomat and grand strategist, Henry Kissinger at 100. Does his death toll the bell for US leadership of the world?

Read more at jeffrich.substack.com

Thanks to the Twisted Nixons, the Dead Kennedies, Thomas Fazi, Nina Byzantina, Thomas Fazi, Odd Arne Westad and Richard Nixon for material used in this program.

It is all about the story. We are all experts in story, aren't we? And every day amidst this current world crisis, we are bombarded with narratives. Some of these "geopolitical" narratives are based on good history. Some on very poor history. But how do you spot the difference? How do you know big historical comparisons like "Pearl Harbour or "Munich 1938" are flawed, when you don't know the details of events? You can with the help of stories. You do not need to be an expert historian. You just need to pay attention to stories.

Find out more at theburningarchive.com

Previous episodes referred to during this episode are:

31. Seven Basic Plots vs 1001 Nights of Stories

114 & 115. Exploring World History with leading Historian Felipe Fernández-Armesto

If a modest librarian had not pulled the sole manuscript of the Old English poem, Beowulf from the fire, we might never have had J.R.R. Tolkein's Lord of the Rings. You have probably heard of Beowulf, but never have read the poem. Introduce yourself to this legend saved from a burning archive on the Burning Archive podcast.

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It covers the history of the Nobel Prize for Literature, some of my favourite winners and losers, and some controversies. I also cover in this episode the 2022 winner, French writer, Annie Ernaux.

This episode begins a mini-series on the Nobel Prize for Literature. There will be episodes in all in the lead-up to the announcement of the prize on 5 October.