Pax Britannica: Climax of an Empire by Jan Morris was published in 1968, and tells the tale of the world's largest empire at its most glorious climax - Victoria's 1897 Diamond Jubilee. Nicholas Woode-Smith reviews the book and discusses the ironic charm of the British Empire at possibly its sincerest and most glorious celebration of its supremacy.

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Prohibition in the United States was dubbed the "Noble Experiment". For 13  long, dry, and dreary years, the government aimed to keep alcohol out  of the hands of its citizens, creating a litany of unintended  consequences that continue to have an impact today.

In  this episode, Yaël Ossowski describes the rise of the "dry" campaigners  who sought Prohibition to remove alcohol from society, the bootlegging  gangsters who built their fortunes, and the millions of Americans who  became scofflaws in the face of corruption, violence, and disorder.

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Intro  and Outro Music: Fearless First by Kevin MacLeod Link:  https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3742-fearless-first

License:  http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

The Bengal Famine of 1943 left 2 - 3 million people dead. But how did it happen? Could it have been prevented? In this episode, Nicholas Woode-Smith uncovers the economic trauma and wartime desperation that led to one of history's most famous but misunderstood famines.

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This episode was made  possible by Patreon supporters:

Intro  and Outro Music: Fearless First by Kevin MacLeod Link:  https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3742-fearless-first License:  http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

In this episode, Chris Hattingh provides a broad overview, and some insights, into the 06 June 1944 invasion of Normany, also known as D-Day - one of the major turning points of the Second World War.

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Intro and Outro Music: Fearless First by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3742-fearless-first License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

In this episode, Martin van Staden discusses aspects of the relative liberal presidency of the 4th State President of the South African Republic (the Transvaal), Thomas Francois Burgers, who held office between 1872 and 1877.

In this first episode of a segment on Cape myths, legends and folklore, Nicholas Woode-Smith discusses the myth of the Ghost of Tokai Manor, and gives a dramatic reading of the events leading up to the now famous spectral rider.

Support Nicholas Woode-Smith by donating to his Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/nicholaswoodesmith

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This episode was made possible by Patreon supporters:

Intro and Outro Music:

Fearless First by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3742-fearless-first License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

The sun never set on the British Empire. But was it beneficial to those who lived in it? And how did it positively influence the world today?

Nicholas Woode-Smith takes us on a journey from the Empire's humble pirate beginnings to its role in ending slavery and genocide.

Works Mentioned:

Intro and Outro Music:

Fearless First by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3742-fearless-first License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

History is process by which civilisation develops and becomes aware of itself. Join Nicholas Woode-Smith, Christo Hattingh and Martin van Staden in the first episode of The History Society podcast channel, where they discuss their vision for the channel and their own approaches to history and the philosophy of history.

Intro and Outro Music: Fearless First by Kevin MacLeod

Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3742-fearless-first

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/