World History

The world’s first independent air force owes its survival and shape to its ‘father’, Hugh Trenchard. We explore how with the RAF Museum’s Dr Harry Raffal.

Voted Britain’s ‘greatest general’ by the National Army Museum in 2011, ‘Uncle Bill’ Slim led the XIVth Army from defeat to victory.

In this episode we discuss Admiral Katsu Kaishū’s transformation of the modern Japanese navy into a force that defeated the Russians in 1905.

Join podcast guest Professor Eitan Shamir as he examines Moshe Dayan's controversial role in Israeli politics, highlighting his strategic prowess and critical missteps in 1973.

Explore insights from Dr Afshon Ostovar in this week's episode on Qasim Soleimani's influence in Iran's military tactics, emphasising the shift to proxy warfare and non-state actors.

Lt Gen Diego Luis Suñer, Chief of the Argentine Army from 2016-2018 joins us to talk about this national hero of Argentina, Chile and Peru, José de San Martín.

Discover the contrasting leadership styles of Ulysses S. Grant and Robert E. Lee during the American Civil War in this week's episode with podcast guest Dr Christian Keller.

Discover the remarkable story of Shawnee chief Tecumseh, who united Native American tribes against European settlers. Join Beatrice and Paul as they discuss this with Dr Kori Schake.

Dr Louis Rawlings helps podcast hosts Beatrice and Paul dissect Julius Caesar as a strategist and as a political animal.

Explore the life of Admiral Yi Sun-sin, a military leader celebrated for his integrity and humility, as analysed by naval historian Lt Cdr Dr Seok Yeong-dal.

Dr Andrew Fear, Lecturer in Ancient History at the University of Manchester, joins Paul and Beatrice to tell us about the strategies of Alexander the Great.

Professor John Laband, world-leading expert on Zulu history, joins us to discuss the most powerful king in southern Africa during the pre-colonial period.

Dr John O. Hyland joins Paul and Beatrice to discuss fifth-century BC Persian ruler Xerxes I, whose royal progress took him to the Western boundaries of his empire.

Veteran and military historian Dr Angelo Caravaggio joins Paul and Beatrice to discuss Subotai, the brains behind Genghis Khan’s vision of conquest.

Professor Steve Tsang, Director of the SOAS China Institute, joins Beatrice and Paul to discuss the founding father of the Chinese People’s Republic, Mao Zedong.

Explore the insights of Kautilya, a pivotal figure in ancient Indian political thought, as podcast guest Kaushik Roy discusses his legacy and relevance in contemporary times.

Join Professor Matthew Strickland and post hosts Beatrice and Paul as they explore Gerald of Wales, a pivotal cleric and royal chaplain to King Henry II in 1184.

Dr Sharon Ghamari-Tabrizi joins Beatrice and Paul to discuss prominent futurist and founder of the Hudson Institute Herman Kahn.

Join Dr Élie Tenenbaum, Beatrice, and Paul as they explore the insights of two French strategists on political and psychological warfare in COIN operations.

Professor Malik Mufti, a specialist on the politics and international relations of the Middle East, discusses two medieval Muslim works of exemplary scholarship and erudition.

Explore the insights of Cdr Dr Benjamin Armstrong as he discusses Mahan's influence on naval leadership and education, including his recognition by RUSI.

Paul and Beatrice are joined by Dr Peter Lorge, Associate Professor of Premodern Chinese and Military History, to discuss the impact of Sun Tzu.

Discover the impact of Colin S. Gray's strategic culture insights with guest Dr Jeannie Johnson focusing on his legacy and the concept of 'unknown unknowns'.

Paul O’Neill, Beatrice Heuser discuss with guest Christopher Yung how Admiral Liu Huaqing transformed China's military strategy in the 1990s.

In this episode, we discuss the reign of Leo VI (the Wise) (866–912, r. 886–912), Byzantine emperor and strategist, with Dr Georgios Chatzelis.