The History of India Podcast

A light weekly podcast covering the history of India, from 6th century B.C. onwards. Enjoying the Podcast? Please consider donating to the Snehal Sidhu-Patrick Memorial Fund (http://tinyurl.com/prkvwll)

6.2 Tale of two princes: Dantidurga and Nandivarman 12/08/2023

6.2 Tale of two princes: Dantidurga and Nandivarman The Pallava Empire is sliding into anarchy. All its hopes are pinned on a twelve year old boy from Cambodia. We follow his winding path to power. Also in this episode: the origin story of a poet-saint, some brutal medieval punishment, and an elephant hat. https://tinyurl.com/hw5mezkh /episode/index/show/historyofindiapodcast/id/24585849

6.1 Ascending the peak: Dantidurga and the founding of the Rashtrakuta empire 12/01/2023

6.1 Ascending the peak: Dantidurga and the founding of the Rashtrakuta empire A young prince rises to found an empire. We tell the story of his rise in three ritual baths. Also in this episode: how running a medieval Indian court is like writing an essay, the most imperial of all imperial banners, and death himself dies. https://tinyurl.com/hw5mezkh /episode/index/show/historyofindiapodcast/id/23530778

5.E By the dry heart of empire 01/13/2021

5.E By the dry heart of empire What was life like in the heart of the Chaulkiya empire? How did they survive in such a dry environment? How was the city defended? In this episode, we chat with Dr Hemanth Kadambi about stone horse hurdles, his youthful misadventures, must-see places if you visit Badami, and how the sacred survives the test of time. /episode/index/show/historyofindiapodcast/id/17502467

5.D Workers stranded by the lockdown 05/01/2020

5.D Workers stranded by the lockdown **Special episode on the current crisis** People are stranded all across India. They left to find work. Now the lockdown has come, they are out of work, out of money and out of food. We get to talk to Anushka and Nithya who are chatting to these workers every day, and hear some of their stories. They work for SWAN - the stranded workers action network. They can help you give money to stranded workers directly here: bit.ly/3euYfGF @strandedworkers on twitter for more. /episode/index/show/historyofindiapodcast/id/14197832

5.C Chalukyas by the book 04/26/2020

5.C Chalukyas by the book (www.historyofindiapodcast.in) This week we chat to comic book author, novelist and fellow fan of the Chaulkiya period Dr. Shalini Srinivasan about the book she's been writing set in the Chaulkiyan empire. She tells us about how comic books get made, we share our favourite parts of the ruins, and I learn about how and why she writes. [Patchy audio quality in places] /episode/index/show/historyofindiapodcast/id/14147810

5.B By the whim of the master (part 2) 04/18/2020

5.B By the whim of the master (part 2) (www.historyofindiapodcast.in) ***Warning: contains upsetting details.*** The second special episode on slavery. This week, we hear about the lives of female slaves. We meet slaves in Buddhist monasteries. And we meet a young woman being sold into slavery. Also in this episode: how to construct a Buddhist cave, a boy survives seven attempted murders, and a vengeful woman crosses the ocean. /episode/index/show/historyofindiapodcast/id/14039486

5.A By the whim of the master 04/11/2020

5.A By the whim of the master (www.historyofindiapodcast.in) ***Warning: contains upsetting details.*** This week, we learn a little about what life was like for slaves in ancient and early medieval India, from becoming a slave to being free. India might have been the best place in the ancient world to be a slave, but slave life was often still brutal. In this episode: bad food sends a slave running for freedom, another annoying rant about academia, and an ancient Indian slave talks about cold baths and Buddhism with her master. /episode/index/show/historyofindiapodcast/id/13945568

5.23 Overtaken by the bogeyman 04/04/2020

5.23 Overtaken by the bogeyman (www.historyofindiapodcast.in) This week, we meet some of the bogeymen of ancient India; a group among the most feared of the Barbarians. The mighty Kamboja horsemasters. And yet, these are real people. In this episode we hear the tales told about them, but we also get to know a bit about how they really lived, and even them described in their own words. Also in this episode: the moon kings rise, an ocean gets drunk up, and I get lost in a rant about pacifist kings. /episode/index/show/historyofindiapodcast/id/13845467

5.22 By the back of the five great kings 03/26/2020

5.22 By the back of the five great kings (www.historyofindiapodcast.in) This is the week of small kings. The Pratihara empire has ruled for as long as anyone can remember. But a small king from the south will destroy the emperor's army and send him fleeing. And a small king from the north will restore him to his throne. Also in this episode: book reading in Baghdad, a rant about early medieval boasting, and our first glimpse of the world famous Khajuraho temples. /episode/index/show/historyofindiapodcast/id/13708841

5.21 By half a metre 12/14/2019

5.21 By half a metre (www.historyofindiapodcast.in) This week, Mahendrapala extends his empire downstream, towards the sea. But nothing is what it seems: not the emperor, nor his empire, nor his conquest. All will be revealed only half a meter down. Also in this episode: how to tell whether you are living on top of a monastery, more than twenty early medieval Indian insults, and how to call someone beautiful and aggressive at the same time. /episode/index/show/historyofindiapodcast/id/12401306

5.20 Assault by salt 12/05/2019

5.20 Assault by salt (www.historyofindiapodcast.in) A journey through one of emperor Bhoja's lands. With the emperor far away in the Imperial city, we find out what life is like for the merchants and city folk under him. Also in this episode: a practical guide to salt making in medieval India, the garden of the snake kings, and the origin of candy. /episode/index/show/historyofindiapodcast/id/12296606

5.19 Drawn by the sun 10/21/2019

5.19 Drawn by the sun (www.historyofindiapodcast.in) In this episode, young king Bhoja will grow into his throne. He will draw together allies and subordinates and wait patiently. When the time is right he will strike at his ancestral enemies, defeating them, and achieving what none of his forefathers could ever do: founding an empire. Also in this episode: how to misspend 2000 silver coins, why you should construct a queen's city, and what to do when you are handed a royal baby. /episode/index/show/historyofindiapodcast/id/11719250

5.18 Drawn by greatness 10/08/2019

5.18 Drawn by greatness (www.historyofindiapodcast.in) For too long the empire of the east has dominated North India. Bhoja, the descendant of the western emperors is determined to bring change. But he starts with almost nothing, for the once great western empire as been reduced to just a minor kingdom. In this, the first of three episodes, we look at Bhoja's first faltering steps. *Some of the inscriptions in this episode are pretty graphic - no rude language, but may not be suitable for all*. /episode/index/show/historyofindiapodcast/id/11556998

5.17 By the tip of the quivering sword 08/23/2019

5.17 By the tip of the quivering sword (www.historyofindiapodcast.in) The victorious Palas build their empire. Poets gather in their courts. Kings flee before their armies. All seems well, but an old enemy is regathering strength. Also in this week's episode: religious rivalry told through a hymn about toenails, a pun about grief, and a practical guide to buying and selling in medieval Assam. /episode/index/show/historyofindiapodcast/id/10967531

5.16 By the setting of the eastern sun 08/10/2019

5.16 By the setting of the eastern sun (www.historyofindiapodcast.in) This week, the build up to the great battle continues. We join the navy of the East, as it brings infantry and elephants up the river. Then we launch into the battle itself, following the commander's choice of battle formation. This is the battle to decide who will rule north India supreme. Also in this episode: hot to your elephant for war in eight simple steps, a poem about river logs, and a lesson in how to walk across a battlefield. /episode/index/show/historyofindiapodcast/id/10847030

5.15 By the light of the western dawn 08/03/2019

5.15 By the light of the western dawn A great battle of the age: the horsemen of the Pratiharas of the east, and the elephants of the Palas of the west. They meet on the shores of the Ganga. In this episode, we spend time with a Pratihara horsemen. We hear the story of his king, we check out his equipment, and hear about his horse. In this episode: the first thesaurus, a cunning nut seller, and a gratuitous rant about military history (sorry). /episode/index/show/historyofindiapodcast/id/10763660

5.14 By the help of a hundred scholars 06/20/2019

5.14 By the help of a hundred scholars (www.historyofindiapodcast.com) Emperor Dharmapala constructed an education system across his empire, so great it surpassed all that had come before. It shaped eastern India for nearly half a millennium. This week, we go inside the system for ourselves. We follow the great Buddhist teacher Atisha in his long and uncommon adventure through the places that Dharmapala built, and we find out what it was like to work and live there. Included in this episode: /episode/index/show/historyofindiapodcast/id/10167068

5.13 By a graceful move of the eyebrows 06/16/2019

5.13 By a graceful move of the eyebrows (www.historyofindiapodcast.in) This week, we find out what happened to the great prize of North India: the Imperial city of Kanyakubja. Two dynasties: the Palas (protectors), and the Pratiharas (doorkeepers) have been fighting to gain control. In this episode, a new emperor of India will win it, and then give it away. Included: a trip to a hidden great monastery, how a queen made a snake king deceive her, and two hundred hunchback maidens with quite different attitudes to marriage. /episode/index/show/historyofindiapodcast/id/10164959

5.a Philosophy, by the book 06/05/2019

5.a Philosophy, by the book (www.historyofindiapodcast.com) Become a student of the great Jain thinker HariBhadra. His novels have thrilled you. His satires have scanadlised you. His logics have perplexed you. Now listen to his lightening fast summary of all the important points of Indian philosophy. Featuring: the first ever summmary of the six schools of philosophy, a bonus school of philosophy just for fun, and a deep sense of bewilderment. Can you get through an early medieval philosophy lesson? Listen and test yourself. /episode/index/show/historyofindiapodcast/id/9955889

5.12 Back by the withering sand 05/30/2019

5.12 Back by the withering sand (www.historyofindiapodcast.in) We join the great Pratihara king Vatsaraja, at his lowest moment. With the whole of North India in his power, he is defeated and flees across the mountains into the great desert. We uncover the stories of the people and places, and find out what life was like there under his rule. /episode/index/show/historyofindiapodcast/id/9955853

5.11 On taking two umbrellas 05/23/2019

5.11 On taking two umbrellas (www.historyofindiapodcast.in) Everyone wants the imperial city of Kanyakubja lies at the center. The great Partihara king of the west wants to re-establish his family's image. The great Pala king of the west wants to become the first emperor from his land. Their armies will reach out towards the imperial city until they come upon one another in central India. There, they will both be meet a strange and indomitable new force. This week, we tell the first part of the struggle for North India. /episode/index/show/historyofindiapodcast/id/9898871

5.10 On the way out 04/23/2019

5.10 On the way out (www.historyofindiapodcast.in) The Umayyad armies go beyond al-Sind, trying to establish a new province in al-Hind proper. But their successes won't last. They will be driven back, twice. And shortly after, the entire Umayyad empire will collapse in on itself. This week, we piece together the story. In this episode: powerful poets send soldiers home, universities are crushed because of golden statues, a murder of governors, a king's boat takes a wrong turn, and much more. /episode/index/show/historyofindiapodcast/id/9503375

5.9 On the way to Hind 04/06/2019

5.9 On the way to Hind (www.historyofindiapodcast.in) This week, a tale of bridge engineering, bloodthirsty generals, widowed queens, the first mosque in South Asia, and lots and lots of gold. We tell the story of how the Ummayid caliphate came to invade Sind. /episode/index/show/historyofindiapodcast/id/9294560

5.8 On the door 03/23/2019

5.8 On the door (www.historyofindiapodcast.in) This week, the Rajputs arrive on the scene with the earliest of Rajput clans, the Pratiharas. But where did they come from? Did they see themselves as Rajputs? What did they do after they had emerged? The answers might not match with the familiar story. /episode/index/show/historyofindiapodcast/id/9112202

5.7 How to prevent fish on fish crime 03/06/2019

5.7 How to prevent fish on fish crime (www.historyofindiapodcast.in) Bengal's kings are dying daily. The land is in chaos. It's been this way for years. But, according to the legend, a man from the north will come and build a stable kingdom. This time, the legend is true. This episode, we witness an empire emerge from chaos. The Pala emperors are here. /episode/index/show/historyofindiapodcast/id/8902073

5.6 Those who live on campaign... 02/02/2019

5.6 Those who live on campaign... (www.historyofindiapodcast.in) Lalitaditya had grand plans. He would make Kashmir into an empire, spanning all of India and outside of it too. His armies would walk the deserts of the silk road, sail the seas of the bay of Bengal, and walk the Western Ghats. And they would bring back enough gold to build a house fit for God. Did he succeed in all his plans? Listen, and find out. /episode/index/show/historyofindiapodcast/id/8496134

5.5 On top of the world 01/26/2019

5.5 On top of the world (www.historyofindiapodcast.in) Travel to the top of India, the mountain valley of Kashmir. This is the story of the three brother-kings of Kashmir. The kind brother, the cruel brother, and the conqueror. Hear the story of their parents, how their kingdom was first won, and what they did to make it their own. /episode/index/show/historyofindiapodcast/id/8406611

5.4 Onward, Mauryan empire 01/19/2019

5.4 Onward, Mauryan empire (www.historyofindiapodcast.in)This week, the last of the Mauryan emperors. He will restore his family's glory, conquering the entire world. Well, more or less. Listen and meet a forgotten legend. WARNING: some gore, blood, descriptions of death. /episode/index/show/historyofindiapodcast/id/8317613

5.3 On the edge of renown 01/12/2019

5.3 On the edge of renown (www.historyofindiapodcast.in) This week, two kingdoms tie themselves together with marriage. They expand their lands, regain their independence. They do everything to imitate the glorious rise of empires past. And then... they fade to nothing. /episode/index/show/historyofindiapodcast/id/8228975

5.2 The lake on the hills 01/03/2019

5.2 The lake on the hills (www.historyofindiapodcast.in) The story of Nepal, from the formation of the Himalayan lands, through it's earliest inscriptions, to the king who refused to be king. This episode, we get up to date with what is going on in the kingdom to the North of Pataliputra. /episode/index/show/historyofindiapodcast/id/8121815

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