1.5 The throne of the peacock

FromThe History of India Podcast

Start listening View podcast show

1.5 The throne of the peacock

FromThe History of India Podcast

ratings:

Length:

34 minutes

Released:

Aug 25, 2015

Format:

Podcast episode

Description

(www.historyofindiapodcast.com) This week, we witness the founding of the great Mauryan empire. It will become unmatched in its size and power until the modern era. But it all starts with a young man, Chandragupta Maurya, his cunning teacher Kautilya, and their plot to overthrow a kingdom.

Released:

Aug 25, 2015

Format:

Podcast episode

Titles in the series (100)

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

Skip carousel

1.F The Merchants of Magadha: () The guilds of ancient India. Trusted by townsfolk, feared by kings. This week, we find out how to join an ancient guild, and what to expect once you're a member. Then we take a voyage across Mauryan India with a member of a merchant... by The History of India Podcast
43 min listen
1.1 The 16 great houses of ancient India: (www.historyofindiapodcast.com) A wander through the mahajanapadas who dominated northern India d... by The History of India Podcast
39 min listen
1.7: The honesty of ambassadors: (www.historyofindiapodcast.com) This week we look at the tall tales about India told by three Gre... by The History of India Podcast
37 min listen
1.B The ignorance of foreign kings: (www.historyofindiapodcast.com) A bonus special episode on Alexander the Great's stampede through... by The History of India Podcast
31 min listen
1.9 Virtue without sorrow: (). On the battlefield at Kalinga the victorious emperor Ashoka decided to follow his conscience, no matter what. This week we find out where Ashoka's conscience lead him. We about hear his messages to his people, carved in his famous... by The History of India Podcast
53 min listen
1.3 The Envy of Princes: (www.historyofindiapodcast.com) The downfall of Bimbisara king of Magadha. The rise of his son Aj... by The History of India Podcast
40 min listen
2.7 The conqueror and his mother: (www.historyofindiapodcast.com) The Indian empires strike back. For too long, the Shaka invaders have dominated the land, and plundered its riches. This week, a new Indian king will take the throne. By force and guile he will... by The History of India Podcast
40 min listen
1.11 The end of an empire: () A generation after Ashoka's death his empire had vanished. This week, we meet some of the emperors desperately hanging on as their world decays around them. And we test the accusation that Ashoka's empire collapsed... by The History of India Podcast
49 min listen
1.A The legacy of foreign emperors: (www.historyofindiapodcast.com) The first special episode on matters away from the main storyline... by The History of India Podcast
37 min listen
1.10 Kingdom without sorrow: () Sovereignty is only possible with assistance; a single wheel cannot move alone. Ashoka the Great took this maxim to heart, and built a huge government machine to assist him. This week, Ashoka must struggle to avoid being crushed by the... by The History of India Podcast
47 min listen
1.6 The removal of thorns: (www.historyofindiapodcast.com) This week, we look at the cunning statesman Kautilya. He wrote a ... by The History of India Podcast
35 min listen
1.i The artefacts bumble: () Quick introduction to the mini-episodes on artworks and artefacts. Short ancient Indian story by way of compensation. by The History of India Podcast
12 min listen
1.8 Conscience without sorrow: (www.historyofindiapodcast.com) The first of three podcasts on the great emperor Ashoka. We meet ... by The History of India Podcast
41 min listen
1.0 The apology of a bumbling historian: (www.historyofindiapodcast.in) Introduction to the podcast. What we will be talking about, where, and how I'll screw it up. Includes a favourite Indian story as part compensation. Updated Feb 2018. by The History of India Podcast
22 min listen
2 C India, Rome, and the Red Sea: (www.historyofindiapodcast.com) We continue our business trip from ancient India to Rome. We stop at Islands populated by Indian sailors, cross the great desert to the Nile, and finally making our way through the streets of Rome to sell our wares in... by The History of India Podcast
42 min listen
1.5 The throne of the peacock: (www.historyofindiapodcast.com) This week, we witness the founding of the great Mauryan empire. I... by The History of India Podcast
34 min listen
1.4 The treasure of low-born kings: (www.historyofindiapodcast.com) This week we breeze through three dynasties of kings in one jam-p... by The History of India Podcast
33 min listen
2.3 The Prince and the Greek: () An ancient Indian love poem leads us to the pinnacle of two great houses: the Shungas who inherited an Indian empire, and the Indo-Greeks. After their fateful meeting, we watch as both houses begin their steady decline, until at... by The History of India Podcast
36 min listen
2.0 The bumbling historian and his mad plan: () An introduction and apology for the series. What we'll be talking about, how I'll screw it up, and how a mysterious red liquor almost ruined ancient India. by The History of India Podcast
13 min listen
1.D The carvings of society: () This week, we tackle the thorny issue of caste, and how important it was to day-to-day life in ancient India. by The History of India Podcast
48 min listen
2.9 Out of the steppe and into the city: (www.historyofindiapodcast.com) We travel with a tribe of nomads from China across the vast grasslands to central Asia. There, they finally settle down into the cities on India's doorstep. They unite, form an empire, and get ready to invade India... by The History of India Podcast
33 min listen
2.13 Kanishka and the wonder of the world: (www.historyofindiapodcast.com) The Kanishka stupa deserves its place amongst the wonders of the world. But its splendor has been long forgotten, and the stupa itself has been wiped out. This week, we set about rediscovering it. We... by The History of India Podcast
48 min listen
2 A The householder, the slave, and the wardrobe: (www.historyofindiapodcast.com) In this special episode, we live a morning in the life of a rich householder in Kushana India. Where did they wake up? What did they wear? And much more besides. Along the way we stop in on his wife and his slave. by The History of India Podcast
45 min listen
1.2 The Shrewdness of King Bimbisara: (www.historyofindiapodcast.com) The story of Bimbisara, ancient king of Magadha. He was a contemp... by The History of India Podcast
36 min listen
1.C The three crowned kings of Tamilakam: (www.historyofindiapodcast.com) This week we travel down to the three great kingdoms of South India: the Cholas, the Pandyas and the Cheras. Sources are hard to find. We read them all and discover a unique culture with beautiful poetry and great cities. by The History of India Podcast
47 min listen
2.1 The kingslayer and his horses: () The story of the general who ended an empire. To consolidate his power, the general became a passionate supporter of the old-time religion. We look at the accusation that he persecuted the rival, Buddhist sect. And we learn how... by The History of India Podcast
31 min listen
2.2 The Greeks and the Indian homeland: () Ancient Afghanistan: rich and fertile. Its Greek kings are powerful and ambitious enough to try to carve a new empire in India, cutting through the ruins of the old empire all the way to the walls of its grand capital city. Will... by The History of India Podcast
38 min listen
2 G Women, law and life: () If you were an ancient Indian woman, would you choose to be a nun or a wife? This episode has all you need to decide this thorny question, from the legal facts to words of wisdom from ancient Indian women themselves. Well ok, not all you... by The History of India Podcast
43 min listen
1.G The sayings of seers (part 2): () We look at the lost religion of ancient India. We see its doctrines and seemingly harsh practices through the eyes of rival sects. And we ask how the apparent hostility between these sects changed the lives of average ancient... by The History of India Podcast
46 min listen
2.5 India and the Great Wall of China: () India is under attack. Tribes fleeing from the great wall of China pour into India. We watch the first invasions sweep in from the North West. How far did these alien people get? How alien were they? Listen, and find out. [This podcast is... by The History of India Podcast
35 min listen

More Episodes from The History of India Podcast

Skip carousel

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... by The History of India Podcast
50 min listen
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... by The History of India Podcast
57 min listen
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... by The History of India Podcast
49 min listen
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... by The History of India Podcast
49 min listen
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... by The History of India Podcast
64 min listen
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... by The History of India Podcast
59 min listen
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... by The History of India Podcast
44 min listen
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... by The History of India Podcast
45 min listen
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... by The History of India Podcast
49 min listen
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... by The History of India Podcast
51 min listen
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... by The History of India Podcast
45 min listen
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... by The History of India Podcast
62 min listen
5.17 By the tip of the quivering sword: ( 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... by The History of India Podcast
42 min listen
5.16 By the setting of the eastern sun: () 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... by The History of India Podcast
61 min listen
5.15 By the light of the western dawn: () This week, we witness the build up to a great battle of the age: the Pratihara king has brought his army from the east, thick with warhorses. The Pala king has brought his army from the west, loaded with mountainous elephants. They meet for battle... by The History of India Podcast
50 min listen
5.14 By the help of a hundred scholars: () Emperor Dharmapala constructed an education system across his empire, so great it surpassed all that had come before. For half a millennium, it shaped Eastern India. This week, we go inside the system. We follow the great Buddhist teacher Atisha in... by The History of India Podcast
45 min listen
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... by The History of India Podcast
48 min listen
5.a Philosophy, by the book: (www.historyofindiapodcast.in) 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... by The History of India Podcast
25 min listen
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... by The History of India Podcast
42 min listen
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... by The History of India Podcast
39 min listen
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... by The History of India Podcast
50 min listen
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. by The History of India Podcast
55 min listen
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... by The History of India Podcast
42 min listen
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... by The History of India Podcast
39 min listen
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... by The History of India Podcast
55 min listen
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... by The History of India Podcast
44 min listen
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. by The History of India Podcast
46 min listen
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. by The History of India Podcast
31 min listen
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... by The History of India Podcast
50 min listen

Related podcast episodes

Skip carousel

1.6 The removal of thorns: (www.historyofindiapodcast.com) This week, we look at the cunning statesman Kautilya. He wrote a ... by The History of India Podcast
35 min listen
Ep. 09: Kushana, Son of God: This is the story of the rise of the Kushan Empire: the most powerful South Asian state since the fall of the Mauryan Empire. Episode 9 of Echoes of India brings to life the remarkable religious syncretism of one of the ancient world's most globalized... by Echoes Of India: A History Podcast
21 min listen
1.A The legacy of foreign emperors: (www.historyofindiapodcast.com) The first special episode on matters away from the main storyline... by The History of India Podcast
37 min listen
1.8 Conscience without sorrow: (www.historyofindiapodcast.com) The first of three podcasts on the great emperor Ashoka. We meet ... by The History of India Podcast
41 min listen
Ep. 08: The Lost City of the Tamils: This is the story of the jewel of ancient South India: the great Tamil trading city of Puhar. Episode 8 of Echoes of India brings to life a city sung about in poetry for thousands of years, at a time when one of the most important elements of Indian... by Echoes Of India: A History Podcast
20 min listen
1.4 The treasure of low-born kings: (www.historyofindiapodcast.com) This week we breeze through three dynasties of kings in one jam-p... by The History of India Podcast
33 min listen
1.3 The Envy of Princes: (www.historyofindiapodcast.com) The downfall of Bimbisara king of Magadha. The rise of his son Aj... by The History of India Podcast
40 min listen
Ep. 03: The Glory of a Deccan Queen: History is written by kings. What if a queen could tell us her story? In this episode, the rush of Central Asian nomads into India is halted by the first true empire based in the Deccan. But it would not be the last. And the most remarkable aspect of... by Echoes Of India: A History Podcast
18 min listen
1.B The ignorance of foreign kings: (www.historyofindiapodcast.com) A bonus special episode on Alexander the Great's stampede through... by The History of India Podcast
31 min listen
077: The Indo-Greeks - Invasion of the Yavanarajas: With the collapse of the Mauryan Empire, the rule… by The Hellenistic Age Podcast
61 min listen
Ep. 02: Buddha Goes to Afghanistan: Sometimes, the most beautiful art is paid for by the most brutal of conquerors. This is the story of how ancient India's most remarkably globalised art was born. In this episode, the tale of Gandhara continues to unfold as the Indo-Greeks are uprooted... by Echoes Of India: A History Podcast
20 min listen
1.2 The Shrewdness of King Bimbisara: (www.historyofindiapodcast.com) The story of Bimbisara, ancient king of Magadha. He was a contemp... by The History of India Podcast
36 min listen
The Foundations of Modern India: The political thought that laid the foundations of modern India - from rebellion to independence. by Dan Snow's History Hit
26 min listen
Ep. 00: Introduction: Echoes is a history podcast like no other. It's by Indians, about Indians, for Indians: A 700-year journey from the invasion of Alexander to the Gupta Empire, from the sublime Greek art of Gandhara to the pearl-white Buddhist stupas of Andhra to the... by Echoes Of India: A History Podcast
2 min listen
1.1 The 16 great houses of ancient India: (www.historyofindiapodcast.com) A wander through the mahajanapadas who dominated northern India d... by The History of India Podcast
39 min listen
J. Barton Scott, "Slandering the Sacred: Blasphemy Law and Religious Affect in Colonial India" (U Chicago Press, 2023): An interview with J. Barton Scott by New Books in Indian Religions
30 min listen
Ghatothgaj - Bhim and Hidimba’s warrior son by Indian Mythology for kids
18 min listen
Douglas Ober, "Dust on the Throne: The Search for Buddhism in Modern India" (Stanford UP, 2023): An interview with Douglas Ober by New Books in Indian Religions
102 min listen
1.0 The apology of a bumbling historian: (www.historyofindiapodcast.in) Introduction to the podcast. What we will be talking about, where, and how I'll screw it up. Includes a favourite Indian story as part compensation. Updated Feb 2018. by The History of India Podcast
22 min listen
Ambedkar: Ernie Rea and guests discuss BR Ambedkar's role in forming modern India. by Beyond Belief
28 min listen
Ep. 01: The Greeks Who Became Indians: Most histories of post-Vedic India start with Alexander the Great and then start with the story of North India under the Mauryas. But this story stays with Alexander's army. This episode explores the North-West of the Indian subcontinent, where South... by Echoes Of India: A History Podcast
22 min listen
The rise of Hindu nationalism: A religious rally called the Rath Yatra in 1990 championed militant Hinduism in India. by The History Hour
50 min listen
Karna part 1 by Indian Mythology for kids
23 min listen
Savitri & Satyavan by Indian Mythology for kids
14 min listen
Episode 42. Euclid’s Elements: David Acheson: The most important book in the history of mathematics is Euclid’s Elements. The book – really 13 short books bound together into a single treatise – dates to approximately 300 BC, and is credited to the Greek mathematician Euclid of Alexandria.... by Science History Podcast
107 min listen
Mongols vs Mamluks: Nicholas Morton explores the legendary clash between two major empires in the 12th and 13th centuries by History Extra podcast
47 min listen
4.B Joy in the kingdom of brothers (part B): (www.historyofindiapodcast.com) Second of the special episodes on ancient Gujurat. This week, we visit the internationally famous university of Vallabhi, and we hear how the story of the local kingdom weaves together with the stories of great empires.... by The History of India Podcast
49 min listen
032: The Mauryan Empire of India: Led by rulers such as Chandragupta and Ashoka the… by The Hellenistic Age Podcast
56 min listen
Episode 26: Michael McConnell by Supreme Myths
57 min listen
The Saylor Series | Episode 3 | Technology Themes through History – Harder, Smarter, Faster, Stronger: Michael Saylor joins me to discuss anthropology, energy, and technology from first principles as we build the intellectual foundation necessary to truly grasp the historic significance of Bitcoin. by The "What is Money?" Show
76 min listen

Discover this podcast and so much more

1.5 The throne of the peacock

1.5 The throne of the peacock

Description

Titles in the series (100)

More Episodes from The History of India Podcast

Related podcast episodes