Keeping India Cool
Sweltering British imperialists relied on an army of fan bearers, whose stories are as invisible as the air they circulated.
Empire
Are Empires Always Bad?
Empires have been part of human history for millennia. Are they, of necessity, a bad thing?
The Elusive Byzantine Empire
Though the beginnings of the Byzantine Empire are unclear, its demise is not. The history of the Eastern Roman Empire, from its foundation in 324 to its conquest in 1453, is one of war, plague, architectural triumphs and fear of God's wrath.
America: the Last Empire
At the beginning of the 20th century, there were 16 empires of varying size and reach. At the end of the century, there was just one: the United States. How did this happen and what role did Britain play in smoothing America’s path to global hegemony?
The Last Emperor of India
The voice of the British monarch carried considerable weight in imperial India. Its slow silencing mirrored the retreat of Britain from the subcontinent.
Kut Losses
Two imperial ventures, in the same Middle East town a century apart, reveal the similarities – and differences – in the exercise of power.
The Search for Prester John
For five centuries the legend of a Christian priest king, in Asia or in Africa, sustained the hopes of Europeans in their struggle with Islam. Those who joined the search for Prester John were looking for a man who was not there.
A New Line in Empire
Though much of the West has withdrawn from empire, one of the world’s rising powers offers the latest twist on imperialism.
Everyday Life in Japan's Colonies
Japan’s vast Asian empire became home to more than a million female settlers, who told their stories in an effort to keep in contact.
Against the Grain
Sweet it may be, but sugar's story is a bitter one, embracing slavery, decay and obesity.