iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

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@willdalrymple.bsky.social, @anitaanand.bsky.social, enjoyed the Svetlana focused bonus episode. A great podcast series about her, and more on her time mixed up with with the Frank Lloyd Wright 'cult' is Sevtlana! Svetlana! open.spotify.com/show/7IM5F1J...

open.spotify.com

Svetlana! Svetlana!

Podcast · iHeartPodcasts · In 1967, Joseph Stalin’s daughter braved her way over the Iron Curtain, secret memoir in tow, and landed in America as the Cold War’s most famous defector. At 40 years old, ...

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Gfrancie (Benevolent Siren) @gfrancie.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

I finished reading "The Golden Road" by @willdalrymple.bsky.social and God damn that book has everything. Legendary figures who all need their own limited TV series, and the great reminder that many humans have always been global in their mindset, & at their most interesting when collaborating.

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William Dalrymple @willdalrymple.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

New from @EmpirePodUK STALINGRAD With the great Sir Antony Beevor linktr.ee/empirepoduk

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Juan Cole @jricole.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

Future AI Harm? It Is already Complicit in Gaza Genocide www.juancole.com/2026/09/alre...

juancole.com

Future AI Harm? It Is already Complicit in Gaza Genocide

by Dr...

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Not Space Karen @rowan68.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

A year old, but still good stuff from one of my v favourite historians.

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History and Heritage Yorkshire @handhyorkshire.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

🧵8 Posts: High on the windy ridge above the Spen Valley, beside Walton Cross Farm at Hartshead, stands a remarkable survivor from Yorkshire’s medieval past. At first glance, it appears to be little more than a weathered block of grey gritstone. Yet this is the surviving base of

The surviving base of the Walton Cross, an Anglian high cross probably dating from the late ninth or tenth century. The shaft and cross-head have long since disappeared, leaving only the richly carved socket stone. Image: Tim Green CC BY-SA 2.0

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William Dalrymple @willdalrymple.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

Don't miss our Stalin double bill: KILLING TROTSKY & THE GREAT TERROR linktr.ee/empirepoduk

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William Dalrymple @willdalrymple.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

New from @empirepoduk.bsky.social Stalin: The Great Terror linktr.ee/empirepoduk

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Randolph. @randolph1234.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

So ethnic Clensing was used by Britain to remove Irish families from their homes to make room for Protestestants who moved into catholic homes in 17th century. Land was removed from catholics. It’s like the same thing happening in modern day Palestine 🇵🇸.

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Prof Katherine Schofield 🇬🇧🇦🇺🇪🇺 @katherineschof8.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

This is the cutest funniest thing I think I have ever seen. Baby goats are the GOAT @willdalrymple.bsky.social xx

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AgonyFlips @agonyflips.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

When you're ticked off and a friend sends you something to make you feel better. 🐑🔊

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Alex von Tunzelmann @alexvont.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

I chaired @willdalrymple.bsky.social and @peterfrankopan.bsky.social talking about empires old and new at the wonderful Big Brue festival in Bruton today. Two of my history heroes! Though I did feel a bit like a ringmaster trying to tame two lions at once

Me on stage with William Dalrymple and Peter Frankopan

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Janne M. Korhonen @jmkorhonen.fi · 18/09/2026

Fascinating thread. Reminded me how much I enjoyed @willdalrymple.bsky.social ‘s book The Golden Road: How Ancient India Transformed the World. Had so many learning experiences from it!

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Shane McKee @shaneir.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

This podcast series on the rise of Bin Laden is outstanding.

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Ivan Plis @ivanplis.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

Perhaps-useful religious context on the young Stalin episode, @willdalrymple.bsky.social/ @anitaanand.bsky.social: the Georgian church shares a faith but not an org chart with Moscow, BUT, importantly, was absorbed by the Russian church from 1811-1917.

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Alan Fisher @amfisher.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

Just finished @willdalrymple.bsky.social's Return of a King, on the First Anglo-Afghan war. It should have been required reading for every field officer in the U.S. forces in Afghanistan. A wonderfully told tale of a woefully incompetent invasion and even worse retreat.

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The Jam Man @simontittley.bsky.social · 02/03/2026

Great shot William 🤘

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TMurr @tmurr.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

This is an excellent series, tracing the roots of radical Islamist thought through to 9/11. Lots learned. Much recommend.

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William Dalrymple @willdalrymple.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

Friday marked 25 years since 9/11. Our @empirepoduk.bsky.social Road to 9/11 series concludes with the final days before the attack. The CIA knew two hijackers were in the US and never told the FBI. Our final episode traces the summer the system was, in the CIA director's own words, "blinking red."

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William Dalrymple @willdalrymple.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

This is really VERY exciting for us all @EmpirePodUK! With thanks to everyone who has listened in...

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Michael Kauter @michaelkauter.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

Highly recommend this podcast.

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Robert Macmillan @robfmac.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

If you’re not listening already, jump to it!

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Raven Books @ravenbooks.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

It's this idea that a company can just choose where it's going to plonk itself and use that as leverage to negotiate the best possible rates for itself which is why everyone's ending up in Ireland at the moment - William Dalrymple's comparison is spot on. #speirgorm open.spotify.com/episode/42jm...

open.spotify.com

381. Musk, Bezos & The New East India Companies (Ep 1)

Empire: World History · Episode

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Jack El-Hai @jackelhai.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

Today's #history article pick from Damn History, my free newsletter for readers/writers of #popularhistory. Congrats to writer @willdalrymple.bsky.social & @nytimesoped.bsky.social! Read/subscribe to Damn History: damn-history-16d93f.beehiiv.com/subscribe www.nytimes.com/2026/08/28/o...

nytimes.com

Opinion | What It Took to Dismantle the Most Powerful Company in the World (Gift Article)

A playbook to curb the growing power of Big Tech.

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William Dalrymple @willdalrymple.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

This is really VERY exciting for us all @EmpirePodUK! With thanks to everyone who has listened in...

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GD's Tales @tanktales.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

The Bin Laden and 9/11 series of podcasts hosted by @willdalrymple.bsky.social and @anitaanand.bsky.social are excellent and they are revealing. I thought we knew everything about the plot but the latest episode told me things that I never previously knew. empirepoduk.com

empirepoduk.com

World History Podcast on Empires & Colonialism | Empire

Listen to the Empire podcast with William Dalrymple and Anita Anand. Explore colonial history, revolutions and global power through storytelling.

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Alex von Tunzelmann @alexvont.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

I’m late to this corker of a longread by @willdalrymple.bsky.social on corporate empires from the East India Company to AI, but so glad I’ve caught up with it now. So much to chew on here www.nytimes.com/2026/08/28/o...

nytimes.com

Opinion | What It Took to Dismantle the Most Powerful Company in the World

A playbook to curb the growing power of Big Tech.

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William Dalrymple @willdalrymple.bsky.social · 06/09/2026

We've added a second @empirepoduk.bsky.social session today at 1pm- Three Ayatollahs: An Iranian Dynasty With the great Ali Ansari

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Shabana Mir @shabana.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

Gretchen Whitmer is welcoming the opportunity to make Israeli drone so Michiganders can contribute in the genocide. Michigan Economic Development Corporation announced nearly $1 million state incentives for an Israel-based drone company to establish its US HQ there. home.mirs.news/post/medc-gi...

home.mirs.news

MEDC Gives $1M Grant To Israeli Drone Company

The Michigan Economic Development Corporation announced nearly $1 million in state incentives for an Israel-based drone company to establish its U.S. headquarters in Sterling Heights.

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William Owen @wdowen.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

I’m picturing this a.m.’s editorial meet at BBC News in Millbank House. At issue the plausibility of a long-planned editorial line for Reform conference, 'Preparing for Government'. Chris Mason is on the phone to Robbie Gibb: “WE STICK WITH IT!”. Nick Robinson grimly checks his intro one more time

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The Past and other Places @pastandotherplaces.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

The Cundill prize shortlist. www.cundillprize.com/news/the-202...

cundillprize.com

The 2026 Cundill History Prize Shortlist

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William Dalrymple @willdalrymple.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

So so proud of Sam Dalrymple making the Cundill Prize shortlist! Huge achievement for anyone, but for a first book written in your mid-twenties it's properly astonishing. (Proud father broadcast ends here.)

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Alison Fisk @alisonfisk.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

Ea-nasir told Nanni’s messenger: “If you want to take them (the copper ingots) take them, if you do not want to take them, go away!" 😮 And no refund given! Here’s the museum record: www.britishmuseum.org/collection/o...

britishmuseum.org

tablet | British Museum

Clay tablet; letter from Nanni to Ea-nasir complaining that the wrong grade of copper ore has been delivered after a gulf voyage and about misdirection and delay of a further delivery; slightly damage...

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Alison Fisk @alisonfisk.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

Some things never change! 😂 The oldest known written customer complaint dates back almost 4,000 years! An angry customer called Nanni complained to his copper merchant about poor quality product, lack of refund, and rude customer service! Sound familiar? 📷 Zunkir #EpigraphyTuesday #Archaeology

The image by Zunir shows a tall, rectangular ancient clay tablet densely covered with rows of cuneiform text, displayed upright on a clear stand against a dark museum background. The tablet is Nanni’s famous letter of complaint, written on a clay tablet to a copper merchant named Ea-nasir. Nanni complains that he has been sent low-grade copper, rather than the high quality copper agreed. Ea-nasir has treated Nanni and his messengers with contempt, sending them back without a refund, and telling them "If you want to take them (the copper ingots) take them, if you do not want to take them, go away!" 😮

The complaint was inscribed on a clay tablet using cuneiform script, one of the earliest systems of writing, characterized by its wedge-shaped characters. Tablet dimensions: height 11.6 cm, width 5 cm. Old Babylonian period, 1750 BC.

The tablet was excavated by Sir Leonard Woolley at the ancient Mesopotamian city of Ur in modern-day Iraq in the 1920-30s. Acquired in the division of finds.

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Michèle Champagne @michelechampagne.com · 31/08/2026

Since we're all looking at the details of Google Map APIs: “For in the past decade, Big Tech has, too, begun to take on the attributes of sovereign states, and in many ways is now as powerful as the East India Company at its height.” – @willdalrymple.bsky.social

nytimes.com

Opinion | What It Took to Dismantle the Most Powerful Company in the World

A playbook to curb the growing power of Big Tech.

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Digital Civics @digitalcivics.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

History is an invaluable pillar to Digital Civics, @willdalrymple.bsky.social's instructive work exemplifies just how vital it is. "The way these companies control crucial global choke points echoes the political and economic power of the East India Company " #AIEthics #History

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Don Moynihan @donmoyn.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

Excellent piece that articulates many of the parallels I was thinking about when I read Dalrymple's book on the East India Company: how do governments control companies that more economically powerful than most countries, and can purchase political influence in the most powerful country?

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Naveed Hasan @naveed-hasan.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

This is an excellent piece and William Dalrymple is one of the best living historians of South Asia. I have studied the East India Company and its corporate colonialism and centuries of unchecked power allowed them to break… 1/3 @willdalrymple.bsky.social @nytimes.com nytimes.com/2026/08/28/o...

nytimes.com

Opinion | What It Took to Dismantle the Most Powerful Company in the World (Gift Article)

A playbook to curb the growing power of Big Tech.

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Katherine CM Cross @kcross.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

Anyone have a link to the original paper? This article *begins* to suggest 11th c Northern England’s many Scandinavian connections, but I’d love to know how the skull shape could tell us this man was Scandinavian (especially given 11th c Northern England’s many Scandinavian connections…)

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HowlingPlanetXtra @howlingplanet.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

"To keep Big Tech from taking over the world, look to a company founded 426 years ago." The #EmpirePodcast has an astonishing catalogue of spoken coverage, chapters of history. It's so enlightening.

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Dr Crom @doccrom.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

The Nijmegen Helmet: a visored Roman cavalry display helmet of silvered bronze and iron: ca. Early 2nd Century AD. Busts embellish the diadem; and the name 'Marcianus' is scratched into the right cheek. #Archaeology 🏺 Image: Valkhof Museum (XXI.1.4). Link - valkhofmuseum.nl/en/verdiepin...

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Alix Dunn @alixdunn.com · 30/08/2026

@coricrider.com that analysis you had when The Anarchy came out has now been written up!

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Emma Rogan 🇵🇸 @emmadragon.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

A fantastic, relevant read for this former colony: “As the history of the East India Company shows, there can come a point when a corporation stops being just a company & begins seizing for itself the powers & trappings typically associated with a nation-state.” #spéirghorm #IrishPol

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Alix Dunn @alixdunn.com · 30/08/2026

Great piece - if you haven't read The Anarchy by @willdalrymple.bsky.social it is essential reading - incredibly well written and researched, and useful for the now times.

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