Episode 1: Disease and Empire - A Very Brief Introduction to the British Empire

A Very Brief Introduction to the British Empire

Join us for our special pilot episode of A Very Brief Introduction to the British Empire, focusing on disease in imperial context!
Historians Paula Larsson and Olivia Durand discuss the impact of contagion as it shaped conquest, exploitation, and the development of racial theory. Special guest Manikarnika Dutta calls in for a spotlight on the history of cholera.
This is a brief introduction to smallpox in the new world, malaria and yellow fever in the Caribbean, cholera and the idea of a 'diseased tropic', ecological changes from disease in Africa, and a summary of modern legacies from imperial medical power. It is a lot of content, so we recommend listening to it in segments!
This podcast is run by Uncomfortable Oxford and will feature bi-weekly releases of our public lecture series on the history of the British Empire. Uncomfortable Oxford is run by Doctoral students at the University of Oxford and aims to raise awareness and discourse about 'uncomfortable' issues in the modern world.