Cultured Sloth

Uncover the fascinating dynamics of power and culture in our latest episode, featuring the book "Royal Courts in Dynastic States and Empires," edited by Jeroen Duindam, Tülay Artan, and Metin Kunt. This episode takes you on a journey through history, exploring how royal courts shaped...

In this episode, we explore the intriguing journey of how Asia came to be represented on European world maps and the evolution of a continental understanding among Asian countries. Based on the thought-provoking essays from "Reimagining the Globe and Cultural Exchange: The East Asian Legacies...

Tune in to our latest episode as we explore "Mapping and Politics in the Digital Age," edited by Pol Bargués-Pedreny, David Chandler, and Elena Simon. This intriguing collection reveals how digital technologies are transforming mapping into a tool for challenging political boundaries and empowering marginalized...

In this episode, we explore "Making Home(s) in Displacement," an insightful collection edited by Luce Beeckmans, Alessandra Gola, Ashika Singh, and Hilde Heynen. This compelling volume challenges traditional notions of home by examining how migrants and refugees create and sustain their sense of belonging amidst...

Join us in this episode as we unpack "Global Perspectives on China's Belt and Road Initiative," edited by Florian Schneider. Discover the fascinating interplay of voices and influences that shape this monumental project. We’ll explore how a diverse array of actors—ranging from grassroots organizations to...

In this episode, we explore how the First World War transformed East Asia in ways that still resonate today. Based on Frank Jacob’s eye-opening book "East Asia and the First World War," we’ll uncover Japan’s dramatic rise to power during the conflict and the social...

Curious about how ancient empires controlled their people? In this episode, we explore "Creating an Empire of Informers" by Poppy Tushingham, which takes us back to 672 BC when Assyrian King Esarhaddon imposed a shocking system of surveillance. Imagine an empire where everyone, from neighbors...

In this episode, we explore "Broken Narrative: The Politics of Contemporary Art in Albania" by Marco Mazzi and Armando Lulaj, a thought-provoking look at how art and politics intertwine in Albania’s turbulent recent history. Through an in-depth interview with artist Armando Lulaj, we trace the...

In this engaging episode, we delve into Sebastian Coxon's "Beards and Texts," which explores the significant role of beards in medieval German literature from the mid-twelfth to the early sixteenth centuries. Coxon reveals how beards symbolize masculinity and serve as important motifs in discussions of...

Join us for an engaging episode as we explore "Barbarian Europe" by Karol Modzelewski, a fascinating examination of the profound yet often overlooked influence of early Germanic and Slavic societies on European culture. While the legacies of the Christian Church and classical antiquity are well-documented,...

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