Historian and author Simon Sebag Montefiore joins to discuss Catherine the Great's partnership and love affair with Grigory Potemkin. They consolidate her rule, expand the Russian Empire, build new cities and ports in New Russia, discuss Russia's growing power in Europe, Potemkin's extravagant lifestyle, and the reign of a brutal Shah.

This week, Simon Sebag Montefiore, a best-selling historian known for his insights on figures like Stalin and the Romanovs, joins the discussion. He delves into the complexities of the Gaza conflict and the emotional toll of hostage negotiations. The conversation also touches on the challenges of anti-Semitism faced by Jewish communities globally, particularly in light of recent hate crimes. Montefiore highlights the historical ties between Ireland and Jewish identity, while examining the intricate political dynamics in Syria and their impact on regional stability.

Historian Simon Sebag Montefiore discusses the history of Israel, motivations behind Lord Balfour's declaration, conflicting histories in Israel-Hamas and Russia-Ukraine wars, and their impact. He also shares personal stories of his family background and interviewing Margaret Thatcher.

Muli Segev, creator of Eretz Nehederet, discusses the role of satire during wartime. Simon Sebag Montefiore talks about the misconceptions of the Israel-Palestine conflict. The podcast also touches on the political dynamics, international pressure, and volunteer efforts in Israel. It explores the use of humor as a coping mechanism during traumatic events, and the conflict between satire and the woke movement. Jewish comedians' identity crisis is also discussed.

Letters grant us a glimpse into fascinating lives, whether through the eyes of a genius, a monster or of an ordinary person. For this archive event, we matched up award-winning historian Simon Sebag Montefiore and No 1 bestselling novelist Kate Mosse to discuss the letters of Michelangelo, Catherine the Great, Sarah Bernhardt, Rosa Parks, Nelson Mandela, Virginia Woolf, Alan Turing and more. A cast of performers including Young Vic director Kwame Kwei-Armah, plus actors Jade Anouka, Jack Lowden and Tamsin Greig provided readings live onstage.  —We’d love to hear your feedback and what you think we should talk about next, who we should have on and what our future debates should be about. Send us an email or voice note with your thoughts to podcasts@intelligencesquared.com. At Intelligence Squared we’ve got our own online streaming platform, Intelligence Squared+ and we’d love you to give it a go. It’s packed with more than 20 years’ worth of video debates and conversations on the world’s most important topics as well as exclusive podcast content. Tune in to live events, ask your questions or watch on-demand, totally ad-free with hours of discussion to dive into. Visit intelligencesquaredplus.com to start watching today Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Simon Sebag Montefiore, an award-winning historian known for bestsellers like "Jerusalem: The Biography," discusses the intricate history of Jerusalem amidst the backdrop of current conflicts. He explores the city's significance across Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, emphasizing the importance of understanding diverse narratives in promoting peace. The conversation highlights Jerusalem as a symbol of both conflict and missed opportunities for cooperation, while unraveling the complexities of its past and ongoing archaeological research.

Powerful women have too often been overlooked by history. Of course we know about Boudica, Cleopatra, Elizabeth I and Catherine the Great. But there are many others whose stories are just as dramatic and deserve to be better known. For this episode of Intelligence Squared, acclaimed historian Simon Sebag Montefiore, author of the new book The World: A Family History and the historical novelist Kate Mosse, whose latest publication is Warrior Queens and Quiet Revolutionaries: How Women (Also) Built the World, talk about how to reframe the role of women in historical narratives. In conversation with historian and broadcaster Kate Williams they discuss great women from across the globe and the whole span of human history – how they gained power, how they wielded it and how, given that it was largely men who wrote history and often distorted it to suit their own ends, we can establish the truth about these women and celebrate their contribution to the human story. ...Did you know that Intelligence Squared offers way more than podcasts? We’ve just launched a new online streaming platform Intelligence Squared+ and we’d love you to give it a go. It’s packed with more than 20 years’ worth of video debates and conversations on the world’s hottest topics. Tune in to live events, ask your questions or watch back on-demand totally ad-free with hours of discussion to dive into for just £14.99 a month. Visit intelligencesquaredplus.com to start watching today.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

British historian Simon Sebag Montefiore discusses his new book that analyzes global events through famous families. They delve into writing modern life as history with a focus on Putin's invasion of Ukraine. They also explore the dark history of the slave trade, the dangers faced by historians, and the interactions of Tamur the Great with historian Ibn Khaldun.

Simon Sebag Montefiore, the author of the updated "Jerusalem: The Biography," delves into the storied past of Jerusalem, highlighting its complex interplay of cultures and conflicts. He discusses the importance of revisiting historical narratives and how they shape modern understanding of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Simon emphasizes the need for civil discourse amid divisive conversations, illustrating the dual themes of tolerance and intolerance throughout the city's rich tapestry. His insights shed light on the search for coexistence and possible paths toward resolution.

British historian Simon Sebag Montefiore discusses the cyclical nature of empires, rise of dynastic power, and threats to liberty. The podcast explores historical justifications for imperialism, leadership transitions, and global advancements amidst challenges like authoritarianism and climate change.