Originally published on May 6, 2015 (Episode 14)
Introduction
While Waterloo may have ended Napoleon’s reign in Europe, by that time the Napoleonic Wars reshaped the entire world. Alex Mikaberidze has written prolifically on these conflicts, and in this conversation he widens the lens far beyond the European theater.
We explore both the Revolutionary Wars (1792–1802) and Napoleonic Wars (1803–1815) in their global dimensions—touching the Western Hemisphere, the Middle East, and South Asia. This is not simply the story of battles, but of empires, revolutions, and enduring consequences.
About the Guest
Alexander Mikaberidze is Professor of History at Louisiana State University in Shreveport, specializing in the Napoleonic Wars and world history.
For Further Investigation
Alexander Mikaberidze, The Napoleonic Wars: A Global History (Oxford, 2020)—the very long summation which this conversation previewed five years before pub date
Charles Esdaile, Napoleon’s Wars: An International History (Viking, 2013)
Listen to Was You at Waterloo?
💬 Listen & Discuss
How do the Napoleonic Wars look different when seen from India, Egypt, or the Caribbean? What do we miss when we focus only on Europe? Share your thoughts below, and send this episode to someone who thinks Waterloo was the most important part of the story.
