The Great Game: Britain and Russia in Central Asia

Trade Routes That Changed Human History Forever — Fexingo History · Sep 19, 2026 · 8m · transcript

This episode explores the nineteenth-century geopolitical rivalry known as the Great Game, where the British Empire and Russian Empire competed for influence across Central Asia. We trace the origins of this tension from the Napoleonic Wars through to the Anglo-Russian Convention of 1907. Lucas details the key figures like Sir Alexander Burnes and General Skobelev, while Luna helps navigate the complex map of buffer states including Afghanistan, Persia, and Khiva. We examine how intelligence gathering, secret treaties, and local alliances shaped the region's borders and legacy. The…