The EU: from Maastricht to Brexit

Opium has been a painkiller, a vice and the fuel for at least two wars. But what makes it such a powerful global commodity? Benjamin Robert Siegel takes Isabel King through this complex history, exploring how opium shaped capitalism, medicine and global power from ancient poppy f ...  Show more

For hundreds of years, people have gathered after dark to drink, dance and escape the pressures of everyday life. But how did 'going out' become a habit across the world? Jon Bauckham chats to Imogen Willetts about the hedonistic history of partying, journeying from 17th-century ...  Show more

📖 [Episode Transcripts in link below] ⬇️ Today, let's journey into the history of the European Union, a political and economic union of European countries founded in 1957. From fostering cooperation and trade to promoting integration, this union has had profound effects on Europ ...  Show more

As Britain leaves the EU, Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook look at the best & worst comparisons from history that have been made to Brexit.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices 

🗒️ About this episode: "There was a recognition in Europe of the need for countries to work together in politics, economics and security..." Today's episode is about the development of the European Union. It covers:

Jack Blanchard speaks to some of the key U.K. players involved in the passage of the Maastricht Treaty and ponders whether this was the moment which set Britain on the path to Brexit. Former British diplomat John Kerr recalls the epic all-night negotiations in Holland, including ...  Show more