Knowledge Arsenal

'Rise of Empires: Ottoman' is a Netflix Docuseries about the Turkish conquest of Istanbul (then known as Constantinople). Here I am going to talk about the first season only. The reason I found it so enthralling was that this conquest was not just about battleground warfare but also dealt with the backroom politics and diplomatic manoeuvres of the 15th Century. It was a significant geopolitical event that altered the course of history for the next 500 years, not just for Europeans but also for the Indians. Earlier, when Constantinople was controlled by Romans, there was free passage for European traders to Asia and subsequently the Indian subcontinent. After its control fell into the hands of the Turks (also known as Ottomans), this free trade was no longer possible as they levied exorbitantly high taxes and duties. The price of Indian spices skyrocketed. This prompted the Europeans to find a sea route to India, which the Portuguese sailor Vasco da Gama ultimately did in 1498. ...

'Lawrence of Arabia' is undoubtedly one of the most classic English films from the 1960s. I happened to watch this film last week with my father. Until then I had never even heard the name of this movie. It was directed by David Lean starring Peter O'Toole and Omar Sharif and won many Academy Awards, including the Oscar in 1963. Anyone who takes an interest in history must watch this film. In short, it is to English cinema what Sholay is to Indian cinema! Being an Indian, I was never really a fan of the British. There is no denying the fact that they looted our country and imposed harsh laws on the masses for almost 200 years. But there is a lot that we can and should learn from them. England is a small island country with an even smaller population. Yet they managed to rule a large portion of the globe. There was an era when the sun never set in the British Empire. This film, which is about a British army officer, gives the viewers a glimpse of the global order during Worl...