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Flash Point History

by Nitin Sil

I came, I saw, I podcasted

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Latest Episodes

Jul 18, 2026 · 19 min
We begin a new series on the American Revolution! North America was a contest for the ambitions of European Powers. After the Seven Years War, the British would emerge victorious and would seize large areas from France and Spain, but was left with crushing debt. Parliment's solution was to tax the A…
Dec 20, 2025 · 18 min
In 1524 Vasco da Gama made his third and final voyage to India. This man who had discovered the sea passage to India, returned not as an explorer but as an administrator. He would oversea a massive trade empire that now streched over four continent and set a precedence that every other nation was ea…
Oct 10, 2025 · 34 min
We enter in the final years of Afonso de Albuquerque as he continues his master strategy to bring the Indian Ocean under Portuguese control. He heads west to subdue the Red Sea and the Persian gulf. In doing so, he earns his title "The Lion of the Sea"   PLEASE LEAVE A RATING AND REVIEW ON APPLE P…
Jun 4, 2025 · 23 min
With Malacca captured, another part of Afonso de Albuquerque's great plan to conquor the Indian Ocean falls into place. With a King's ransom he returns to India - but his journey will be filled with danger. PLEASE LEAVE A RATING AND REVIEW ON APPLE PODCASTS!  Flash Point History YouTube Channel: …
Feb 22, 2025 · 26 min
The fabled city of Malacca was the portal through which the trade treasures of the Indian and Pacific Oceans flowed. It had a formidable army and a determined sultan. Afonso de Albuquerque arrived in 1511 with just over a thousand men, but he was even more determined to make it a part of the Portugu…
Jan 5, 2025 · 17 min
Beaten but not destroyed, Afonso de Albuquerque escapes from his prized city of Goa. However, he returns in just a few months and brings the might of the Portugeuse Armada with him.  Flash Point History YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTYmTYuan0fSGccYXBxc8cA Contribute on Patreo…
Dec 10, 2024 · 21 min
Afonso de Albuerque's great strategy for conquest of the Indian Ocean begins at Goa. His initial plan unfolds perfectly - but he quickly learns that its one thing to take a great city, but its another to hold on to it.    Flash Point History YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTYmT…
Nov 5, 2024 · 21 min
Afonso de Albuerque is finally installed as the Governor of India, but his plan are quickly derailed. His cousin Fernando Coutinho, the Marshall of Portugal, arrives with a large fleet and has plans of his own. The ensuing attack on Calicut puts Afonso's life in great danger.    Flash Point Histor…
Aug 20, 2024 · 25 min
In the wake of his son's death, Fracnsico de Almeida takes the law into his own hands. His need for revenge culminates in the pivotal Battle of Diu in 1509.     Flash Point History YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTYmTYuan0fSGccYXBxc8cA Contribute on Patreon: https://www.patre…
Jun 4, 2024 · 29 min
The Mamluk Armada appears in the Indian Ocean! It is deployed against the son of the Viceroy, Lourenço de Almeida. However, the young Almeida is determined for redemption in his father's eyes for his prior failure at the battle of Dabhol. His need to regain his father's favor leds him to make seriou…
Apr 24, 2024 · 25 min
With the battle of Cochin over, the Portuguese enter into a phase of conquest in 1505. This is spearheaded by the first Portuguese Viceroy, Francisco de Almeida. However his story is not just about a man committed to his king and country, but also of a father and his only son.    Flash Point Histo…
Jan 28, 2024 · 28 min
1504 The Zamorin of Calicut is on the warpath and about to hit the city of Cochin with a sledgehammer force of over 60,000 soldiers. The Portuguese have 150 men - but one very capable commander. The fate of the Portugeuse Empire in India now hangs in the balace.    Flash Point History YouTube Cha…
Jan 2, 2024 · 16 min
1503 The Portuguese Empire in India faces major head winds. Vasco da Gama underestimates his old rival, the Samudri Raja of Calicut, and nearly pays for it with his life. Yet despite Portuguese resilience, the Samudri and his men prove that they are in it for a fight.    Flash Point History YouTu…
Nov 17, 2023 · 29 min
1502 Vasco da Gama is placed in charge of the Fourth Portuguese Armada and returns to the Indian Ocean. In his last voyage he came as an explorer - this time he comes as a crusader and brings holy war with him   Flash Point History YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTYmTYuan0fSGc…
Sep 12, 2023 · 26 min
Dec 1500 The Portuguese trading outpost in Calicut has been destroyed. In the night a vast mob attacked, razed it, and killed nearly everyone inside. Pedro Cabral orders his ships to bring their canons to bear on the city. Diplomacy has ended and now there is only need for revenge. The Portuguese c…
Aug 10, 2023 · 21 min
August 1498 Vasco Da Gama makes his way north along the Malabar Coast of India. He is on the run. Negotiations have broken down with the King of Calicut - who has deployed a fleet to hunt down the Portuguese. On August 30th the King's men intercepts Vasco's ships. 70 small ships approch and fight i…
Jul 22, 2023 · 23 min
1498 - a Portuguese Fleet of four ships has travelled for nearly a year and now is in the middle of a vast ocean. It has covered a distance of 12,000 miles (half the circumfrence of the Earth). Its crew has suffered malnutition, disease, and hosital encounters. Was it worth it? Suddenly on the easte…
Jun 30, 2023 · 18 min
Its 1487 and Bartolomeu Dias has traveled further than any European. He takes a gamble, subjecting his fleet to the will of nature. For 30 days he and his men are adrift on the open ocean at the pity of the winds and currents. But then they spot land. Was this just another bay on the endless coastli…
May 28, 2023 · 19 min
We begin the new series in the Age of Discovery with Henry the Navigator. He was warrior, a prince, and a businessman with an eye for seeing opportunity. His exploits in terms of ship building, the caravel, mapmaking, and being a sponsor on several expeditions, gave Portugal an easly lead.    Flas…
May 27, 2023 · 2h 42m
Combined all parts of the Reconquista: Isabella series into one long format. We look at the life of the Queen Isabella of Castile. To some a saint, to others a demon, to history a Legend.    Flash Point History YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTYmTYuan0fSGccYXBxc8cA Contribute …