How have rivers shaped human existence? With Vanessa Taylor

Intelligence Squared

Arts, News, Society & Culture, News Commentary

4.2 • 1.1K Ratings

🗓️ 14 August 2025

⏱️ 37 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

From ancient empires to modern metropolises, what do rivers tell us about the way humans build, worship, and fight for their worlds? In this episode, historian Vanessa Taylor joins host Caroline Dodds Pennock to explore the powerful role rivers have played in shaping human history, culture, and identity. Drawing from her new book, Seven Rivers, Vanessa takes us on a journey down the Nile, Danube, Niger, Mississippi, Ganges, Yangtze, and Thames to explore the empires built along their banks, the spiritual and cultural significance these waterways hold, and how they’ve been used — and abused — throughout history. Vanessa Taylor is a leading environmental historian and expert on the politics of water. Her book, Seven Rivers: A Journey Through the Currents of Human History, is available now. If you'd like to become a Member and get access to all our full conversations, plus all of our Members-only content, just visit intelligencesquared.com/membership to find out more. For £4.99 per month you'll also receive: - Full-length and ad-free Intelligence Squared episodes, wherever you get your podcasts - Bonus Intelligence Squared podcasts, curated feeds and members exclusive series - 15% discount on livestreams and in-person tickets for all Intelligence Squared events ... Or Subscribe on Apple for £4.99: - Full-length and ad-free Intelligence Squared podcasts - Bonus Intelligence Squared podcasts, curated feeds and members exclusive series … Already a subscriber? Thank you for supporting our mission to foster honest debate and compelling conversations! Visit intelligencesquared.com to explore all your benefits including ad-free podcasts, exclusive bonus content and early access. … Subscribe to our newsletter here to hear about our latest events, discounts and much more. https://www.intelligencesquared.com/newsletter-signup/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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1:00.2	Welcome to Intelligence Squared, where great minds meet.
1:04.2	I'm producer Mia Sorrenti.
1:06.6	From ancient empires to modern metropolises,
1:09.1	what can rivers tell us about the way humans build, worship and fight for their worlds?
1:15.5	In this episode, historian Vanessa Taylor joins host Caroline Dodds-Pennock to explore the powerful role rivers have played in shaping human history, culture and identity.
1:25.4	Let's join Caroline now with more.
1:30.6	Welcome to Intelligence Squared. I'm Caroline Dodds Penneck. Our guest today is Vanessa Taylor. Vanessa is a historian of rivers, water and
1:36.9	environmental history at the University of Greenwich, focusing on the politics of water use. She has
	...

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