The Empress

An ayah is a South Asian woman who works as a nanny, sometimes alongside other domestic responsibilities (like cleaning or, in the case of The Empress’s Rani, cooking). The term rose to prominence… read analysis of Ayah

The Boer Wars, which spanned from 1880 to 1902, were a series of conflicts in southern Africa between British colonizers and the Boers (descendants of Dutch colonizers). To win the wars, the British employed modern… read analysis of The Boer Wars

Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee, celebrated on June 22, 1897, marked her 60th anniversary as queen of Britain. Two days after the formal Jubilee, Victoria led the Festival of the British Empire, declaring bank holidays… read analysis of The Diamond Jubilee

Inspired by the Irish Home Rule campaign, the Indian Home Rule movement advocated for Indian autonomy in government (although it stopped short of asking for full independence). The Home Rule movement, which gained ground across… read analysis of Indian Home Rule

Munshi, from the Persian word for “writer,” was a term used in India and throughout the British empire to denote a teacher (particularly a teacher who focuses on language-learning). Munshi was also the word used… read analysis of Munshi

Serangs were the people placed in charge of liaising—and usually translating—between a ship’s lascars and the captain. In The Empress, Hari’s boss Serang Ali is initially depicted as brutal and exacting, ready to… read analysis of Serang

The Taj Mahal, considered one of the seven manmade wonders of the world, is a mausoleum in Agra, India. The building, famous for its giant marble dome, was built in the 1630s by Mughal emperor… read analysis of Taj Mahal

“The White Man’s Burden” is an 1899 poem by the British writer Rudyard Kipling. The poem advocates for further colonization on the part of the British, arguing that White imperialists must forcefully seize government from… read analysis of The White Man’s Burden