224. Empire in Your Garden

In this episode of Empire, hosts Afua Hirsch and William Dalrymple, along with guest Sathnam Sanghera, delve into the impact of imperialism on botany and the environment. They discuss how historical classifications of people mirrored those of plants, reinforcing racial biases, and explore the role of innovations like the Wardian case in facilitating the global transfer of plants, for both beneficial and detrimental purposes. The conversation covers specific examples such as the gutta-percha tree, the Jamaican lacebark tree, and the spread of non-indigenous plants like the prickly pear, highlighting the ecological disasters and loss of indigenous knowledge resulting from imperial activities. They also touch on the paradox of imperialists contributing to both environmental destruction and conservation efforts, and the complexities of balancing conservation with the rights of indigenous communities.