542. Elizabeth I’s Sorcerer: Angels and Demons in Renaissance Europe

This podcast episode features Dominic Sandbrook and Anthony Scaramucci discussing Dr. John Dee, a 16th-century English mathematician, astrologer, and advisor to Queen Elizabeth I. The hosts explore Dee's life, his involvement in occult practices, and his influence on the development of the British Empire concept. They detail Dee's collaborations with Edward Kelly, a scryer, and their travels to Prague seeking angelic communication, ultimately highlighting the blend of science and the occult in the Elizabethan era. A key takeaway is Dee's role in shaping Elizabeth I's image and influencing early colonial ambitions through his unique blend of scholarship and belief in the supernatural. The episode concludes with a discussion of Dee's later life and legacy.