How the English took Manhattan
Apr 27, 2025•46 min•Ep. 2267
Episode description
How did the English take Manhattan from the Dutch in the 17th century without firing a single shot? Speaking to Elinor Evans, historian Russell Shorto explains a many-layered colonial history, including pragmatic deals, personal rivalries, and ideological divides, that led to the ultimately peaceful takeover of New Amsterdam in 1664.
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The HistoryExtra podcast is produced by the team behind BBC History Magazine.
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