The Story of Myanmar: Kingdoms, Conflict, and Military Rule — Fexingo History

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  The 8888 Uprising Myanmar's Cry for Democracy 31.07.2026 5мин

  In August 1988, millions of Burmese took to the streets in a nationwide pro-democracy uprising that shook the military regime. This episode focuses on the 8888 Uprising, from the student protests at Rangoon University in March to the brutal military crackdown on September 18. We explore the economic collapse under Ne Win's Burmese Way to Socialism, the role of Aung San Suu Kyi's first public speeches at Shwedagon Pagoda, and the formation of the SLORC. The episode examines the aftermath, including disputed death tolls and the legacy of a movement that failed but transformed Myanmar's political landscape. #8888Uprising #Myanmar #Burma #Democracy #AungSanSuuKyi #SLORC #NeWin #StudentProtests #MilitaryCrackdown #RangoonUniversity #ShwedagonPagoda #SoutheastAsianHistory #ProtestMovement #1980s #BurmeseHistory #FexingoHistory #History #Podcast Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
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  The Battle of Meiktila: Turning Point in Burma 30.07.2026 5мин

  In early 1945, the Allies launched a brilliant campaign to retake central Burma from the Japanese. This episode focuses on the Battle of Meiktila, a decisive engagement where General William Slim’s Fourteenth Army executed a daring deception, crossed the Irrawaddy, and seized the key Japanese supply hub. We explore Slim's strategy, the brutal urban fighting, the role of the Indian divisions and the Burma National Army's last-minute defection. Discover how the capture of Meiktila and Mandalay shattered Japanese plans and opened the road to Rangoon, ultimately ending three years of occupation. #BattleOfMeiktila #WilliamSlim #BurmaCampaign #WorldWarII #FourteenthArmy #JapaneseOccupation #PacificWar #Meiktila #Mandalay #Irrawaddy #17thIndianDivision #HeitaroKimura #BurmaNationalArmy #AungSan #ImphalKohima #WWIIHistory #SoutheastAsiaHistory #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
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  Ne Win's 1962 Coup and the End of Burmese Democracy 30.07.2026 4мин

  In 1962, General Ne Win seized power in Burma, ending a fragile democratic experiment that began with independence in 1948. This episode explores the political turmoil of the 1950s — the split in the Anti-Fascist People's Freedom League, U Nu's efforts to hold the union together through Buddhism and federalism, and the growing power of the military. We dive into the coup itself, Ne Win's 'Burmese Way to Socialism,' and the isolation that followed. Along the way, we discuss the role of ethnic insurgencies, the 1960 election, and the arrest of Shan leaders. A turning point that shaped modern Myanmar's long military rule. #NeWin #U Nu #1962Coup #BurmeseWayToSocialism #MyanmarHistory #SoutheastAsia #ColdWar #AFPFL #ShanState #EthnicConflict #MilitaryRule #Democracy #BurmaIndependence #Pyidaungsu #Tatmadaw #Isolationism #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
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  Panglong Agreement: Aung San's Promise to Myanmar's Ethnic Minorities 29.07.2026 7мин

  In February 1947, on the eve of independence from British rule, Bogyoke Aung San gathered Shan, Kachin, and Chin leaders at the small town of Panglong to forge a united future. This episode unpacks the negotiations, the key personalities—including the Shan Saohpas and Kachin Duwas—and the historic agreement that promised federal autonomy. We examine what was actually signed, why it was later broken by the military government, and how the legacy of Panglong still shapes Myanmar's civil wars today. Featuring original quotes from Aung San's speeches and the text of the agreement itself. #PanglongAgreement #AungSan #MyanmarHistory #ShanState #Kachin #Chin #BurmaIndependence #AFPFL #Saohpa #Duwa #EthnicConflict #1947 #Federalism #ColonialHistory #SoutheastAsia #Bogyoke #PanglongConference #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
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  The Second Anglo-Burmese War: Britain's 1852 Annexation of Pegu 29.07.2026 6мин

  Episode 187 picks up where the Treaty of Yandabo left off, exploring the Second Anglo-Burmese War of 1852 and the British annexation of Pegu Province. Lucas and Luna examine the flashpoint: the Governor of Rangoon fining British ship captains, the gunboat diplomacy of Lord Dalhousie and Commodore Lambert, and the rapid British capture of Rangoon under General Godwin. They then discuss the failed Burmese response under King Pagan Min, the palace coup that brought Mindon Min to power, and how the loss of Lower Burma set the stage for the final Konbaung collapse. Along the way, they touch on the sacrilege of the Shwedagon Pagoda being used as a British barracks, the Irrawaddy Flotilla's role, and the uneasy peace that lasted until 1885. This episode fills a crucial gap in Myanmar's colonial history, offering a specific, story-driven look at a war that is often overshadowed by the first and third. #SecondAngloBurmeseWar #PeguAnnexation #PaganMin #MindonMin #LordDalhousie #GeneralGodwin #CommodoreLambert #RangoonCapture #ShwedagonPagoda #IrrawaddyFlotilla #KonbaungDynasty #BritishBurma #BurmeseHistory #SoutheastAsianHistory #ColonialAsia #19thCentury #FexingoHistory #History Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
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  The 1936 Rangoon University Strike: Myanmar's Student Revolution 28.07.2026 4мин

  In 1936, a student strike at Rangoon University ignited Myanmar's independence movement. This episode explores the university's colonial curriculum, the leadership of future prime minister U Nu and independence hero Aung San, and the role of the Dobama Asiayone (We Burmans Association). We discuss how a protest over a library fine and a banned magazine escalated into a nationwide boycott that forced the British to negotiate, and how these student activists went on to shape modern Myanmar's politics. The episode also covers the strike's long-term impact on the country's civil society and military rule, connecting it to the 1988 and 2007 uprisings. #RangoonUniversity #1936Strike #ThakinNu #AungSan #DobamaAsiayone #BurmeseHistory #StudentMovement #ColonialBurma #Uprising #Nationalism #ThakinKodawHmaing #MyanmarIndependence #BritishBurma #RangoonUniversityStudentsUnion #BurmaBoycotts #History #FexingoHistory #SoutheastAsia Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
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  The Pyu City-States: Myanmar's Lost First Civilisation 28.07.2026 8мин

  Before Bagan, before the Konbaung kings, before the Tatmadaw, there were the Pyu. From around the 2nd century BCE to the 9th century CE, a network of city-states flourished in the dry zone of the Irrawaddy valley. They built massive brick-walled cities, adopted Buddhism and Sanskrit, developed one of Southeast Asia's earliest writing systems, and traded with India and China. This episode takes us to Sri Ksetra, Beikthano, Halin, and Maingmaw—archaeological sites that reveal a sophisticated civilisation. We explore their origins, their culture, their mysterious decline under pressure from the Nanzhao kingdom, and the legacy they left for the Bamar people who followed. How much do we really know about the Pyu? What did they write? Why did they disappear? Join Lucas and Luna as they uncover Myanmar's forgotten first chapter. #Pyu #SriKsetra #Beikthano #Halin #MyanmarHistory #IrrawaddyValley #BuddhismInMyanmar #PyuScript #Nanzhao #Archaeology #AncientCities #SoutheastAsiaHistory #PreBagan #BurmaHistory #FexingoHistory #History #LostCivilisations #CulturalHeritage Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
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  The Saya San Rebellion: When Myanmar's Peasants Rose Against the British 27.07.2026 4мин

  In 1930, a former monk named Saya San ignited a millenarian uprising across British Burma. Claiming magical powers and a divine mandate to restore the Burmese monarchy, he led thousands of peasants in a desperate revolt against colonial taxation and economic collapse. The British responded with aerial bombings and mass executions. This episode tells the story of the Galon rebellion — its roots in the Great Depression, its use of Buddhist prophecy, and its brutal suppression. We examine Saya San's trial, his execution, and how this forgotten uprising became a symbol of resistance that echoes in Myanmar's modern struggles. #SayaSan #GalonRebellion #MyanmarHistory #BritishBurma #PeasantUprising #Millenarian #Tharrawaddy #HsayaSan #1930s #BuddhistProphecy #ColonialHistory #AntiColonialResistance #SoutheastAsia #FexingoHistory #History #Burma #Revolution #Podcast Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
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  The Fall of Mandalay: Britain's Third Anglo-Burmese War 27.07.2026 6мин

  Episode 183 of The Story of Myanmar covers the Third Anglo-Burmese War of 1885, the final conflict that ended the Konbaung dynasty and led to the complete annexation of Burma into British India. Lucas and Luna explore King Thibaw's violent rise, the British ultimatum over teak and French influence, the rapid river campaign to Mandalay, and the looting of the palace. They discuss the controversial figure of Thibaw—was he a weak puppet or a victim of British imperialism?—and the aftermath: the exile to Ratnagiri, the loss of the peacock throne, and how the Burmese monarchy's collapse shaped modern Myanmar. The episode also touches on the role of the Irrawaddy Flotilla Company and the brief battle at Minhla, offering a nuanced look at a war that is often overshadowed by the earlier Anglo-Burmese conflicts. #ThirdAngloBurmeseWar #KonbaungDynasty #KingThibaw #Supayalat #Mandalay #IrrawaddyFlotilla #BritishEmpire #Burma #MyanmarHistory #Ratnagiri #Minhla #BombayBurmahTradingCorporation #FrenchInfluence #PeacockThrone #19thCentury #Colonialism #SoutheastAsianHistory #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
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  King Mindon's Legacy: The Fifth Buddhist Council and Myanmar's Lost Moment 26.07.2026 8мин

  In 1871, King Mindon Min convened the Fifth Buddhist Council in Mandalay, a monumental effort to preserve the Tipitaka by engraving the entire Pali canon on 729 marble slabs. This episode explores Mindon's reign (1853-1878), his attempt to modernize the Konbaung dynasty while defending Burmese Buddhism against British colonialism. We uncover the construction of the Kuthodaw Pagoda, the world's largest book, and the political calculations behind the council. Why did Mindon, a reformer, fail to secure his kingdom's future? How did the Sangha respond? And what does the council's legacy mean for Myanmar today? Travel to Yadanabon (Mandalay) and hear the story of a king who gambled on faith in an age of empire. A fresh angle beyond wars and uprisings, touching on cultural heritage, religious politics, and the shadows of the Third Anglo-Burmese War. #MindonMin #FifthBuddhistCouncil #KuthodawPagoda #Mandalay #Tipitaka #KonbaungDynasty #BurmeseBuddhism #Theravada #Yadanabon #Sangha #BritishBurma #19thCentury #MyanmarHistory #WorldsLargestBook #KingThibaw #Pagoda #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
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  The 1947 Assassination of Aung San: Myanmar's Lost Founder 26.07.2026 4мин

  On July 19, 1947, just months before Burma's independence from Britain, the charismatic leader Bogyoke Aung San and most of his cabinet were gunned down in the Secretariat building in Rangoon. This episode pieces together that fateful day: the political background of the Panglong Agreement, the rivalries with U Saw, the dramatic machine-gun attack, the trials that followed, and the seismic consequences for the country's future. We explore how Aung San's assassination removed the one leader who might have held the nation together through ethnic tensions and Cold War pressures, paving the way for decades of military rule. The conversation also touches on the perpetuation of his legacy, the annual Martyrs' Day commemoration, and the question of what might have been. #BogyokeAungSan #1947Assassination #MyanmarHistory #BurmaIndependence #PanglongAgreement #SecretariatRangoon #U Saw #ThakinNu #MartyrsDay #July1947 #PostWWIIBurma #EthnicReconciliation #MilitaryRuleOrigins #SoutheastAsiaHistory #FexingoHistory #History #Myanmar #Assassination Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
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  Anawrahta: The King Who Made Myanmar Buddhist 25.07.2026 6мин

  Long before the Konbaung or Toungoo dynasties, a warrior-king named Anawrahta unified the Irrawaddy valley and transformed Myanmar into a Theravada Buddhist civilization. In this episode, we trace the rise of the Bagan kingdom in the 11th century: the conversion by the Mon monk Shin Arahan, the conquest of Thaton for its sacred Pali scriptures, and the construction of the Shwezigon Pagoda. We explore how the spoils of Thaton—monks, scribes, and texts—shaped Burmese script, art, and religion for centuries. Anawrahta's campaigns, his obsession with relics, and his legacy as the father of a nascent empire are examined through the lens of contemporary chronicles and archaeological evidence. A story of faith, warfare, and cultural fusion that set Myanmar's enduring spiritual and political trajectory. #Anawrahta #BaganKingdom #Thaton #ShinArahan #TheravadaBuddhism #MyanmarHistory #SoutheastAsianHistory #BuddhistKing #ShwezigonPagoda #PaliScriptures #Manuha #IrrawaddyValley #MonCivilization #BaganDynasty #History #FexingoHistory #ReligiousConversion #KingdomUnification Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
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  The 1883 Mandalay Palace Fire and the Lost Konbaung Treasures 24.07.2026 6мин

  In 1883, a devastating fire swept through the Mandalay Palace, consuming centuries of Konbaung dynasty art, manuscripts, and royal treasures. Lucas and Luna explore the fire's origins, the cultural loss, and its role in weakening the monarchy just two years before the Third Anglo-Burmese War. They discuss the Hmannan Yazawin chronicles, the Shwenandaw Kyaung monastery-the only surviving structure-and how the fire foreshadowed the dynasty's collapse. This episode also touches on British accounts of the aftermath and the fate of the surviving relics. #MandalayPalaceFire #KonbaungDynasty #ThibawMin #MindonMin #HmannanYazawin #ShwenandawKyaung #BurmeseHistory #SoutheastAsia #Mandalay #Yadanabon #1883 #ThirdAngloBurmeseWar #RoyalTreasures #Fire #CulturalHeritage #History #FexingoHistory #Podcast Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
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  The 1757 British Capture of Negrais: Myanmar's First Colonial Foothold 24.07.2026 7мин

  In 1757, the British East India Company established a fortified post on Negrais Island at the mouth of the Irrawaddy, marking the first permanent British presence on Burmese soil. This episode explores the tangled diplomacy between the Konbaung Dynasty under Alaungpaya and the Company, driven by the Seven Years' War, shipbuilding needs, and rivalry with the French. We delve into the Negrais Massacre of 1759, where the Burmese king, suspicious of British intentions, wiped out the garrison. This brutal event set the tone for centuries of mistrust and foreshadowed the colonial conflicts to come. We also examine the role of the Mon rebellion, the French at Syriam under Sieur de Bruno, and how these early encounters shaped British perceptions of Burma. Join Lucas and Luna as they uncover this forgotten flashpoint in Myanmar's long struggle with foreign powers. #NegraisMassacre #Alaungpaya #KonbaungDynasty #BritishEastIndiaCompany #SevenYearsWar #IrrawaddyDelta #FrenchBurma #Syriam #SieurdeBruno #MonRebellion #1759 #ColonialHistory #MyanmarHistory #SoutheastAsia #Burma #History #FexingoHistory #ColonialFoothold Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
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  The 1599 Sack of Pegu: Myanmar's Lost Golden City 23.07.2026 6мин

  In 1599, the glittering city of Pegu — capital of the Toungoo Empire, adorned with gold and rubies — was sacked by an alliance of Arakanese and Siamese forces, aided by Portuguese mercenaries. This episode follows the dramatic collapse of one of Southeast Asia's greatest empires, focusing on the betrayal of King Nanda Bayin, the siege of Pegu, and the looting of the Mahazedi Pagoda. We examine how the Toungoo dynasty's overextension, internal rebellions, and the rise of rival states like Arakan and Ayutthaya led to the empire's fragmentation. Key figures include King Nanda Bayin, the Arakanese king Min Razagyi, and the Portuguese adventurer Filipe de Brito. We also discuss the fate of the legendary Great Bell of Pegu, cast by King Dhammazedi, and its mysterious disappearance. The episode touches on the broader context of European involvement in Burmese conflicts and the legacy of Pegu's destruction in Myanmar's historical memory. #Pegu #ToungooEmpire #NandaBayin #MinRazagyi #FilipeDeBrito #Arakan #Ayutthaya #MahazediPagoda #GreatBellOfPegu #Burma #MyanmarHistory #16thCentury #SoutheastAsia #SackOfPegu #PortugueseInAsia #Dhammazedi #HmannanYazawin #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
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  The 1600 Portuguese–Burmese War: Filipe de Brito and Syriam 23.07.2026 7мин

  In 1599, the great kingdom of Pegu fell to the Arakanese and Toungoo, and a Portuguese mercenary named Filipe de Brito e Nicote saw his chance. Stationed at the coastal port of Syriam, de Brito seized control, crowned himself king, and ruled in the name of the Portuguese Crown for over a decade. This episode unpacks the rise and fall of this adventurer—how he fortified Syriam, clashed with the resurgent Toungoo dynasty under King Anaukpetlun, and ultimately faced a brutal siege that ended with his impalement. We look at the role of Portuguese mercenaries and their flintlock muskets in 17th-century Burmese warfare, the shifting alliances between Arakan, Toungoo, and the Portuguese Estado da Índia, and how de Brito's defiance shaped the Toungoo reconquest of the coastline. A tale of greed, guns, and the high cost of overreach. #FilipeDeBrito #PortugueseBurmeseWar #Syriam #ToungooDynasty #Anaukpetlun #Arakan #Pegu #Mercenaries #16thCentury #17thCentury #SoutheastAsia #MyanmarHistory #PortugueseEmpire #Fortification #MilitaryHistory #ColonialEncounters #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
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  The 1517 Portuguese Raid on Martaban: Guns, Trade, and Myanmar's First Contact with Europe 22.07.2026 6мин

  In 1517, Portuguese privateers attacked the port of Martaban (Mottama) in the Kingdom of Hanthawaddy, marking one of the earliest direct confrontations between a Southeast Asian state and European arms. This episode explores the raid itself, its context in the Age of Discovery, and its lasting impact on Burmese warfare and diplomacy. We discuss how King Bayinnaung later recruited Portuguese mercenaries and their firearms, the introduction of the matchlock musket, and the complex relationship between local rulers and European adventurers in the 16th century. The story touches on broader themes of globalization, military revolution, and cultural exchange, with figures like the Portuguese captain João de Barros and the Burmese chronicle Hmannan Yazawin providing contrasting perspectives. This is the first episode in Fexingo's Myanmar series to focus exclusively on early European contact. #PortugueseRaids #Martaban #Hanthawaddy #Bayinnaung #ToungooEmpire #MatchlockMusket #AgeOfDiscovery #MyanmarHistory #SoutheastAsia #PortugueseMercenaries #HmannanYazawin #IrrawaddyDelta #Mottama #Firearms #Globalization #History #FexingoHistory #16thCentury Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
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  The 1539 Battle of Naungyo: Bayinnaung and the Reunification of Burma 22.07.2026 10мин

  In 1539, on the banks of the Irrawaddy River, a young Burmese prince named Bayinnaung fought a battle that would reshape Southeast Asia. This episode follows the Toungoo Dynasty's rise from a small, embattled kingdom to the architect of the largest empire in mainland Southeast Asian history. We explore Bayinnaung's innovative use of Portuguese mercenaries and firearms, his strategic brilliance at the Battle of Naungyo against the Mon Kingdom of Hanthawaddy, and the subsequent unification of Burma under his rule. We also discuss the administrative challenges of holding together a multi-ethnic empire and the legacy of Bayinnaung's conquests, including his famous 'Nine White Elephants' and his adoption of Theravada Buddhism as a unifying force. The episode touches on lesser-known figures like the Portuguese adventurer Diogo Soares and the Mon queen Shin Saw Bu, whose earlier reign set the stage for conflict. Through the lens of Naungyo, we trace how the Toungoo Dynasty consolidated power, only to face the same centrifugal forces that would later tear the empire apart. #Bayinnaung #BattleOfNaungyo #ToungooDynasty #Hanthawaddy #PortugueseMercenaries #IrrawaddyRiver #TheravadaBuddhism #NineWhiteElephants #ShinSawBu #DiogoSoares #SoutheastAsianHistory #BurmeseHistory #16thCentury #MilitaryHistory #EmpireBuilding #History #FexingoHistory #MyanmarHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
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  The 1287 Mongol Invasion of Pagan: Collapse of an Empire 21.07.2026 7мин

  In 1287, the Mongol Empire under Kublai Khan swept into the kingdom of Pagan, shattering centuries of Burmese rule. This episode explores the events leading to the invasion, including Pagan's tribute disputes with the Mongols, the factional strife at the Pagan court, and the battle of Ngasaunggyan where King Narathihapate faced the Mongol war machine. We also examine the aftermath: the fragmentation of the kingdom, the rise of Shan chieftains, and the long-term decline of Theravada Buddhism's political power in the region. Lucas and Luna delve into the Mongol military tactics, the role of the Tai-Shan migrations, and the historical debate over whether the invasion was a conquest or a punitive raid. Drawing on chronicles like the Hmannan Yazawin and the Yuan shi, this episode sheds light on a pivotal but often overlooked chapter in Southeast Asian history. #MongolInvasion #PaganKingdom #KublaiKhan #Narathihapate #Ngasaunggyan #YuanShi #HmannanYazawin #TheravadaBuddhism #ShanStates #SoutheastAsia #BurmeseHistory #MedievalHistory #MongolConquests #TributeSystem #TaiShan #Bagan #MilitaryHistory #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
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  The Mon Revolt of 1819: Myanmar's Last Peasant Uprising 21.07.2026 6мин

  In 1819, as the Konbaung Dynasty prepared for war with Siam, a charismatic monk named U Ya led thousands of Mon peasants in a desperate rebellion that shook the Irrawaddy Delta. This episode follows the revolt from its origins in colonial-era tax grievances to its brutal suppression by Prince Bagyidaw's forces. We explore the role of the sangha in organizing resistance, the massacre at Kyaikhto, and the lasting legacy of Mon nationalism. Lucas and Luna discuss how this forgotten uprising foreshadowed the fractures that would eventually dismantle the Konbaung Empire itself. #MonRevolt #KonbaungDynasty #UYa #Bagyidaw #MyanmarHistory #SoutheastAsianHistory #IrrawaddyDelta #PeasantUprising #Sangha #1819 #Kyaikhto #MonNationalism #BritishEmpire #ColonialResistance #History #FexingoHistory #Burma #Podcast Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo