Dynasty

A Very Short Introduction

By: Jeroen Duindam

Narrated by: Matthew Waterson

For thousands of years, bloodlines have been held as virtually unassailable credentials for leadership. At the heart of royal dynasties, kings were inflated to superhuman proportions, yet their status came at a price: While they may have reigned, they were very often ruled by others who sheltered behind the ruler's proclaimed omnipotence. Descent through the female line also occurred, subverting our common view of dynasty as built on father-son succession. Everywhere, women were important as mothers of boy-kings and could even rule in their own right in some places.

In this Very Short Introduction audiobook, Jeroen Duindam connects the earliest history of kings and queens to contemporary examples of family-based leadership. His sweeping overview of five millennia of dynastic rule brings to light recurring predicaments of families on the throne. Examining persistent family conflict and the dilemmas of leadership, he shows how the challenge of governing the family was balanced by the necessity of family scions, close or distant, for the survival of dynasties. In addition, guidebooks for rulers throughout history provided counsel that will appear strikingly familiar to contemporary leaders. Throughout, Duindam sheds light not only on similarities, but also on divergence and change in dynastic practice.

©2019 Jeroen Duindam (P)2020 Tantor

Instructional for Kings… or Writers

An effective overview of the monarchical political structure. It doesn’t just review history, it examines how things work (or don’t work) and the different consequences of different types of monarchies - such as competition between different potential heirs, and the dynamics between the monarchy, its advisors, and it’s servants (or slaves). It identifies common pitfalls. Then it takes a quick glance at how dynasties have held power in politics and corporations around the world. Examples from history are used to illustrate points throughout the book. It’s not just a summary of historical facts. This book is really about power.

I found it useful because I’m writing a story that includes a monarchy. It gave me some ideas about the conflicts that could arise in administering a country. It’s a good summary for any king or writer who might find themselves in a monarchy. I played it on 0.95 speed and took 4 pages of notes.