Uploaded November 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
What we call the Great Game refers to the contest between Britain and Russia for hegemony in a large expanse of the Muslim world; namely Iran, Central Asia, and Afghanistan. After the Napoleonic Wars, Russia became a preeminent European power. It was already expanding in Central Asia, and wanted to prevent British influence in the area. Britain was concerned that Russian expansion would threaten its lucrative empire in India. Both European empires maneuvered for advantage while trying to avoid a direct war. The game played out partly with armies, but also with agents, scholars, spies, and diplomats trying to gain advantage with local rulers. From the early 1800s to the 1907 Anglo-Russian convention, both powers competed and established hegemony over Iran, Central Asia’s various kingdoms and Afghanistan through direct conquest, establishment of protectorates, or economic domination. With the 1907 convention, they formally settled their spheres of influence and focused on allying against Germany, the new emergent power of Europe.
FREE NEWSLETTER:
https://mailchi.mp/a69f93be6c66/hikma-history-newsletter
- Become a Patron for as little as a dollar a month to vote on upcoming and keep the movement going!
patreon.com/user?u=12397811
Massive thank you to our Patreons:
Elman
Walid
Preston P
Adam
Mohammad
Areeb
Awais
Omar
Farid
Ibrahim
Ari
Joshua
Haseeb
Amir
Mahmoud
Joel
CoreBard
- Join our social media community:
Twitter:
twitter.com/HikmaHistory
Instagram:
instagram.com/hikmahistory
Facebook:
facebook.com/HikmaHistory
Facebook group:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/hikma...
#russia #greatgame #britain
Images Used:
Music Used:
Doug Maxwell - Arabian Nightfall (Sting):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3bRzD...
If any of the images or songs are yours, please let me know I will amend them. Please don't report me straight away!
What we call the Great Game refers to the contest between Britain and Russia for hegemony in a large expanse of the Muslim world; namely Iran, Central Asia, and Afghanistan. After the Napoleonic Wars, Russia became a preeminent European power. It was already expanding in Central Asia, and wanted to prevent British influence in the area. Britain was concerned that Russian expansion would threaten its lucrative empire in India. Both European empires maneuvered for advantage while trying to avoid a direct war. The game played out partly with armies, but also with agents, scholars, spies, and diplomats trying to gain advantage with local rulers. From the early 1800s to the 1907 Anglo-Russian convention, both powers competed and established hegemony over Iran, Central Asia’s various kingdoms and Afghanistan through direct conquest, establishment of protectorates, or economic domination. With the 1907 convention, they formally settled their spheres of influence and focused on allying against Germany, the new emergent power of Europe.
FREE NEWSLETTER:
https://mailchi.mp/a69f93be6c66/hikma-history-newsletter
- Become a Patron for as little as a dollar a month to vote on upcoming and keep the movement going!
patreon.com/user?u=12397811
Massive thank you to our Patreons:
Elman
Walid
Preston P
Adam
Mohammad
Areeb
Awais
Omar
Farid
Ibrahim
Ari
Joshua
Haseeb
Amir
Mahmoud
Joel
CoreBard
- Join our social media community:
Twitter:
twitter.com/HikmaHistory
Instagram:
instagram.com/hikmahistory
Facebook:
facebook.com/HikmaHistory
Facebook group:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/hikma...
#russia #greatgame #britain
Images Used:
Music Used:
Doug Maxwell - Arabian Nightfall (Sting):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3bRzD...
If any of the images or songs are yours, please let me know I will amend them. Please don't report me straight away!
