The History Behind Dune | Arab Nationalism, Magic Mushrooms and The Cold War

Frank Herbert’s original Dune was published in 1965, and became the best selling sci-fi novel of all time. With the release of Denis Villeneuve’s Dune: Part Two, the novel has been successfully adapted for the big screen, after decades of misfiring attempts. But what are the origins of the Dune universe? Who are the Fremen? Is it an allegory for the world we live in? In this video, Matt Lewis talks through the history behind this epic story, from Arab nationalism to magic mushrooms and the origins of the Atreides. The script and editing was by James Carson. Frank Herbert portrait credit: MOHAI, Seattle Post-Intelligencer Collection, , photo by Gilbert W. Arias. Discover the past on History Hit with ad-free exclusive podcasts and documentaries released weekly presented by world renowned historians Dan Snow, Suzannah Lipscomb, Lucy Worsely, Mary Beard and more. Watch, listen and read history wherever you are, whenever you want it. Available on all devices: Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video, Android TV, Samsung Smart TV, Roku, Xbox, Chromecast, and iOs & Android. We’re offering a special discount to History Hit for our subscribers, get 50% off your first 3 months with code YOUTUBE: 00:00 Intro and Plot 03:08 The Origins of Dune 06:00 Cold War in the Middle East 10:00 Arabic Influences 11:28 Religious Belief Systems 14:15 Laurence of Arabia and the Arab World 17:37 Greek Influences 21:08 Imperialism and Feudalism 22:40 Technology