Western Civ

In what is perhaps one of the most infamous episodes in all of American history, in the winter of 1692 the tiny village of Salem, Massachusettes descends into paranoia and chaos. The cause? Witches... Support the show by joining our Patreon !

Virginia finds itself torn apart by the first rebellion in North America by colonists against their own government. Spoiler alert, it won't be the last. Nathaniel Bacon finds himself leading disgruntled farmers, indentured servants, and Africans (both enslaved and free) against the wealthy planters of the coast.  Western Civ 2.0 Free Trial

We finish our coverage of the First Nations of North America (for now) with the Great Lakes and upstate New York.  Western Civ 2.0 Free Trial

Today we turn our attention to the tribes of the southeast and southwest United States. Western Civ 20 Free Trial

European farms are not the only kind... In this episode, I explore Native American farming in general and hunting. Western Civ 2.0

Today I begin a short series on pre-Columbian North American Indian history and culture. In this episode, I give a broad overview of several aspects of Native American culture and their use of fire to craft the world around them. Western Civ 2.0

Roger Williams and Anne Hutchinson found Rhode Island. Western Civ Podcast 2.0 Free Trial

In this bonus author interview, I sit down with Colonel Joseph Molyson Jr and discuss the second book in his series on World War Two: Air Battles Before D-Day: How Allied Airmen Crippled the Luftwaffe and German Army in France .  In this groundbreaking analysis, retired Air Force Colonel Joseph T. Molyson reveals how a year of strategic bombing and aerial warfare created the conditions necessary f...

Today I sit down with advocate and author Maria Foscarinis and discuss her latest book: And Housing for All: The fight to End Homelessness in America . In And Housing for All , founder of the National Homelessness Law Center Maria Foscarinis reveals the human impact of the housing crisis by sharing personal stories and examining the flawed policies that have perpetuated it. As millions face rising...

John Winthrop and others found the Massachusetts Bay Company. Western Civ 2.0 Podcast Free Trial

Jamestown was not the only English colony. Enter stage left: the Pilgrims. (Well, really Separatists but you get the point...) Western Civ Podcast 2.0

The English at Jamestown finally find a savior. It just turns out that savior is tobacco... Western Civ Podcast 2.0

Jamestown survives as James Smith guides the colony. Meanwhile, in London, new plans are hatched to turn Jamestown profitable. Western Civ 2.0

A reminder that every other episode of the series on Jamestown will be available only to patrons. To try a free membership for a week or to support the show and get access to all the materials, check out the link below. Western Civ 2.0  

Today, I sit down with Tom McMillan and discuss his most recent book: The Year That Made America: From Rebellion to Independence, 1775-1776 . This gripping account reveals the precarious path to American independence through a series of pivotal dates that history has nearly forgotten. While July 4th claims the glory, the actual vote for independence came on July 2nd—and even that historic moment a...

Today I interview Historian John Bicknell about his newest book: The Pathfinder and the President . In 1856, John C. Frémont—the famed "Pathfinder" of the American West—became the Republican Party's first presidential nominee on an anti-slavery platform. Five years later, now a Union general under President Lincoln, he sparked a national crisis by unilaterally declaring emancipation in Missouri. D...

Today we begin an in-depth look at Jamestown - England's first successful colony in North America. I will examine the situation in England and along the Chesapeake leading up to 1607. Then John Smith and the rest of the English arrive and the real fun begins. To listen to Part Two, you will need to be a Patreon member. To become one, click this LINK for a free trial. 

I briefly cover the Dutch East and West Indies Companies plus Dutch colonization efforts in the Americas. Western Civ 2.0

France and England finally get into the colonization game. Western Civ 2.0

In this episode, I give a quick refresher on Portuguese colonization.  Western Civ 2.0

In this episode I cover Spain's colonial efforts between 1492 and 1600, focusing on the broad economic, political, and social trends. Western Civ 2.0

In recent years, from school board meetings to the halls of Congress, Americans have engaged in fierce debates about how slavery and its legacies ought to be taught, researched, and narrated. But since the earliest days of the Republic, political leaders, abolitionists, judges, scholars, and ordinary citizens have all struggled to explain and understand the peculiar institution.    In  Making Sens...

Before turning to the New World, we bring the Old World up to speed, covering Louis XIII and France, Philip's heirs in Spain, the Ottoman Empire, and the Time of Troubles in Russia. Western Civ 2.0

The Thirty Years War comes to an end, leaving Germany devastated and divided. Western Civ 2.0

The Holy Roman Empire wilts under the combined pressure of Sweden and France. Spain exits our stage. And Central Europe lurches toward peace. Western Civ 2.0