Empires, Anarchy & Other Notable Moments

This is the fourth of six episodes in a series which details colonization and subjection of the Indian subcontinent by the British East India Company.  This show's focus is on the causes and effects of the 1770 Bengal Famine.  Throughout the episode, we'll talk about the general effects of famines by utilizing a number of historical instances of famines.  The effect on the locals, on the EIC stock...

This is the third of six episodes in a series which details colonization and subjection of the Indian subcontinent by the British East India Company.  This show's focus is on the power struggle between Mughal Shah Alam and Governor Mir Qasim. Eventually, the EIC figures out that it has the ability to play kingmaker.  The Patnam Massacre, the Treaty of Allahabad, and the return of Robert Clive are...

This is the second of six episodes in a series which details colonization and subjection of the Indian subcontinent by the British East India Company.  This show's focus is on how the East Indian Company transformed from a group of capitalist merchants into a private militarized force capable of defeating the ruling Mughal empire.  Villains Roger Drake and Robert Clive are introduced on the EIC si...

This is the first of six episodes in a series which details colonization and subjection of the Indian subcontinent by the British East India Company.  This episode serves to set the table for the the largest corporate takeover in world history by discussing questions related to capitalism and mercantilism, the economic systems that drove the East India company endlessly forward.  The creation of t...

This is the final of five episodes in a series which details the life and death of Portugal's Ferdinand Magellan, the explorer who is credited with sailing around the world for the first time.  This episode picks up with the death of Ferdinand Magellan after he was entangled in a local civil war near his objectives.  Without their Captain-General, the crew suffers ambushes, squalls, and scurvy.  E...

This is the fourth of five episodes in a series which details the life and death of Portugal's Ferdinand Magellan, the explorer who is credited with sailing around the world for the first time.  This episode traces his route through pacific with stops at Guam as well as the Philippines. As  he nears his goal, Ferdinand becomes more focused upon his secondary mission of spreading Christianity than...

This is the third of five episodes in a series which details the life and death of Portugal's Ferdinand Magellan, the explorer who is credited with sailing around the world for the first time.  This episode traces his route across the Atlantic to Brazil and then from Brazil to the strait that they hope exists in order to cross through South America.  Along the way, the armada's crew will starve, s...

This is the second of five episodes in a series which details the life and death of Portugal's Ferdinand Magellan, the explorer who is credited with sailing around the world for the first time.  This episode focuses upon his preparations for his journey to the Spice Islands.  Convincing the Spanish monarch, Charles V, to fund the journey proves to be a herculean task.  When Portugal becomes aware...

This is the first of five episodes in a series which details the life and death of Portugal's Ferdinand Magellan, the explorer who is credited with sailing around the world for the first time.  This episode focuses upon his childhood before traveling with Ferdinand past India for the first time.  It is during this trip that he contracted 'spice fever,' beginning his own personal mission to find a...

This is the fifth and final episode in our series on the Spanish Conquistador Hernán Cortés. This episode follows our Spaniard as he searches to 'add another feather onto his cap' by authorizing an expedition to Honduras.  Disaster befalls him as he loses control of Tenochtitlan and his coveted governorship of the colony of New Spain.  Cortés travels to petition the King for a return to power, get...

This is the fourth of five episodes in a series which explores the war between Spanish Conquistador Hernán Cortés and the Aztec Empire of Montezuma. The Spanish seemingly have full control over the Aztecs through their prisoner Montezuma.   But soon, Cortés will be called from the city during an assembly for the Aztecs war God.  The ensuing uprising results in the Night of Tears and the expulsion...

This is the third of five episodes in a series which explores the war between Spanish Conquistador Hernán Cortés and the Aztec Empire of Montezuma. This episode follows our Spaniard as he searches for allies among the disgruntled tribes of the Yucatan Peninsula.  Cortés' evil intent is discussed throughout the episode; comparing his actions to what he proclaimed his intent had been.  The desecrati...

This is the second of five episodes in a series which explores the war between Spanish Conquistador Hernán Cortés and the Aztec Empire of Montezuma.  This episode's focus is largely on the Aztec Empire including their rise to power within Mexico, their complex religion, and their love of human sacrifice.  The episode also reveals that two of the greatest myths (that they believed he was a God and...

This is the first of five episodes in a series which explores the war between Spanish Conquistador Hernán Cortés and the Aztec Empire of Montezuma.  This episode explores the Conquistador class, his early childhood, and his decision to abandon his life for the New World.  Three G's were said to be on Europe's exploration classes minds (Gold, Glory, and God).  We will examine how each led Cortés di...

This is the fourth and final episode in our series which has focused upon the interactions between Venetian explorer Marco Polo and Chinese Emperor Kublai Khan.  Having the experiences that he had were one thing, but informing the public was its own adventure.  The breakthrough occurs only after Marco Polo is captured during the second Genoese war and placed within a cell next to a novelist.  In a...

This is the third episode in a four part series focused upon the interactions between Venetian explorer Marco Polo and Chinese Emperor Kublai Khan.  This episode covers the 17 years that the Venetian explorer was employed in the service of the Chinese emperor.  Special focus is paid towards Marco's descriptions of local cultures/wildlife (including the Unicorn), the Grand Canal, and the Khan's dis...

This is the second episode in a four part series focused upon the interactions between Venetian explorer Marco Polo and Chinese Emperor Kublai Khan.  Niccolo Polo has returned to Europe with Kublai Khan's request to bring back to China 100 priests and sacred oil from the Pope.  Instead, Niccolo brings back his teenage son. This episode covers Marco's journey to the Great Khan's court.   Contact th...

This is the first episode in a four part series focused upon the interactions between Venetian explorer Marco Polo and Chinese Emperor Kublai Khan.  This first episode covers the initial contact between Marco's father and the leader of the Yuan empire.  Journey along as two Venetians accidentally arrive to the court of the all-powerful Yuan emperor.    Contact the show at resourcesbylowery@gmail.c...

Is civilization a trap?  That is one of the big questions that we will try to answer in this second episode in a two part series focused upon early mankind.  We will follow along as 4 make their long await debut in the Middle East in order to form the world's first known civilization.  We will examine the things that came with mankind settling down; including domestication of crops, the developmen...

This is the first episode in a two part series focused upon early mankind.  While science and religion are often at odds they have incision points where they become quite aligned.  This episode will look at the Old Testament book of Genesis as well as the scientific evidence behind the evolution of mankind.  Humanities shared ancestors, our cousins, evolution, development of language will all be e...

Our last episode in season 3 is our final episode in a four part series focused upon the life of Toussaint Louverture.  Few know the man's history despite the fact that the Haitian led the only successful slave rebellion in history.  For comparison sake, we will begin the episode with a lengthy retelling of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising.  From there we will look at the three main lies that caused Nap...

This is the third episode in a four part series focused upon the life of Toussaint Louverture.  Few know the man's history despite the fact that the Haitian led the only successful slave rebellion in history.  For comparison sake, we will begin the episode with a lengthy retelling of the Baptist slave uprising in Jamaica.  From there we will look at how Toussaint consolidated his power in the face...

This is the second episode in a four part series focused upon the life of Toussaint Louverture.  Few know the man's history despite the fact that the Haitian led the only successful slave rebellion in history.  For comparison sake, we will begin the episode with a lengthy retelling of Nat Turner's rebellion.  From there we will look at the beginning of the 1791 northern province revolt before then...

This is the first episode in a four part series focused upon the life of Toussaint Louverture.  Few know the man's history despite the fact that the Haitian led the only successful slave rebellion in history.  For comparison sake, we will begin the episode with a lengthy retelling of Spartacus, the most famous of all slave revolts.  From there we will detail the discovery and colonization of Haiti...

This is the final episode in our eight part series that details the life of French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte.  The Emperor's exile on Elba, his comeback which culminated in the 100 days campaign, and his subsequent defeat at Waterloo are all covered before we go in-depth to his final years on St. Helena.    Contact the show at resourcesbylowery@gmail.com   f you would like to financially support...