Empires, Anarchy & Other Notable Moments

In this five part series, we examine the events of 1066 where Duke William sets sail from the shores of Normandy France to conquer England.  This episode focuses on William himself as he consolidates his control over Normandy in preparation for his cross-channel invasion. We go in-depth on whether or not William's claim to the throne had any merit or not and look at his interactions with both Edwa...

In this five part series, we examine the events of 1066 where Duke William sets sail from the shores of Normandy France to conquer England.  This episode focuses on Harald Hardrada, the Viking King of Norway, who fought Harold Godwinson at Stamford Bridge in 1066.  We examine the mythological stories at the core of the Viking identify, Harald's exile to Kiev and subsequent service to the Byzantine...

In this five part series, we examine the events of 1066 where Duke William sets sail from the shores of Normandy France to conquer England.  This episode focuses on the Viking history of England beneath the rule of Cnut the Great, Edward the Confessor's reign, and the rise of Harold Godwinson - the man who would square off against William at the decisive battle of Hastings. Contact the show at res...

Welcome to season 3 of Empires, Anarchy & other Notable Moments!  This episode serves as an introduction to the early history of the French peoples.  Topics covered in this episode include the Gallic wars of Julius Caesar, the Merovingians, and Charlemagne's Carolingian empire.  It finishes with a look at modern day French power in the world - including a very brief history of their involvemen...

This is the fourth and final episode in a series regarding the life of Russian dictator Vladimir Lenin.  The episode begins with the competition of the Bolshevik Revolution and covers the efforts that Lenin went through in order to consolidate his authoritarian rule.  The Russian Civil War (Red-White), the formation of the Cheka, and his relationship with Stalin and Trotsky, and the formation of t...

This is the third episode in a series regarding the life of Russian dictator Vladimir Lenin.  This episode picks up after the disaster split between the Bolsheviks and Mensheviks.  Opportunity abounds to spark the socialist revolution (Petrograd uprisings, coronation chaos, World War I, and Gaspon's last gasp) but each time Lenin fails to seize the opportunity.  The role that Tsar Nicholas and Ras...

This is the second episode in a series regarding the life of Russian Revolutionary (and dictator) Vladimir Lenin.  This part of our story begins with Lenin's Siberian exile and the continuation of his development as a Marxist with a main focus being placed upon the differences between Marxism and Leninism.  Influential individuals including his wife and Leon Trotsky are introduced during this time...

This is the first episode in a series regarding the life of Russian Revolutionary (and dictator) Vladimir Lenin.  We will first examine the early life of the Ulyanov family and how the actions (and subsequent death) of his brother put him on his revolutionary course.  Early pre-Marx influences will be looked at as a young Lenin traverses early life while trying to find his place in the world.  The...

This is the final episode in a series regarding the life of Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein.  We'll examine the fall of Saddam through the lens that the Bush Administration used in their decision to take out the Iraqi dictator.  Namely, the questions regarding his weapons of mass destructions program, his history of supporting terrorism (particularly from Palestine), and his awful record regarding h...

This is the second of three episodes in a series regarding the life of Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein.  Saddam has just taken control of the Ba'ath party and is exerting his will on the country at the moment that opportunity regarding Iran seemingly arises.  This episode will recap Saddam's roles in the Iran-Iraq war, his invasion of Kuwait, and the first Persian Gulf War.  In addition to Saddam's...

This is the first of three episodes in a series regarding the life of Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein.  This episode explores the creation of the modern state of Iraq (a lawless land meant to divide rather than unite).  Saddam's childhood in Tikrit is examined for insights towards the psychological profile of the man who became the butcher of Baghdad.   The Ba'ath party (and its ideology of Pan Arab...

This is the sixth and final episode in a series regarding the life of Chinese dictator Mao Zedong.  This episode examines how American rapprochement benefitted the political fortunes of Mao while simultaneously setting him on collision courses with Lin Baio and the Gang of Four.  Mao's deteriorating health and death will be discussed along with his continuing legacy. The material in this podcast s...

This is the fifth in a series of six episodes regarding Chinese dictator Mao Zedong.  This episode examines the Great Helmsman's political come back following his disastrous economic policy of the Great Leap Forward.  The podcast begins with a look at his self-imposed political exile, the role that foreign affairs played in his revival before moving into the Great Proletariate Cultural Revolution....

This is the fourth in a series of six episodes regarding Chinese dictator Mao Zedong.  This episode examines the details behind colossal mistake that was the Great Leap Forward.  The policy, which was designed to enable the rapid industrialization of China (with a goal of catching Great Britain within 15 years), resulted in the mass starvation of the Chinese peasantry.  Mao's role as well as some...

This is the third in a series of six episodes regarding Chinese dictator Mao Zedong.  This episode examines the details behind the Chairman's personality cult.  His writings, obsession with China's 3 Big Mountains, and his peculiar hygiene habits will all be analyzed in an attempt to understand what drove China's most infamous dictator.  The material in this podcast serves as an introduction to th...

This is the second episode in a series of six episodes regarding Chinese dictator Mao Zedong.  This episode explores the Chairman's military exploits that resulted in his rise to power.  Particular emphasis will be placed on the formation of the United Front, the Chinese Civil War, the Long March, and the Sino-Japanese War.  Events will be examined to explain how they contributed to Mao's rise to...

This is the first episode in a series of six episodes regarding Chinese dictator Mao Zedong.  Topics in this episode include details regarding the Chinese dynastic cycle, the century of humiliation and the rise of the Republic of China, Mao's early family life, his schooling, and his introduction to Marxism among other theories.  Events will be examined to explain how they contributed to Mao's ris...

This is the second of two episodes regarding Argentinian dictator Juan Peron.  We go more in-depth into Peronism, the political philosophy, as well as the relationship between Juan and Eva Peron in order to show how her death contributed to his fall from power.  Policies from his second and third term as President are covered.  We discuss his legacy in great detail - including the argument that he...

This is the first of two episodes regarding Argentinian dictator Juan Peron.  We begin with a short history of the preceding eras of the nation's history - including the Radical Era and the Infamous Decade.  We'll then travel along with Peron through the GOU-led military coup in 1943.  We will examine in detail the concept of patronage regarding his time as Secretariat of Labor before being expell...

This is the second of two episodes regarding Cuban dictator Fidel Castro.  In this episode we look at his policies after he ascended to power.  We recognize his successes within the fields of education and health; while pointing out his failures within the economy, human rights, and dealing with the power imbalance created through the concept of Latino Machismo.   The year of ten million, the year...

This is the first of two episodes regarding Cuban dictator Fidel Castro.  We begin with his life as the son of a wealthy planation owner and continue with the young man as he attempts to enter the political world.  The abrupt cancelation of Fidel's congressional bid sent the young man into a tailspin.  The attack on the Moncada barracks, the crossing on the Granma from Mexico and his guerrilla war...

This is the seventh and final episode in a series regarding German dictator Adolf Hitler.  The World War is coming to a close in Europe and the West is in a race against the Soviet Union to be the first to the Fuhrer's bunker in Berlin.   This episode will focus on the last days of Adolf Hitler and take an introspective look at his legacy.  Special focus will be given to the dictating of his last...

This is the sixth episode in a series regarding German dictator Adolf Hitler.  Hitler fought two simultaneous wars - one against the Jewish people and another against the world.  This episode focuses on the latter.   Rather than focusing on the war, this episode will look at the key decisions made by the German dictator.   Special focus is given to the invasion of France, the miracle of Dunkirk, t...

This is the second portion of the fifth episode regarding the Holocaust in a series regarding German dictator Adolf Hitler.  The discussion picks up where the previous one left off by leading into the concentration camp/labor camp portion of the holocaust is discussed.  A side discussion regarding the medical experimentation within the camps is begun before shifting the discussion to the final pha...

This is the fifth episode in a series regarding German dictator Adolf Hitler and part one of two regarding the Holocaust  This episode looks at Hitler's war against the Jewish people.  The focus of this episode is less on the causes than the course of the war.  The first two phases of the holocaust are discussed in this episode (discrimination and ghettoization).  The second part of the Holocaust...