Empires, Anarchy & Other Notable Moments

This is the fourth episode in a series regarding German dictator Adolf Hitler.  This episode looks at the steps Hitler took to cause World War II.  Germany's involvement in the Spanish Civil war, the remilitarization of the Rhineland, the annexation of Austria and the Sudetenland are all discussed.  Additionally, insight will be given to the thoughts of the British, French, and Soviet leaders.  Th...

This is the third episode in a series regarding German dictator Adolf Hitler.  Today, we will cover his efforts at uniting the German people behind a sense of 'national purpose.'   Specific policies regarding the economy, national youth programs, education system, religious institutions, and sports will each be individually covered.  The material in this podcast serves as an introduction to the In...

This is the second episode in a series regarding German dictator Adolf Hitler.  Today, we will cover his long and winding political rise to the German seat of power.  We'll look at his service time in World War I, his rise to the head of the Nazi party, the failed beer hall putsch, his autobiography of Mein Kampf, his twisted dating life, and the Reichstag fire.  The material in this podcast serve...

This is the first episode in a series regarding German dictator Adolf Hitler.  Topics in this episode include details regarding his family life, schooling, time in the Vienna art scene are all covered.  Events will be examined to explain how they contributed to Hitler's personality cult, his state of manic-depression, and his deep anti-semitism.  The material in this podcast serves as an introduct...

This episode looks at the history of Authoritarianism in both practical and philosophical ways.  The ancient Greeks gave us democracy, but also the word for tyranny.  The ancient Romans gave us the republic, but built into the system the word dictator.  Plato, Confucius, and Hobbes as well as others are examined for the philosophical roots of the world's oldest government system.  And the historic...

This is the fifth and final episode in a series regarding the infamous Mongolian conqueror Genghis Khan.  This episode covers the Khan's Khan's death, the splitting of his empire into Khanates, the drama regarding his successor, and what happened to the Mongol empire after Pax Mongolica.  It rounds out the episode by looking at the traditionalist and revisionist perspectives regarding the Khan's l...

This is the fourth in a series of five episodes regarding the infamous Mongolian conqueror Genghis Khan.  This episode covers the Khan's invasion of the territory of the Khwarazmian Shah; the leading power on the Eastern side of the Middle East.  Learn the reasons behind the conflict, the methods used to destroy a significantly more accomplished society, and the effects that the conquest had on th...

This is the third in a series of five episodes regarding the infamous Mongolian conqueror Genghis Khan.  This episode focuses on the Khan's conquest of the Jin Dynasty of Northern China.  The 23 year conquest established the roles of Muqali, Jebe, and Subedei as elite generals.  It was also a proving ground of sorts as the Khan had to figure out out to get past the bane of Steppe conquerors - wall...

This is the second in a series of five episodes regarding the infamous Mongolian conqueror Genghis Khan.  This episode attempts to explain how the Mongols were able to conquer so much territory with so few soldiers.  The Khan's spy network, his battle tactics, belief in Meritocracy, and his cruelty are all discussed in detail.   The material in this podcast serves to cover the International Baccal...

This is the first in a series of five episodes regarding the infamous Mongolian conqueror Genghis Khan.  The focus of this episode is on Genghis's unique childhood, how the Steppe shaped the Mongolian people, as well as his relationship with his best friend Jamuka, his wife Borte, and his mother Hoelun.   Join us as we recount his captivity, his uniting of the clans, and his rise to power.   The m...

This is the sixth and final episode in a series regarding Irish politician Eamon De Valera.  This episode recaps Eamon's last years as Taoiseach as well as his time as President of the Eire.   Then it seeks to answer some of the pertinent questions regarding his life; including whether or not he should be thought of as an autocrat.  The material in this podcast serves to cover the International Ba...

This is the fifth episode in a series regarding Irish politician Eamon De Valera.  Eamon's political life was characterized by jumping from one fire to another.  This podcast focuses on the fall out of the Irish Civil War and continues to look at the methods that Eamon used to bring Ireland into external association with the commonwealth.  Lastly, it examines the build up to World War II and the m...

This is the fourth episode in a series regarding Irish politician Eamon De Valera.  The Irish Civil War is underway with De Valera urging his followers to resist in his infamous 'wade in blood speech.'  Whether he intended the consequences that came with them is up for question.  We examine the role that Michael Collins played in opposition of the former leader of the Dail.  Out of the civil war,...

This is the third episode in a series regarding Irish politician Eamon De Valera.  The Rising is over, but Eamon's venture into politics is just beginning.  Join us to discuss the aftermath of the rising, the impromptu firing squads that turned public opinion against the British, De Valera's coup over Sinn Fein, and his daring escape from Lincoln Prison. Finally, we will travel with the Long Fello...

This is the second episode in a series regarding Irish politician Eamon De Valera.  As Dublin prepares to celebrate Easter, Eamon De Valera Commander of the 3rd battalion of the Irish Volunteers prepares his men to seize their independence of Great Britain.  The 1916 Easter Rising becomes the launching pad for the nationalist movement and De Valera.  This podcast seeks to cover each of the major l...

This is the first episode in a six part series focused upon the Irish political leader Eamon De Valera.  This episode traces his early life in an attempt to better understand his unique 'one-of-a-kind personality.  We will examine the lack of information that Eamon has about his father, his love of education, his strike demands for hot chocolate, and his love of the Gaelic language.  That last par...

This is the final episode in a series regarding Richard the Lionheart, the King of England and the ruler of the Angevin Empire.  This episode goes through Richard's trial and tribulations dealt with on his return home through a sea of enemies.  We delve deeper into the claims that his European enemies made against him, discover what John has been up to in Richard's absence, and join the King of En...

This is the third in a series of four episodes regarding Richard the Lionheart, the King of England and the ruler of the Angevin Empire.  This episode covers the entire third crusade.  The causes, major battles, and treaty are all discussed.  Special attention is paid towards the battles of Acre, Arsuf, and Jaffa.  The material in this podcast serves to cover the International Baccalaureates' Pape...

This is the second in a series of four episodes regarding Richard the Lionheart, the King of England and the ruler of the Angevin Empire.  Richard has been crowned and plans to engage Saladin in the third crusade.  In order to do so he will have to deal with King Philip of France, Tancred, the self proclaimed King of Sicily, as well as Cyprus' less than sane Isaac Komnenos.  The Saladin Tithe, the...

This is the first in a series of four episodes regarding Richard the Lionheart, the King of England and the ruler of the Angevin Empire.  This episode goes through Richard's upbringing within a family known as the 'Devil's Brood.' It briefly touches upon Matilda (Richard's grandmother) as well as his mother, Eleanor, who served as both the Queen of France and England. The vast majority of the time...

This is the final episode in a series regarding the Spanish Inquisition.  This episode includes random but interesting information that I was unable to fit into the prior four episodes.  This includes significantly more on Medieval witchcraft, blood purity tests, and Inquisition cook books.   The material in this podcast serves to cover the International Baccalaureates' topic of Societies in Trans...

This is the fourth in a series of five episodes regarding the Spanish Inquisition.  This episode covers the decline and removal of the Spanish Inquisition before detailing how its existence affected the Spanish citizens, the New World, Spanish Literature  and science as well as effects on the economy. The material in this podcast serves to cover the International Baccalaureates' topic of Societies...

This is the third in a series regarding the Spanish Inquisition.  This episode goes chronologically through the four distinct phases of the Spanish Inquisition.  First up, is its conflict against the Jewish Conversos.  Next, the Inquisitors went after the Old Christians and Protestants.  The third phase involves the Holy Office going after Moriscos (Muslims that had converted to Christianity).  Fo...

This is the second in a series regarding the Spanish Inquisition.  This episode establishes the processes and policies that governed the actions of the Holy Tribunal.  Perhaps not what you were expecting, the Spanish Inquisition had focused rules that determined each and every action taken.  Subjects such as the edict of grace, the auto de fe, arrest/prosecution, and punishments are all covered. ...

This is the first in a series of five episodes regarding the Spanish Inquisition.  The focus of this episode is on Anti-semitism, rather than the Spanish Inquisition itself.  The roots of which can be found in the practice of 'othering,' Christianity, and the creation and spread of stereotypes.   It seeks to explain the history behind anti-semitism while hopefully not glorifying the world's oldest...