History House

On October 2, 1968, a tragic event unfolded in Mexico City that would forever change the nation's history. Between three thousand to five thousand people gathered at the Plaza de las Tres Culturas for a peaceful student protest. However, this gathering turned into a horrific scene, leading to the deaths of over three hundred individuals, including students, men, women, and children. This episo...

The story of the Irishmen remembered as heroes by Mexico. Episode Icon: Churubusco's monastery at the height of the 1847 Battle of Churubusco, painted by James Walker, Wikimedia Commons, Public Domain. Recommended further reading… Bender, Abby, ‘Irish-Mexican Solidarity and the San Patricio Battalion Flag’, Genre Volume 36 Issue 3-4, (2003), pp. 271–293. Fanning, Tim, Paisanos, The Forgotten I...

The story of the Irishman who declared himself ruler of Mexico and was the inspiration for Zorro.  Episode Icon: Peter Paul Rubens, Young Man in Armor, Timken Museum of Art, Wikimedia Commons, CC0 1.0, https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/deed.en    Recommended further reading... Baracs, Ana Martinez, An Irish Rebel in New Spain, The Tumultuous Life and Tragic Death of William Lamport...

The story of Malintzin/La Malinche. Her life, role in the Conquest of the Mexica (Aztecs) and her evolving legacy in Mexico and beyond across centuries.  Episode Icon: Lámina del Lienzo de Tlaxcala donde se demuestra qué hizo Hernán Cortés, 1581, Wikimedia Commons, Public Domain.  Recommended further reading… Lyall, Victoria I. Romo, Terezita (eds.), Traitor, Survivor, Icon, The Legacy of La Malin...

The story of Bartolomé de Las Casas, regarded by some as the first human rights defender and the wider efforts to end the Spanish exploitation of the Indigenous People of Americas. Episode Icon: AlejandroLinaresGarcia, "Fray Bartolomé de las Casas" by Felix Parra (1845-1919) done in 1875 on display at the Museo Nacional de Arte in Mexico City, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-S.A. 4.0., https://...

The story of Celtic Ireland and the Roman Empire. Trade, religion and possible invasion. Episode Icon: Ptolemy Cosmographia 1467 - Ireland, Wikimedia Commons, Public Domain. Recommended further reading... Di Martino, Vittorio, 'Roman Ireland', (Cork, 2003). Freeman, Philip, 'Ireland and the Classical World', (Austin, Texas, 2001). History House Newsletter Sign Up Form: https://2fi4...

The story of the time when the Dutch “ate” their “Prime Minister”. Why it happened, who did it and what effect did it have on the Dutch Republic? Episode Icon: Adriaen Hanneman, Johan de Witt, 1652, Wikimedia Commons, Public Domain.  Recommended further reading… DeSanto, Ingrid Frederika, ‘Righteous Citizens: The Lynching of Johan and Cornelis DeWitt, The Hague, Collective Violence, and the Myth o...

The traditions, history and celebrations of Day of the Dead, (Dia de Los Muertos). Episode Icon: 1. Posada's La Calavera Catrina, Wikimedia Commons, Public Domain. Recommended Further Reading... Brandes, Stanley H. ‘Iconography in Mexico's Day of the Dead: Origins and Meaning’, Ethnohistory, Volume 45 No. 2, (Spring, 1998), pp. 181-218. ‘Is There a Mexican View of Death?’, Ethos, Vol. 31,...

The story of the "Ethnarch", Eleftherios Venizelos, (1864-1936). His arrival into Greek Politics, his various departures, returns and his final fall from power, along his often forgotten rapprochement with Turkey. Episode Icon: Autochrome: "La Haye , Pays-Bas Monsieur Venizelos”, 1929, Public Domain, Wikimedia Commons. Links to photos associated with the episode... Bluesky: https://...

Warning: This episode discusses themes of a Sexual Nature including Prostitution. The extraordinary story of one of History's most remarkable women. Episode Icon: Depiction of the Empress Theodora from a contemporary portrait mosaic in the Basilica of San Vitale, Ravenna, 6th Century, Host’s own photo. Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/historyhouse1.bsky.social/post/3lxarl2osd22s Facebook: https:/...

Warning: This episode talks about difficult topics including Murder and Suicide. The story of the Mayerling Incident of 1889, which was not only a tragedy for the Habsburg Dynasty of Austria-Hungary but had unexpected implications for European History. Episode Icon: Crown Prince Rudolf and Mary Freiin von Vetsera, Wikimedia Commons, Public Domain. Links to photos associated with the episode… Blues...

Warning: This episode briefly discusses themes of a Sexual Nature including Prostitution. The story of Lafcadio Hearn/Koizumi Yakumo, a key figure in introducing Japanese Culture to the Western World. Episode Icon: Lafcadio Hearn, 1. From a photograph taken at Martinique, August 24, 1888, Wikimedia Commons, Public Domain. Links to photos associated with the episode... Bluesky: https://bsky.app/pro...

The life of King Hussein I of Jordan, one of the most consequential Middle Eastern Leaders of the 20th Century. Image Icon: King Hussein of Jordan among his troops 1 March 1957, Wikimedia Commons, Public Domain.  Links to photos associated with the episode... Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/historyhouse1.bsky.social/post/3lqgga5ozhk2k Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/19AxbRvBVk/?mibext...

Warning, this episode will talk extensively about Prostitution and other themes of a sexual nature. The story of the Edo/Tokyo’s main Red Light District from 1617 to 1958, its history, influence on art and the lives of the women who lived there. Episode Icon: A courtesan promenading under cherry trees of the Yoshiwara, accompanied by her child attendant. Colour woodcut by Yoshitora, 1859. Iconogra...

The story of Sweden's most famous queen. Episode Icon: Sébastien Bourdon, Christina, the new Queen of Sweden from 1632 to 1654, daughter of Gustav Adolf, 1650, Wikimedia Commons, Public Domain. Links to photos associated with the episode… Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/historyhouse1.bsky.social/post/3lljcygamzs2m   Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/16CPkdqQQd/?mibextid=wwXIfr Insta...

The legendary love story between Prince Salim/Jahangir of the Mughal Empire and Anarkali, which has been told and retold throughout South Asia. Episode Icon: Dilip Kumar (Salim) and Madhubala (Anarkali) in Mughal-e-Azam (1960) https://www.reddit.com/r/bollywood/comments/1ekjdvh/mughaleazam_was_released_on_this_day_in_1960/?rdt=449803 . Links to photos associated with the episode… Bluesky: https://...

A chat about the city of Catania and the wider island of Sicily as a whole. With special guest, Salvatore Zito. Links to photos associated with the episode.... Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/historyhouse1.bsky.social/post/3lgvbu3b32c2l Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1HrtaGt58r/?mibextid=wwXIfr Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/DFagX8PMCcO/?igsh=ZHhpcm84dzN6c3gw Recommended furt...

The story of the Faiyum Mummy Portraits, among the oldest surviving paintings of individuals in History. Episode Icon: Fayum portrait of a man, mid-2nd century, Myers Collection, Eton College, Wikimedia Commons, Public Domain. Links to photos associated with the episode... Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/historyhouse1.bsky.social/post/3le4pyrjzy22o Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/19wQ...

*Note I had a Cold when recording this episode, so my voice is not up to my usual standard. The story of Laudabiliter, a supposed letter from the Pope in Rome to the King of England which set in motion the Norman and later English presence in Ireland. Episode Icon: Contemporary image of Henry II from the Gospels of Henry the Lion, Wikimedia Commons, Public Domain. Links to photos associated with t...

* Warning: Discussion of topics of a Sexual Nature and brief references to Prostitution in the second half of the episode. The story of the High Society Painter, John Singer Sargent, through his works and relationships. Episode Icon: Self-Portrait, John Singer Sargent, 1906, Uffizi Gallery, Florence, Italy, Wikimedia Commons, Public Domain. Links to photos associated with the episode... Facebook:...

* Given that this episode was recorded outside of the show's normal recording studio, the sound quality is not as good as usual but hopefully it should still be pretty listenable. The story of one of Turkey's most well-known writers and his work 'Madonna in a Fur Coat', (recorded in the Pera Palace in Istanbul). More of a book review and exploration of an author's life rather than a typical 'Histo...

The story of the woman on Irish Banknotes from 1928 to the 1970s and her impact on Irish Political History. Episode Icon: Sir John Lavery, 'Portrait of Lady Lavery as Kathleen Ni Houlihan', 1927, Wikimedia Commons Public Domain. Links to photos associated with the episode: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/eDyMVFHqnLwtymX8/?mibextid=WC7FNe Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/DAgtWNvsBI...

The fascinating story of the Ottoman Prince Cem Sultan, his captivity in Europe and his influence on Renaissance Art. Episode Icon: Pinturicchio (Artist), Sailko (Photographer) Detail from Pope Pius II Arrives in Ancona, 1502-1507, Siena Cathedral, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en (by using this image the licensor does not endorse this post or...

WARNING: Contains brief sexual references and a description of an execution. The influence of the Renaissance in the Ottoman Empire, told through the figures of Sultan Mehmed II "the Conqueror" and the Venetian artist, Gentile Bellini. Links to photos associated with the episode: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/ULSSsA4R1RzKJGub/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/C9-5522sCmw/?utm_so...

The story of Ottoman help during the Irish Famine (1845-1852). Links to photos associated with the episode: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/cAdn28RznwAresQU/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/C8kygSLsdnr/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link Link to thesis for MLitt in Middle Eastern History from the University of St Andrews (2020-21)... https://www.academia.edu/97906836/Islamic_Charity_Dip...