History in 20 Podcast

We heard about the Wars of the Roses from the perspective of Henry VI last time, this time we're going to focus on Edward IV - was he really a 'usurper', or did he have just as much right to the throne as Henry? We will also discuss the legacy left behind from Edward IV, and how his death and succession plans resulted in one of the most significant twists in English history.

The Wars of the Roses ravaged England for almost three decades in the fifteenth century, causing untold amounts of devastation in one of the bloodiest civil wars in history. In this first episode, we discuss the legacy and life of King Henry VI, who perhaps felt the effects of the Wars of the Roses more than any other contemporary king.

Looking at the title, you may well have asked yourself this exact question before - just what was the Great Schism of 1054? Sometimes referred to as the East West Schism, the Great Schism was the formal splitting of the Eastern and Western Roman Churches. Although it happened in the eleventh century, the repercussions can still be felt today.  Listen on to find out all there is to know about this...

Welcome back to the History in 20 Podcast! This time I had the pleasure to be joined by Brooke Warrington, all the way from Australia! Brooke is an expert in Ancient Greek history and mythology, with a particular passion for women in Ancient Greek myth. On the contrary, I had next to no idea about Ancient Greece prior to this episode, so who better to invite on the podcast to discuss all things An...

Welcome back to the History in 20 Podcast! This time I am joined by a very special guest: Mok O'Keeffe, who you may know on social media as the Gay Aristo. We discuss 5 key LGBTQ+ figures in history, from the often 'hapless' King Edward II of England, to Oscar Wilde, who had a darker side than you believe. Join us as we discuss the impact these figures have had on historians and why...

Note: The audio when I am speaking is very poor, and unfortunately I cannot change it without re-recording the whole episode. Welcome back to the History in 20 Podcast! This time I am joined by a very special guest: Dr Carlos Conde Solares, the Programme Leader of BA History at Northumbria University. Carlos specialises in medieval Spain, so who better to discuss one of history's most controv...

Welcome back to the History in 20 Podcast! This time we are looking at the 5 key battles of the Hundred Years' War. The Hundred Years' War, which raged on for 116 years from 1337-1453 saw hundreds of thousands of people lose their lives. It was largely fought in France, between English and French forces. Key figures emerged in this conflict, including several English kings who made a nam...

Welcome back to the History in 20 Podcast! This time we're doing something a bit different, and going down the top 5 route, by looking at the Top 5 women from medieval China. 🇨🇳 A country that was shrouded in mystery for centuries still has some of the most important cultural, social and military figures of the Middle Ages - and it's about time the women had the light shone upon them! Fr...

Welcome back to the History in 20 Podcast! This time we are discussing the English Civil Wars, the bloodiest conflict on British soil. The wars saw, proportionately to population numbers at the time, the same loss of life as the First World War did three centuries later. Over the course of the nine year conflict, Charles I was executed, Oliver Cromwell reigned as Lord Protector of England, Ireland...

Welcome back to the History in 20 Podcast! This time I had the absolute privilege of having renowned Gold Rush and California historian and former lecturer of mine, Dr Henry Knight Lozano join me! We discussed the Gold Rush - from what it was, where it happened, when it happened, the economic effects, the racial tensions, family life in Gold Rush California and its legacy to this day. To buy Henry...

Welcome back to the History in 20 Podcast! This time we are discussing Salah al-din Yusuf ibn Ayyub, better known as Saladin. He was born in c. 1137 in Damascus, Syria and fought numerous campaigns in Egypt, Syria, the Crusader States and famously survived the Third Crusade, where he came up against Richard I (Richard the Lionheart) and his forces on more than one occasion. Saladin is undoubtedly...

Welcome back to the History in 20 Podcast! This time we're looking at a hugely influential Chinese character: Zheng He. Born as a Muslim called Ma He in Yunnan, China in 1371, the future Zheng He grew up and served as Admiral of the Treasure Fleet under the Ming Dynasty in the early fifteenth century. The Seven Voyages of the Treasure Fleet took Zheng and thousands of Chinese sailors across t...

Welcome back to the History in 20 Podcast! This time we are looking at Suleiman the Magnificent, one of the most formidable rulers of the sixteenth century. His expansion of the Ottoman Empire saw it at it's largest, stretching from Algeria to Hungary and onto the fringes of Persia. Suleiman was also a feared ruler by his contemporaries in Europe, particularly Francis I of France, Henry VIII...

Welcome back to the History in 20 Podcast! This time we're bringing you some festive cheer, as we discuss a history of Christmas! How did it start? Did people celebrate in winter before Jesus was born? How is a medieval Christmas different to a modern Christmas, and why does Santa dress in red and white? Find out all of this and more in this video! Don't forget to LIKE, COMMENT, SHARE an...

Welcome back to the channel! Today we're discussing the top 10 medieval battles! So, why are these the top 10? And how are we ranking them? I chose these battles based on a few factors: - their importance in history - the after effects - how they transformed the medieval world Obviously this is just my opinion - and I am more than happy to know what you, the listener and viewer, thinks! So, p...

Welcome back to the History in 20 Podcast! This week we are looking at Alexander the Great (356-323 BCE), King of the Macedons, Persians, Greek Emperor and all-round incredible military general. Alexander's legacy has left behind numerous cities called Alexandria, and his trusty steed Bucephalus was by his side from the age of 12 until shortly before Alexander's death. Conquests across t...

Welcome back to the History in 20 Podcast! Here is Part II of the Top 10 Roman Emperors, which I discussed with my good friend Tom. Once again, any feedback is valuable, so please leave any comments below. SUBSCRIBE, LIKE, SHARE and COMMENT! SOCIALS: Blog Instagram Facebook YouTube

It's a first here at the History in 20 Podcast, as my very good friend Tom featured on the podcast! We put together a list of the Top 10 Roman Emperors (if you disagree with our choices, let us know in the comments!), based on a multitude of factors, ranging from economic, to militaristic, to the absolutely clinically insane. We hope you enjoy this podcast, and many thanks to Tom for joining...

Welcome back to the History in 20 podcast! This time we're looking at Ivan the Terrible, who ruled as the first Tsar of Russia from 1533-84. As well as transforming Russia from a medieval state to an early modern empire, he also sacked Novgorod, set up a secret police force, and executed subjects at will. He was an exhilarating character for sure! SOCIALS: Blog Instagram Facebook YouTube

This time we're discussing one of the most formidable, influential and brilliant figures of the Middle Ages: Eleanor of Aquitaine. Born around 1122 in Poitiers, France, she went on to marry two kings (Louis VII of France and Henry II of England) and was the mother of ten children, five of whom themselves went on to become kings and queens themselves (including Richard I and King John). Major...

This time we're discussing the US Civil War (1861-65), the bloodiest conflict on US soil to date. With big names appearing like Abraham Lincoln, Ulysses S. Grant, Jefferson Davis and Robert E. Lee, this is one not to be missed if you want to learn about American history! Includes: Battle of Antietam, Gettysburg Address, Emancipation Proclamation, Reconstruction Era. SOCIALS: Blog Instagram Fa...

It's a first here at History in 20 as we look at some American history! The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941 was the catalyst which brought the US into the Second World War. But why did Japan target Pearl Harbor in Hawaii - 4000 miles from their shorelines, and 2000 miles from the US? What drove them to attack Pearl Harbor in the first place? All is discussed in this video!...

This time we're discussing The Gunpowder Plot (also known as Bonfire Night, Guy Fawkes Night or Fireworks Night). I though it was rather topical given that it's the 5th November! The Gunpowder Plot was an English Catholic plot against the Protestant King James I (r. 1603-25) and his government. The plot ultimately failed, but the legacy it left behind has been an annual celebration in Br...

The real-life Count Dracula! This time we're discussing the infamous Wallachian vampire-prince, Vlad the Impaler! Ruling and terrorising Eastern Europe in the mid-fifteenth century, this legendary character led a life that few have even come close to. His notoriety as an inherently evil leader has left many in gasping in awe and even more in horror as the gruesome details of his life are reve...

This time we're looking at the life and legacy of one of Europe's most formidable characters: Attila the Hun! With an Empire stretching from the Baltic Sea to the Black Sea, and from Germany to the Central Asian steppes, Attila spread fear throughout Europe wherever he went with his infamous horsemen. A life fuelled by warfare and conquering, he humiliated the Eastern Roman Empire twice,...