History of the World podcast

In this special debrief episode, we celebrate the sixth anniversary of the History of the World podcast by talking a bit about the podcast and a bit about you, the podcast listeners. Plus, our usual review of the episode just published.

HISTORY A TO Z (4) - In this episode it is the letter C. So we talk about Caesar, Cleopatra, Caligula, Claudius, Charlemagne and crusading!

What do you think happened to the Ninth Spanish Legion? We take a look at the source material used for this episode and a look ahead at our next episode on Roman Greece.

Our regular look at the books and websites that helped to construct the episode. Also a reflection on this year's Podcast Show in London and the legacy of the late Nick Barksdale on the History of the World podcast itself.

1044 - 1880 - Gunpowder changed the world and how warfare was conducted, but it didn't have the immediate impact that one might assume. So let's explore its emergence and development in this dedicated episode of the History of the World podcast.

HISTORY A TO Z (3) - In this episode we continue to focus on events and characters beginning with the letter B. The Battle of Marathon, the Buddha, Burebista, Boudicca and Basil the Bulgar Slayer.

HISTORY A TO Z (2) - In this episode we focus on events and characters beginning with the letter B. The Building of the Great Pyramid, the Bronze Age Collapse, the Babylonian Captivity and Belshazzar.

As we near the end of our medieval Far East episodes, we look at what remains for Volume 4 and there's a brief reminder about the Podcast Show 2024 in Islington, London this week.

1279 - 1644 - We track the downfall of the Mongol Yuan Dynasty of China before reviewing the rise of the Ming Dynasty and how they changed China in a world where long distance trade links were becoming more vital.

A look back at the sources used for this particular episode, and then an update on the redecoration of HQ, a look forward to this month's Podcast Show in London, and a question for you, the listener, about Volume Five.

1259 - 1324 - The story behind the book called The Travels of Marco Polo , including who the Polos were and why they traveled to China, and then what was the legacy of this adventure in history.

HISTORY A TO Z (1) - Let's start with the As. Aristotle, Alexander the Great, Archimedes, Augustus, Attila the Hun and Alfred the Great.

Broadcasting alone and in a cold, bare walled studio, here is our usual review of the source material used in the construction of the latest episode.

1260 - The Mongol expansion had reached the Middle East, and their power enabled them to crush the established states up to the Holy Land. The Holy Land was being claimed by an Egyptian Dynasty with Turkic origins, and as such, would also have mastery of horsemanship and archery. Would the Mongols meet their match?

EVENTS THAT CHANGED THE WORLD (4) - Continuing our popular series, we explore the stories of the Greek statesman Solon and Cleisthenes, Cyrus the Great liberating the Jews from Babylon, the enlightenment of Prince Siddharta which led to him becoming the Buddha, and the exile of the last king of Rome, Tarquin the Proud.

Looking into some of the books used for the construction of this episode, plus a closer look at the Hejnal and some chit chat about a new bookshop opening near HOTWorld podcast HQ and some redecorating scheduled.

1241 - Simply speaking, this battle is a part of the story of when the Mongols tried to conquer Europe. Hear how the tactical expertise of the Mongols measured up to a European army.

EVENTS THAT CHANGED THE WORLD (3) - For your listening pleasure we will be revisiting the founding of the city of Carthage, the introduction of the Ancient Olympic Games, the founding myth of the city of Rome, the accession of Tiglath-Pileser III to the throne of Assyria and the exile of the Jews to Babylon.

Our usual look back at the source material for the episode alongside a description of the approached required to write such a wide ranging episode.

1227 - 1635 - The death of Genghis Khan meant that his descendants would have to share the spoils of the massive empire that he had created. The culture of leadership that he created meant that the Mongols would influence many areas of the world before their ultimate exhaustion.

EVENTS THAT CHANGED THE WORLD (2) - This week's magazine takes us on a journey from Ancient Egypt to the biblical Levant, starting with Akhenaten, before speaking of Ramesses II, Moses and Kings David and Solomon of Israel.

Our regular look at the source material for the episode, with a look forward to future volumes and branch outs for the podcast.

1206 - 1227 - In 1206, Genghis Khan was accepted as the leader of the Eastern Steppe tribes and all societies in the known world started becoming targets for the Mongols. Genghis Khan was very successful, but why was this?

EVENTS THAT CHANGED THE WORLD (1) - We go way back in history to explore the asteroid that killed the dinosaurs, the completion of the Great Pyramid, the creation of the Akkadian Empire, the law code of Hammurabi and the eruption of the volcano of the island of Thera.

Our usual look at the source material which although is in abundance, can still lead to confusion in piecing together the exact sequence of events. Plus some news about the Podcast Show 2024.