History Shorts

Since its completion in 1914, the Panama Canal has been a source of both pride and contention. While the U.S. viewed it as a symbol of engineering achievement and a cornerstone of its global influence, many Panamanians saw it as an affront to their sovereignty. Here is the rest of that story. SUPPORT THE SHOW AT Patreon LEARN MORE AT www.historyshortspodcast.com FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK Learn more ab...

 Although the ancient Roman myth of Romulus and Remus is just that, a myth, it is still the foundational story that shapes the origins of the Roman Empire, and as many myths do, it has historical value. At the least, it tells us how the Romans viewed themselves and their world in the days of Rome's greatness. SUPPORT: https://www.patreon.com/c/HistoryShortsPodcast Find us at www.historyshortspodc...

The Kosovo Student Poisoning incident of 1990 is a mysterious and controversial event that took place during a tense period of ethnic and political unrest in Kosovo, then part of Yugoslavia. As the title suggests, the incident involved the sudden mass poisoning of thousands of ethnic Albanian students, primarily in secondary schools - yet did it happen? Well, that depends on who you ask.  SUPPORT...

Donald Eugene Webb, an infamous American criminal, still holds the second-longest stint on the FBI's Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list, remaining on the run for nearly four decades until the final surprising end to his case in 2017.  SUPPORT https://www.patreon.com/c/HistoryShortsPodcast Find us at www.historyshortspodcast.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Let's see how many of these accidental inventions you can guess based on very little information given - well, let's say, enough information to make an educated guess. Like the show? Consider buying Peter a coffee ! CONNECT @ X Facebook YouTube Find us at www.historyshortspodcast.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Have you ever wondered why a doughnut is called a doughnut? Or perhaps even more importantly, why it has its iconic shape with the hole in the middle? Well, in a little preview of next month's limited weekend series "Famous Americans You Never Knew Existed," let us examine the story of a particular sailor, officially confirmed as the Father of the Dougnut Hole by The Doughnut Corporation of Americ...

When it comes to Grigori Rasputin's mystique, most of it stems from a combination of his enigmatic personality, extraordinary rise to influence, and controversial reputation. Yet, it would ultimately be the mysterious circumstances surrounding his death that would entrench him within the annals of history's weirdest and most controversial topics.  Like the show? Consider buying Peter a coffee ! CO...

CONVERSATION SERIES: Dr. Norman Davies Peter speaks with Dr. Norman Davies, a renowned historian known for extensive research on Polish and European History and recognized worldwide as the foremost advocate for studying Polish history and its place in the broader European context. Like the show? Consider buying Peter a coffee ! CONNECT @ X Facebook YouTube Find us at www.historyshortspodcast.com L...

The story of John Dillinger, one of the most notorious criminals of the Great Depression, is a tale of audacious bank heists, high-profile escapes, and an intense manhunt that captivated the American public during the 1930s. And even after all of this time - it is just as interesting today as it was nearly one hundred years ago. Like the show? Consider buying Peter a coffee ! CONNECT @ X Facebook...

It is now common knowledge that the great Robber Barrons of the Gilded Age cheated the public - also likely the reason why they became known by that monicker. Still, in some cases, the public was just way too eager to give their money away to any venture backed by big names such as Rockefeller. And so began the Anaconda Copper Company Scam. Like the show? Consider buying Peter a coffee ! CONNECT @...

Once the new world was discovered by Europeans in 1492, so began the clamoring for land and colonization rights between the two biggest maritime powers of the time, Spain and Portugal. Within two years, the situation was dire enough that it caught the attention of the old continent's foremost authority - Pope Alexander VI. SUPPORT: https://www.patreon.com/c/HistoryShortsPodcast Find us at www.hist...

William "Boss" Tweed, one of the most infamous political figures in American history, was the leader of Tammany Hall, the Democratic political machine that controlled New York City during the mid-19th century. It was front-page news when he was finally arrested and an even bigger spectacle when he escaped out of the country. SUPPORT: https://www.patreon.com/c/HistoryShortsPodcast Find us at www.hi...

SUNDAY TRIVIA: Candy Let's see if you can guess the candy based on its origins story. https://www.patreon.com/c/HistoryShortsPodcast Find us at www.historyshortspodcast.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Brazil's failure to send troops to fight during the First World War led to an ongoing joke: A snake will smoke a pipe before Brazil goes to war. But by 1944, the soldiers of the Forca Expedicionaria Brasil (Brazilian Expeditionary Force) were more than proud to display the insignia patch of a green snake smoking a pipe as they fought through Italy, pushing back Fascist forces.  https://www.patreon...

The Washington Monument's history is marked by dedication, delays, and a remarkable transformation into one of America's enduring symbols of unity and democracy. https://www.patreon.com/c/HistoryShortsPodcast CONNECT @ X Facebook YouTube Find us at www.historyshortspodcast.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

CONVERSATION SERIES: Dr. Catherine Fletcher Peter speaks with Dr. Fletcher, the renowned Renaissance and Early Modern European History historian, about her latest book, The Roads to Rome: A History. https://www.patreon.com/c/HistoryShortsPodcast CONNECT @ X Facebook YouTube Find us at www.historyshortspodcast.com For more information about Dr. Fletcher, visist https://catherinefletcher.info/ Learn...

The city of St. Petersburg, founded by Tsar Peter the Great in 1703, stands as one of Russia's most significant cities, both as a symbol of Peter's ambition to modernize Russia and as a monument to the immense human cost required to bring that vision to life. Its construction on a barren, swampy stretch of land along the Neva River has given rise to its grim nickname, "the City Built on Bones." ht...

Most of us have seen it, and many continue showing it to our children or plan to in the future. Although the story within the Charlie Brown Christmas Special is a heartwarming tale in and of itself, the history surrounding the famed special is in itself a fascinating tale, filled with moments of creativity, risk-taking, and unexpected success https://www.patreon.com/c/HistoryShortsPodcast CONNECT...

Much of Spartacus's early life is shrouded in mystery, and historical records provide few details. Yet, the story of one of history's most famous rebels who defied the ancient Empire of Rome is one for the history books and the silver screen - which, in fact, has been done numerous times. But did you know that although the Romans managed to kill Spartacus - his body was never found? https://www.pa...

After being elected to the Senate in 1962, Edward M. "Ted" Kennedy quickly became known as a liberal who championed causes such as education and healthcare. Yet, the booming political career and public perception took a big hit on July 18, 1969, in a tragic event that became synonymous with its location, Chappaquiddick Island in Massachusetts.  https://www.patreon.com/c/HistoryShortsPodcast CONNEC...

REMASTERED: Join Peter for these bonus episodes as he revisits some of his early topics with extended content. Who hasn't seen It's a Wonderful Life? A film that, while designed to be a hit when it opened right before Christmas of 1946, became the year's biggest flop within just a week. Yet, did you know that if it were not for the movie being so literally forgotten, it would likely never have bec...

In 1942, during the height of World War II, the Office of Strategic Services (OSS)—the forerunner to the CIA—commissioned a psychological profile of Adolf Hitler to understand better the German dictator's personality, motivations, and potential vulnerabilities. This groundbreaking study was led by Dr. Walter C. Langer, an American psychoanalyst, and it remains one of the first attempts in modern i...

LANDMARKS: Kremlin The Kremlin and Red Square are Russia's most iconic historical sites at the heart of Moscow. While we often associate it with the Soviet Union and Cold War symbolism, the landmarks represent centuries of Russian political, military, and cultural evolution, serving as a microcosm of the nation's complex history. https://www.patreon.com/c/HistoryShortsPodcast CONNECT @ X Facebook...

CONVERSATION SERIES: Dr. Roman Krznaric Peter speaks with Dr. Roman Krznaric, a renowned social philosopher and bestselling author of numerous books, including his latest, History for Tomorrow. https://www.patreon.com/c/HistoryShortsPodcast CONNECT @ X Facebook YouTube Find us at www.historyshortspodcast.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gossip about stars and movies will inevitably come out of Hollywood - and inevitably, the crazier or weirder, the better. While there are new stories every day, some classic Hollywood lore continues to circulate and pop up for decades after the supposed events took place. Let's examine some of the more infamous ones. https://www.patreon.com/c/HistoryShortsPodcast CONNECT @ X Facebook YouTube Find...