Lit Epic History – History Nobody Asked For, But Here We Are!

Funny hats. Sharp tongues. The only people in the kingdom allowed to tell the king the truth. In this episode of Lit Epic History , we dive into the surprising world of court jesters — the comedians, tricksters, and “fools” who secretly served as political advisors, truth-tellers, and survival experts inside royal courts. From Henry VIII’s beloved fool to the wise jesters of Poland, China, and the...

One vision. One battle. One decision that reshaped the world. In this episode of Lit Epic History , we dive into the story of Constantine the Great — the Roman emperor who went from civil war to divine vision and changed Christianity forever. From the Battle of the Milvian Bridge to the Council of Nicaea, this is the moment a persecuted faith became imperial power. But was Constantine a true belie...

Five ships. 270 men. One journey around the world — and only 18 made it back. In this episode of Lit Epic History , Mina and Lev unpack the real story of Ferdinand Magellan’s circumnavigation — a voyage of mutiny, starvation, impossible navigation, and a survival rate that feels more like a warning than an achievement. From the deadly crossing of the Pacific to Magellan’s final battle in the Phili...

Three hundred Spartans. Seven hundred Thespians. Thousands of Greeks history forgot. In this episode of Lit Epic History , Lev and Mina break down the real story of Thermopylae — beyond the movie myths. From the brutal reality of Spartan society and the sophistication of the Persian Empire to the strategy behind the famous last stand, this is the battle as it actually happened. It wasn’t just abou...

A Kurdish sultan. A fractured world. One victory that still echoes today. In this episode of Lit Epic History , the team explore the life of Saladin — the leader who united the Muslim world, defeated the Crusaders, and retook Jerusalem without a massacre. From the Battle of Hattin to his legendary rivalry with Richard the Lionheart, this is the story of power, restraint, and the kind of leadership...

Five hundred men. One rogue conquistador. An empire of millions. In this episode of Lit Epic History , Lev and Mina unpack the astonishing and devastating story of Hernán Cortés and the fall of the Aztec Empire . From unlikely alliances and the crucial role of La Malinche to the breathtaking city of Tenochtitlan and the catastrophic impact of smallpox, this is the real story behind one of history’...

A teenage concubine. A ruthless political strategist. The only woman to ever rule China as Emperor. In another Women’s Month special episode of Lit Epic History , Mina takes the lead as she and Lev unpack the extraordinary rise of Wu Zetian — the woman who climbed from the imperial harem to the Dragon Throne and ruled one of the most powerful empires on Earth. From court intrigue and ruthless powe...

Gladiators. Thumbs up or thumbs down. Fight to the death! That’s the version Hollywood told you. But the real story is stranger — and far more fascinating. In this episode of Lit Epic History , we break down the truth behind Roman gladiators: professional fighters with contracts, training schools, fan followings, and even specialized healthcare systems. From misunderstood thumb gestures and celebr...

One woman started dancing in the streets of Strasbourg in 1518. Then dozens joined her. Then hundreds. And some of them danced until they died. In this episode of Lit Epic History , we dive into the bizarre and haunting mystery of the Dancing Plague of 1518 — a six-week outbreak of unstoppable dancing that baffled medieval doctors and still confuses historians today. Was it poisoned bread? Mass hy...

A captured emperor. A Persian king. One battle that shattered Rome’s illusion of invincibility. In this milestone episode of Lit Epic History , Lev and Mina explore the Battle of Edessa in 260 CE — the moment when Shapur I of the Sasanian Empire of ancient Persia defeated and captured the Roman Emperor Valerian, something Rome believed was impossible. From imperial propaganda and cliff-carved monu...

A reluctant artist. A terrifying pope. One ceiling that changed art forever. In this episode of Lit Epic History , Mina and Lev explore the story behind the Sistine Chapel — how Michelangelo, a sculptor who didn’t want the job, created the most famous ceiling in human history. From physical agony and papal pressure to hidden symbolism and artistic revolution, this is the story of genius painted in...

A cobbler’s son. A steel-fisted ruler. A legacy the world still lives with. In this episode of Lit Epic History , Lev and Mina dive into the life of Joseph Stalin — the man who transformed the Soviet Union into a superpower while unleashing terror on an unimaginable scale. From revolutionary bank robberies and political power plays to purges, war, and the birth of the Cold War, this is the story o...

Twenty-three senators. One deadly morning. A betrayal that changed the world. In this episode of Lit Epic History , Lev and Mina unravel the Ides of March — the assassination of Julius Caesar and the political murder that reshaped Rome forever. From whispered conspiracies and missed warnings to the chaos that followed, we explore how a plot meant to save the Republic accidentally destroyed it. Exp...

A church. A mosque. A museum. One building that survived empires. In this episode of Lit Epic History , Lev and Mina explore the Hagia Sophia — the architectural marvel that has stood for 1,500 years at the crossroads of civilizations. From Byzantine engineering genius and riot-born beginnings to Ottoman reinvention and modern cultural debates, this isn’t just a building — it’s history layered in...

A queen who faced Rome — and refused to be remembered as a footnote. In this special International Women’s Month episode of Lit Epic History , Mina takes the lead as she and Lev joins in rediscovering the real Cleopatra — polyglot ruler, master strategist, and the last pharaoh of Egypt. From rug-smuggling diplomacy and Roman power plays to dissolved pearls and world-shaping decisions, we unpack th...

A giant tsar. A wounded Swedish genius. One battle that reshaped Europe. In this episode of Lit Epic History , Lev and Mina talks about the Battle of Poltava — the clash that transformed Russia into an empire and ended Sweden’s reign as a northern superpower. From Peter the Great’s wild reforms to Charles XII’s legendary campaign and a brutal Ukrainian winter, we unpack the moment history decisive...

A collapsing empire. Eight invading superpowers. One rebellion that changed history. In this episode of Lit Epic History , Lev and Mina talks about the Boxer Rebellion — the uprising that exposed China’s “century of humiliation.” From bulletproof beliefs and imperial chaos to a shocking war against eight nations, we unpack how faith, fury, and catastrophic decisions reshaped modern China. Because...

130 ships. 30,000 men. One unstoppable empire… and one catastrophic miscalculation. In this episode of Lit Epic History , Lev and Mina takes you into the spectacular yet epic failure of the Spanish Armada — the moment when the world’s most powerful empire sailed confidently into one of history’s most humiliating defeats. From King Philip II’s divine certainty to a deeply flawed invasion plan, we u...

Six wives. Two beheadings. One church founded over a breakup. In this debut episode of Lit Epic History , join Lev and Mina as they dive headfirst into the chaotic life of King Henry VIII — the golden boy prince who became one of history’s most unhinged monarchs. From his early glow-up as Europe’s most eligible royal to the jousting accident that may have changed everything, we unpack the trauma,...