Outcasts of the Earth: A History Podcast

Today, depictions of the proverbial drunkard are shaped by well-known images of a stumbling, bumbling, red-faced drinker. Appearing as a popular trope in cartoons, films, or in other mediums, we can often spot the 'drunkard' with ease. But how did such an image come into being? In this episode, we discuss some of the stories that left an enduring mark on the way people came to perceive who the dru...

Viking mead, drinking horns, and fighting monks - oh my! In this episode, we are venturing into the tumultuous years that followed the end of Roman rule in the west. Moving into the medieval era, we will touch on some of the favorite drinks of those infamous raiders known as the Vikings, as well as what it really meant to be drunk as a monk. The episode opens with a brief note about some audio iss...

In this episode we will see how the drunkard became a sinner as we touch on the ways prominent monotheistic religions, including Judaism, Christianity, and Islam came to view alcohol and the sin of drunkenness, and how these perceptions proved immensely influential to the broader history of alcohol. Sources: “Drunkenness,” Jewish Virtual Library, Encyclopaedia Judaica (2007).  Ammianus Macell...

In this episode, we will see how the Romans took the Greeks’ drinking culture and remade it as their own. Unlike their Hellenistic counterparts, however, the Romans proved to be a bit more rambunctious when it came to their love of wine. And as we will see, some Romans even built (and destroyed) their reputations by it. Tune in to hear a little bit about Roman drinking games, just how much wine th...

In this episode, we are raising a glass to drinking in the Mediterranean world. From Athenian drinking parties, to the god of wine himself, let’s explore what it was like getting drunk on wine in ancient Greece.  Written and recorded by : Kenyon Payne Theme music : "Southern Gothic" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecomm...

Enjoy a bonus second episode this week to celebrate the launch of this show! Look for a new episode to drop every two weeks going forward. Traveling to the Middle East, in the ancient region of Mesopotamia, we find the first emerging civilizations, as well as the first appearance of alcohol in writing. To the ancient Sumerians, beer was a magical, healthful drink delivered to them by the gods. Ass...

In this opening season of this show, Kenyon introduces the show, why it exists, as well as the main topic for season one: drinking and drunkenness. Drinking is something that many people are likely familiar with in the practical sense, but the history of alcohol and drinking has ancient roots. This episode provides a very brief overview of the 'pre-history' of drinking and the theories around why...

Check out the trailer to the first season of this new show, the Outcasts of the Earth. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.