Relevant History

At the dawn of the 14th century, Anatolia is divided between a handful of semi-independent governors under the nominal leadership of the Sultanate of Rum. By 1444, Ottoman troops had defeated a major European coalition at the Battle of Varna, securing a transcontinental empire. This is the story of the rise of the Ottoman Empire, a Mediterranean juggernaut that would stand for four and a half cent...

Dan returns from an unplanned hiatus to discuss one of history’s darker episodes: the depopulation of the Middle East in the 13th and 14th centuries. First Mongol hordes, then the Black Death ravage the region, eviscerating Islam’s Arabic cultural heartland. This one-two punch leaves an opening for a rising power: the Ottoman Empire. Dan’s appearance on The Salad Tossers (NSFW): The Great Debate S...

Following the reign of Muhammad bin Tughlaq, the Delhi Sultanate is shrunken, weakened, and nearly bankrupt. He is succeeded by his cousin, Firuz Shah, who doesn’t even want his job. But even as Firuz Shah and his descendants rebuild the Sultanate, a new threat is gathering on the horizon: the Timurid Empire, led by the legendary general Tamerlane. Will the Delhi Sultanate withstand the Timurid ho...

The Delhi Sultanate is a land of intrigue, ethnic conflict, and high art. Which one of these things is most important depends on your point of view, and on who the Sultan is at the moment. Enter an era where anything can happen. Great kings and Sultans rule over millions, and hold their fate in their hands. With great wisdom comes great prosperity. But Mongol attacks and civil conflict pose a cons...

We interrupt your regularly-scheduled program to give you something you didn’t ask for, and probably didn’t want: my thoughts on conspiracy theories throughout the ages. Sorry. My computer crashed, and I lost all my notes. Part 2 of Crossroads of Civilization will be arriving as expected next week. In the meantime, enjoy my thoughts on the Cataline Conspiracy, the Knights Templar, the Nazis, and t...

The story of India is the story of humanity itself. From the first humans to leave Africa to Alexander the Great and the Emperor Chandragupta, some of history’s greatest events have happened here. But how  did India go from the cradle of civilization to a subcontinent divided between Muslims and Hindus? To understand why, we need to start from the beginning. The Salad Tossers Patreon: https://www....

During the Fourth Crusade, what began as a Christian holy war against Egypt turned into a Venetian war of conquest against the ancient Byzantine Empire. The conquest, in turn, began as what amounted to a hostile business takeover; but it would turn into something far more sinister. By the time the fires of the sack of Constantinople had cooled, the Crusaders had achieved a remarkable feat: the see...

The divide between the Roman Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox churches is one of the most enduring in the history of religion. What began as a theological dispute came to encompass culture and politics as much as anything else. But what solidified the divide was the sack of Constantinople by a crusader army under the leadership of one of history’s most controversial figures: Doge Enrico Da...

Can a bad leader, even a bad person, ever truly deserve credit for a valuable achievement? Today, we’ll discuss King John, commonly considered the worst leader in the history of the British monarchy. His reign consisted of a series of failures… along with the signing of a little document called the Magna Carta. Was he England’s worst king? And does he deserve any credit for his few achievements? Y...

On the way home from the Third Crusade, King Richard I is kidnapped and held for ransom by political rivals. After the damage done by the rebellious Prince John and French King Phillip, Richard will spend the rest of his life reuniting his kingdom. In the fourth part of his series on Richard the Lionheart, Dan brings the story to a fitting conclusion. SUBSCRIBE TO RELEVANT HISTORY, AND NEVER MISS...

Following the siege of Acre, Richard the Lionheart finds himself alone at the head of the Crusader army. Now, he and Saladin will battle for the ultimate prize: Jerusalem. Both men face a race against time. Richard’s brother John is conspiring against him at home, attempting to seize the throne for himself. Meanwhile, supply shortages limit Saladin’s options and keep his army constantly on the bri...

Richard the Lionheart is going on Crusade, rushing to relieve the siege of Acre. As the king of England and ruler of much of France, he brings with him the largest military force in the Crusader coalition. But on his way to the Middle East, he gets sidetracked on the island of Cyprus. With his sister, his fiancée, and his fortune held hostage, Richard has little choice but to take a detour, and re...

The idea of England and France as one country sounds like a ridiculous idea. But for a short period, England and much of France were indeed ruled by the same kings. How close did they come to becoming an actual country? The story of Richard the Lionheart – his origins, his life, and the aftermath of his reign – serves as a parallel to the life of the Angevin Empire.   SUBSCRIBE TO RELEVANT HISTORY...

While Crusader armies dither outside Damascus, a Turkish warlord named Nur ad-Din would forge a new Syrian kingdom. His successor, Saladin, would transform that kingdom into an Empire. Meanwhile, court life in the Kingdom of Jerusalem devolves into a soap opera, with political and personal gain replacing any semblance of piety. When Saladin and the Crusaders inevitably clash, who will be the victo...

What happens when you call a holy war without a defined goal? In this episode, the leaders of Europe put on a first-rate display of incompetence, and the Second Crusade ends in predictable disaster. But on the western coast of Iberia, a king named Alfonso I is busy building a new nation – the nation of Portugal. Dan’s interview with Christian Carrion: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/stranger...

The First Crusade was far from “merely” a religious affair. National and cultural differences influenced the entire course of the crusade, from its inception at the Council of Clermont to its culmination at the Siege of Jerusalem in 1099. This is the story of thousands of knights and tens of thousands of common folk who sought their fortunes – and their salvation – thousands of miles from home. Da...

In the waning days of World War II, a castle full of French VIP hostages is surrounded by murderous SS troops. Can a joint relief force of American and German troops reach them in time to prevent the inevitable massacre?   SUBSCRIBE TO RELEVANT HISTORY, AND NEVER MISS AN EPISODE!   Subscribe on Apple Music (iTunes): https://apple.co/2SQnw4q Subscribe on Google Music: https://bit.ly/30hUTRD Subscri...

In 1896, the armies of Ethiopian Emperor Menelik II would prove their mettle against European steel. But after their defeat at the Battle of Adwa, the Italians are looking for revenge. And in Mussolini, they have a leader willing to go to war again. Can the new Emperor, Haile Selassie, withstand the Italian invasion? With no allies, the Lion of Judah stands defiant against a resurgent Rome. SUBSCR...

As the Middle Ages give way to the Age of Exploration and the modern era begins, Ethiopia faces a series of threats. Internal divisions, foreign invasion, and colonization are all on the menu. Will the Ethiopian people survive and flourish? Or will King Solomon’s heirs become nothing more than a historical footnote?   Music courtesy of https://www.bensound.com   SUBSCRIBE TO RELEVANT HISTORY, AND...

The history of ancient Ethiopia is a mixture of myth and legend. And yet the Ethiopian people are a central part of modern history. Their royal dynasty, descended from King Solomon, made policy for centuries. But what is the origin of the Solomonic line? And is their mythical claim backed up by history? SUBSCRIBE TO RELEVANT HISTORY, AND NEVER MISS AN EPISODE! Relevant History Patreon: https://bit...

The story of Serbia's entry into World War I is one of intrigue and diplomacy as much as armed force. A series of territorial disputes in the Balkans would cause Serbia and Austria-Hungary to become enemies. Meanwhile, a small faction in the Serbian government is hell-bent on uniting all ethnic Serbs into one nation - whatever the cost. SUBSCRIBE TO RELEVANT HISTORY, AND NEVER MISS AN EPISODE! Rel...

When Serbia was founded, it was a tiny nation pinned between three great empires. Soldiers, spies, and savvy politicians ensured its survival into the 20th Century. SUBSCRIBE TO RELEVANT HISTORY, AND NEVER MISS AN EPISODE! Relevant History Patreon: https://bit.ly/3vLeSpF Subscribe on Apple Music (iTunes): https://apple.co/2SQnw4q Subscribe on Google Music: https://bit.ly/30hUTRD Subscribe on Spoti...

Good history means studying events, ideas, and societies from multiple angles. This requires written sources in your language. Dan talks about what happens when there's a lack of English-language sources. SUBSCRIBE TO RELEVANT HISTORY, AND NEVER MISS AN EPISODE! Relevant History Patreon: https://bit.ly/3vLeSpF Subscribe on Apple Music (iTunes): https://apple.co/2SQnw4q Subscribe on Google Music: h...

After reaching its zenith under Harun al-Rashid, the Abbasid Caliphate enters into a period of stark decline. Differences of religion and ethnicity threaten to divide the Islamic empire, even as the Caliphs become increasingly reliant on slave armies. Can the Abbasid Caliphate survive, or is it doomed to fail? SUBSCRIBE TO RELEVANT HISTORY, AND NEVER MISS AN EPISODE! Relevant History Patreon: http...

The Umayyad Caliphate stands as a united Islamic monolith in the midst of an uncertain world. But cracks are forming between different Muslim factions, and national divisions are beginning to rear their head. SUBSCRIBE TO RELEVANT HISTORY, AND NEVER MISS AN EPISODE! Relevant History Patreon: https://bit.ly/3vLeSpF Subscribe on Apple Music (iTunes): https://apple.co/2SQnw4q Subscribe on Google Musi...