We're Not So Different

in this episode, Luke and Eleanor start with a long cold open about what the fuck is happening in the US and UK right now (spoiler: no fucking clue) and then get into talk about London and Paris in the Middle Ages. it's a bunch of fun, check it out!

in this episode, Luke and Eleanor talk about the recent Supreme Court decision on abortion as well as the views and ideas on abortions in the Middle Ages. We also have a long list of places where you can volunteer time and money, check out: abortionfunds.org brigidalliance.org https://mashable.com/article/donate-abortion-funds-reproductive-justice-roe-wade

in this episode, we talk about life in Medieval cities by comparing the two great and holy cities of the Roman Empire: Rome and Constantinople. so check it out, you'll really enjoy!

In this episode, our 69th of the show (nice), Luke and Eleanor follow-up on the episode about Medieval Magic by discussing witchcraft in the Middle Ages. We talk about what they did, how they were perceived by others, the Malleus Mallificarum, and the Early Modern witch-hunts. check it out!

in this episode, Luke and Eleanor talk about practical magic in the Middle Ages. what was considered magic? which types of magic were ok and which types were taboo? do any of these beliefs still hold sway today?

in this episode, Luke and Eleanor make fun of a meme for a bit and then use it as a springboard to talk about how hospitality worked in the Medieval world. What was guest right? Did inns and taverns have the same hospitality expectations of people's homes? listen to find out!

in this episode, Luke and Eleanor compare and contrast modern and medieval approaches to policing, noting the vast differences between the two and how we can learn to create a better society for ourselves from the past without the oppressive police states we live under today.

in this episode, Luke and Eleanor review The Northman, Robert Eggers' 2022 epic historical fiction film set in the middle ages. we loved it and got to talk about so much including hot, shirtless vikings, shrooms, draugr, hot women doing magic, and much more! check it out and don't forget we've got a patreon review episode coming tomorrow!

in this episode, Luke and Eleanor look at the growing trend of modern people wanting to return to the simpler, pastoral ways of medieval life to escape the present hellscapes. we talk about why this rose-colored view of history doesn't really stand up to scrutiny, how the trend is being used by bigots to further their own goals, and how having more "time off" in the Middle Ages isn't the same as h...

in this episode, Luke and Eleanor get back in the medieval groove by covering one of our most requested topics ever: hygiene in the Middle Ages! we talk shit-covered peasants, slightly less shit-covered nobles, makeup, dental care, and more!

In this episode, our 23rd and final in the series on Historical Materialism, Luke and Eleanor cover the Neoliberal turn of the 80s, the fall of the Soviet Union, America's ongoing search for a justification for the military industrial complex, 9/11, the internet, the rise of China, the end of history and that pesky Owl of Minerva. check it out!

In this episode, our penultimate one in the Historical Materialism series, Luke and Eleanor discuss the years from 1960-1980, which includes spaceflight, Gladio, Paperclip, Condor, the Vietnam War, the Jakarta Method, the Cultural Revolution, and much more!

in this episode, Luke and Eleanor discuss 1945-1960, which includes the Cold War, the beginning of Pax Americana, communism spreading to China, the Cuban Revolution, the Sino-Soviet split, and much more!

In this episode, Luke and Eleanor cover the rise of fascism, World War 2, and the atom bomb. hooboy

In this episode, Luke and Eleanor make it most of the way through the Interwar period between 1918-1938 (we make it to about 1931 and the Great Depression). we talk about the end of WW1, the Treaty of Versailles, the failed Spartacist Uprisings in Germany, the failed world communist revolution, the aftermath in the Soviet Union, and the Great Depression. we wanted to get through the whole Interwar...

in this episode, Luke and Eleanor finally get to socialism and communism as we cover World War I, the socialist and communist modes of production, the October Revolution, and a little guy we all know as Lenin

in this episode, Luke and Eleanor discuss 1865-1905, including the Pax Britannica, the further spread of capitalism, the unifications of Germany and Italy, the true start of the American Empire, and the rise of the Japanese Empire with the Meiji Restoration. enjoy!

In this episode, Luke and Eleanor continue their ever-expanding series on Historical Materialism by covering the years from 1815-1865. this includes the aftermath of the Napoleonic era, the numerous failed revolutions of 1848, the promulgation of the Communist Manifesto, and America's very own suicide pact with itself: the American Civil War

In this episode, we welcome back friend of the show Patrick Wyman to talk about the change from feudalism to capitalism that we've been discussing in our series on historical materialism and then spend some time naming some historical guys. it's a lot of fun, you should check it out and you should check out Patrick's book, The Verge, and his podcasts!

In this episode, our 15th on Historical Materialism, we look at the years 1795-1815, aka, the Napoleonic era. Luke and Eleanor discuss how one man was able to stand astride history and use an army to smash most of the remaining vestiges of feudalism across western and central Europe, his many mistakes, and how, even though he hated the English, Napoleon ended up exporting their version of capitali...

in this episode, Luke and Eleanor look at the years from 1750-1795 wherein we finally introduce Capitalism, America has a revolution, France has a much, much cooler revolution, and liberal ideas begin their spread across the world.

in this episode, Luke and Eleanor continue following the trajectory of historical materialism by discussing the emergence of the bourgeoisie, their first attempts at asserting power in the English Civil War, legislative enclosure, the Ottoman transformation, and the age of absolutism. covers the years from 1642 to 1750.

in this episode, Luke and Eleanor discuss a bunch of events that should've remained localized but, due to new technology, colonialism, and more, became huge events that changed the history of the entire human race. we talked about how the 30 Years' War led to the Peace of Westphalia, which directly led to World War 1. then we talk about internal Chinese politics that had massive global implication...

in this episode, Luke and Eleanor continue the series on Historical Materialism by talking about how colonialism shaped the world in the Early Modern Era as well as the start of Mercantilism and the first true financial markets in the world. capitalism is right around the corner now...

in this episode, Luke and Eleanor discuss the end of the Medieval, or Post-Classical, era and the beginning of the Early Modern Period. they discuss a number of factors that pave the way for capitalism, including the rise of the printing press, the appearance of modern banking and lending practices, the Renaissance, and, finally, the Protestant Reformation.