Western Civ

Vasco da Gama's voyages to India revolutionize the Portuguese Overseas Empire. By the end of his second voyage to India, Portugal (and Europe) has effectively replaced the Muslim trading cities of Arabia and Egypt as the dominant force in the Indian Ocean. For more content, check out westerncivpodcast.com  Become a Patron today at patreon.com/westerncivpodcast

Vasco da Gama returns to India intent upon enforcing Portuguese authority and will. This requires him to deal with the Zamorin and Calicut. And he decides there is only one way to do that... violence.  Check out the website for more at westerncivpodcast.com Become a Patron today and support the show at patreon.com/westerncivpodcast

Vasco da Gama gives up on Calicut and sails for Portugal. News of his successful voyage infuriates the Spanish and Venetians in equal parts. Before long, Vasco da Gama finds himself once more forced into service.  Check out more episodes at westerncivpodcast.com Become a Patron today for more content at patreon.com/westerncivpodcast

Vasco da Gama reaches India but quickly finds out that it is not the paradise he expected. Faced with the intractable Zamorin of Calicut, eventually, de Gama realizes he has to resort to force to deliver the spices he so badly must. Check out our website for more at westerncivpodcast.com Become a Patron today for more content at patreon.com/westerncivpodcast

Vasco de Gama rounds the Cape of Good Hope and moves up the Eastern Coast of Africa - a first for Europeans. The Age of Exploration hits several new firsts as, among other things, Christians and Muslims come to blows on the waves of the Indian Ocean for the first time in recorded history.  For more, check out our website: westerncivpodcast.com Or, become a Patron and support the show at patreon.co...

Vasco de Gama eventually became famous as the first European explorer to sail into the Indian Ocean. But, in reality, his selection for the job was a surprise to everyone at the time. In this episode, we cover the basics of the man and the beginnings of his first voyage. Check out the website for more: westerncivpodcast.com Become a Patron today to support the show at patreon.com/westerncivpodcast

Today we begin our Vasco de Gama story arc. Vasco de Gama did what Columbus could not: he found a sea route to India. But, In this episode, we explore how it was SO much more than a commercial endeavor. It was a crusade. Check out more at westerncivpodcast.com Become a Patron for bonus content at pateon.com/westerncivpodcast

Columbus's voyaging comes to end marooned in Jamaica. He makes it back to Spain, but... where did his body end up? Check out our website for more: westerncivpodcast.com Become a Patron today for hours of additional content at patreon.com/westerncivpodcast

Columbus returns to Spain in chains only to have his fortunes reverse once more and set sail on his third voyage. Check out our website for more content at westerncivpodcast.com Become a Patron today and support the show for only $1.00 per month. For $2.00 per month gain access to over 20 hours (and always increasing) of bonus content.

Christopher Columbus's shaky hold on Hispaniola finally breaks apart. Now, with India still nowhere to be found and with ever-dwindling supplies of gold, Columbus has to deal with a revolt by the very mayor of Santo Domingo.  Check out our website for more: westerncivpodcast.com Become a Patron today at patreon.com/westerncivpodcast

Columbus's efforts to capitalize on the New World quickly turns exploitive, disgusting Las Casas. When an Inquisitor from Spain arrives to investigate his conduct, Columbus finds he has no choice but to return to Spain and defend himself. Check out our website for more: westerncivpodcast.com Become a Patron today for more content at patreon.com/westerncivpodcast

Columbus crosses the Atlantic Ocean a second time, this time intent upon founding a series of colonies to build the wealth of Spain (and himself) in the New World. He quickly determines that is much more difficult than it seems.  Check out our website for more: westerncivpodcast.com Become a Patron today and support the show plus gets tons of bonus content at patreon.com/westerncivpodcast

After a shipwreck destroys the Santa Maria, Columbus must somehow figure out how to get back to Spain with only two ships remaining.  Check out more at westerncivpodcast.com Become a Patron today for bonus content at patreon.com/westerncivpodcast

In 1492 Christopher Columbus sailed the ocean blue. Well, we made it. In this episode the Northern and Southern Americas enter our story as Columbus lands in the Bahamas, changing the world forever.  Check out westerncivpodcast.com for more content. Become a Patron at patreon.com/westerncivpodcast.com for hours of bonus content. 

Christopher Columbus. The name itself conjures up so many different images. But how much of this son of Genoa do you really know? When the Spanish monarchs agreed to send three caravels across the Atlantic, did they have any idea what they had begun? We begin to answer all those questions and more here in this first part of our Columbus narrative. Check out more at westerncivpodcast.com

There is perhaps no person who is less known today but more important to the Age of Discovery than Henry the Navigator. In thirty years he took an un-sailable ocean and turned it into a thoroughfare. His exploits gave Portugal unfettered access to the Western Coast of Africa and, sadly, brought Europe firmly into the slave trade.  For more episodes check out westerncivpodcast.com Become a Patron t...

A quick preview of my second installment to our Atlantis series: The Search For Atlantis: What We Know. In this episode, we cover Plato's dialogues and the Bronze Age Eastern Mediterranean. For those interested in purchasing the full episode, it is available for $.99 at westerncivpodcast.com or free to all Patrons at patreon.com/westerncivpodcast. For only $2 per month, become a Patron and enjoy a...

A quick preview of my Russian Revolution deep-dive for those who cannot wait for the podcast to get there (in approximately 2045).  Check it out at: westerncivpodcast.com or for Patrons at patreon.com/westerncivpodcast

Today I sit down with Professor Sean McMeekin and discuss his latest book: The Russian Revolution. In this excellent and fast-paced work, McMeekin studiously details the revolution, explaining what it was, debunking what it was not.  Purchase a copy HERE.  Become a patron and hear the entire bonus episode HERE.

In this overview episode, I cover the Reconquista through three broad lenses: military, financial, and liturgical.  Check out our website for more content: westerncivpodcast.com Become a Patron today for more content at patreon.com/westerncivpodcast

After the Battle of Las Navas, the Christian Kingdoms of Spain drive out what remains of the caliphate until only the rump state of Grenada survives.  Check out our website for more content: westerncivpodcast.com Become a Patron today at patreon.com/westerncivpodcast

Continuing where we left off, in this episode, we cover the transition of the Reconquista from small-scale raids to full-blown crusades. As the Almoravid Caliphate collapses the Kingdoms of Castile and Aragon begin pushing south with purpose.  Check out our website for more content: westerncivpodcast.com Become a Patron today and for only $2 per month get access to ALL our bonus episodes and more!...

This time we begin our series covering the Reconquista. The Reconquista was the long and sometimes confusing process whereby the small Christian Kingdoms of Northern Spain slowly wrested control of the Iberian Peninsula from the Muslim caliphates that ruled it after defeating the Visigoths in 722 CE. In this episode, we cover the beginning of the struggle up to the pivotal 11th Century.  Check out...

A quick bonus preview of our "History of Western Thought" series. In Part Four, we cover early Catholic thought between St. Augustine and Thomas Aquinas.  Check out the full episode at our website: westerncivpodcast.com Or, become a Patron today and get access to all our bonus materials plus support the show for as little as $1.00 per month. www.patreon.com/westerncivpodcast

An interview with author and translator Robin Waterfield whose new translation of Meditations by Marcus Aurelius became available on April 9. Buy a copy of the book HERE. For those interested in stoicism, check out our bonus episode on the History of Western Thought at westerncivpodcast.com.  Or become a Patron today to get all our bonus episodes at patreon.com/westerncivpodcast