Wonderer's History Podcast

In this episode I wanted to reflect a bit on some ideas in the fantastic book Global Crisis, War Climate Change and Catastrophe in 17th century Europe. Thumbnail: vMelchiorre Gherardini, Piazza S. Babila, Milan, during the plague of 1630 (via commons)

In this episode I summarize and recommend one of Prof. Parker's most detailed books about Philip II of Spain.

In this video I briefly explain why I think Braudel's The Mediterranean & the Mediterranean World in the Age of Philip II (both volumes but more specifically vol.2) is not only one of my favourite books but In my opinion one of the best early modern history books ever written and an invaluable resource for anyone interested in this history of the Mediterranean, be it Spain, Venice, Italy,...

Wanted to wish everyone a belated happy new year and let you briefly know what I would like to do with this channel in 2024

In this detail I summarised the story of a very wealthy and influential Scot in 17th Century Eastern Europe (Poland but also Moldavia), based on the account of E. D. Tappe and Paul Ricaut ( available here https://www.jstor.org/stable/4204348?seq=1) Could not find images of Scottish Merchants in any of the Moldavian trading centres such as Iasi during the early modern period so just used a commons...

Bit late, just wanted to talk a bit about what I think is one of the best movies of this year and a cinematic masterpiece.

A belated preview of one of my most anticipated movies of the year.

In light of the latest release the trailer of Ridley Scott's Napoleon, movie. I propose to look back at one of the most impressive unfinished projects in Cinematic history: Stanley Kubrick's Napoleon Movie. Music from YouTube Audio Library.

Ioannes Cotovicus (Iohann van Kootwyck), a doctor of Civil and Canon Law In the University of Utrecht, Sailed from August 2 1598, touched at Limassol September 12, and sailed from Larnaca September 19 for Sidon, Jaffa & Jerusalem. On March 25 1599 he touched again at Larnaca and visited Nicosia and Famagusta. Make sure to subscribe to the channel to never miss any new material from the podcast...

Today we look at a document written by Girolamo Dandini, Professor of Theology at Perugia, sent in 1596 by Pope Clement VIII as a nuncio to the Maronites of Lebanon. From August 8th when he visited Limassol, then Larnaca and Nicosia until the 27th when he left for Tripoli. He would return to Larnaca on March 19th 1597 and departed for Venice on April 12th. Intro & outro excerpts of Cantus Firm...

In a final experiment of this miniseries I ask Chat GPT a few more questions with some interesting responses given. Source of the photo: Pexels.com

In this episode I wanted to check with Chat GPT and see what it says about the 16th and 17th centuries and why these centuries were so important.

In this episode I wanted to check what Chat GPT thinks about Venetian history in general and who was the most important doge. Some interesting answers came up.    SUBSCRIBE to the channel if you haven't done so already to never miss any new materials from the podcast.

In this episode we look at the account of Seigneur de Villamont in Cyprus in 1589 and how things have change from the years of Venetian rule. Subscribe to the channel if you haven't done so already!  Image: Map of Cyprus by Piri Reis (via commons/public domain)

In this episode I discuss briefly about what happened at the end of the Ottoman Siege of Famagusta which concluded Venice's loss. For more information on this please visit episode 4 of the Podcast which looked at the Demise of Marcantonio Bragadin. Next episodes will look at a few accounts which covered Ottoman Cyprus between 1573 and 1620. Subscribe to the channel if you haven't done so already....

A few ideas about the next year and what themes I will want to cover in a new series (Hint: has to do with the Thirty Years' War & more). Wishing my listeners a Happy Christmas & holiday season. 

In this episode we continue the account of Venetian Senator Diedo from the account Excerpta Cypria looking at the late reactions of the Venetians, who found themselves once again in the need of assistance from the Papacy and Spain.

In this episode of the Travelers Diaries of the 16th century Mediterranean, we look at the first part of Venetian Senator Giacomo Diedo's accont (from Excerpta Cypria).    Equestrian portrait of Sultan Selim II by Lambert de Vos, 1574 (public domain via wiki commons)

A new account from Excerpta Cypria, Materials for a history of Cyprus, written by travellers who were in Venetian Cyprus throughout the 16th century. This one belongs to Giovanni Sozomeno present during the Ottoman Siege of Nicosia in 1570 who was subsequently taken prisoner. Editor mentioned this account was initially meant for Cosimo di Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany who passed away in 1574. &nbs...

A new account from Excerpta Cypria, Materials for a history of Cyprus, written by travellers who were in Venetian Cyprus throughout the 16th century. This one belongs to Fabriano Falchetti present during the Ottoman Siege of Nicosia in 1570 who was subsequently taken prisoner.   Intro & outro excerpts from Wild Fires - Doug Maxwell (available for free on YouTube's Audio Library)   Ma...

Bit of an informal episode this one, just wanted to post an update on the podcast, current series, and what I hope to achieve and move on to what I will hope will be a great over-arching series looking at events of the Thirty Years' War (hence using this illustration {public domain via commons} from Les Grandes Misères de la guerre (The Great Miseries of War) by Jacques Callot, 1633).

A new account from Excerpta Cypria, Materials for a history of Cyprus, written by travellers who were in Venetian Cyprus throughout the 16th century. This one belongs to Chritophori Fureri who visited Cyprus in the spring of 1566.   Intro & outro excerpts from Arabian Nightfall - Doug Maxwell (available for free on YouTube's Audio Library)   Map of Nicosia in Cyprus, created in 1597...

A new accounts from Excerpta Cypria, Materials for a history of Cyprus, written by travellers who were in Venetian Cyprus throughout the 16th century. This one belongs to Italian Elias of Pesaro, Italian traveller who was forced to station in Cyprus while on route to the Holy Lands in 1563, because of concerns over plague hit regions near the Syrian harbours. Intro & outro- excerpts of Drunken...

A new accounts from Excerpta Cypria, Materials for a history of Cyprus, written by travellers who were in Venetian Cyprus throughout the 16th century. This one belongs to John Locke (not the philosopher), English traveller who stopped in Cyprus on route to the Holy Lands in 1553.

The next episodes will look at accounts from Excerpta Cypria, Materials for a history of Cyprus, written by travellers who were in Venetian Cyprus. The first episode looks at Greffin Affagart , Seigneur de Courteilles, short account of Cyprus in 1534.    Subscribe to the channel!