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The Dynasty That Made Medieval France
Episode 1433
From Hugh Capet to Eleanor of Aquitaine, the Capetian dynasty considered itself divinely chosen to fulfil a great destiny. From an insecure foothold …
1 year, 8 months ago
Why Are We Drawn to Dictators?
Episode 1432
Is liberal democracy facing an existential crisis? A 2023 poll conducted by the Open Society Barometer found that faith in democracy among young peop…
1 year, 8 months ago
The Atomic Bomb & Civil War Cigars: Greatest 'What Ifs' from History
Episode 1431
We think of history as a neat chain of predictable events; but what if the truth is far wilder than that? Today, we're talking about the pivotal forc…
1 year, 8 months ago
The Battle of Okinawa
Episode 1430
Please note, this episode contains discussion of suicide.
On 1 April 1945, as the Second World War in Europe was reaching its end, one of the bloodies…
1 year, 8 months ago
The Original Kamikaze: The Mongol Invasions of Japan
Episode 1429
At the height of the Mongol Empire, Kublai Khan set his sights on the island of Japan. He launched two enormous invasions of that nation in 1274 and …
1 year, 8 months ago
The Kamikaze Hunters
Episode 1428
Please note, this episode contains discussion of suicide.
In 1945, after lengthy delays, the Royal Navy sent a powerful fleet into the Pacific. After …
1 year, 8 months ago
The Kamikaze Pilots
Episode 1427
Please note, this episode contains discussion of suicide.
By October 1944, the Japanese were in real trouble. The Allies had made great strides in th…
1 year, 8 months ago
Rwandan Genocide Explained
Episode 1425
Warning: This episode contains some upsetting descriptions of human suffering.
The Rwandan Genocide is a dark and pivotal moment in modern history; th…
1 year, 8 months ago
Pontius Pilate
Episode 1424
Pontius Pilate was the Roman Prefect of Judea during the reign of Emperor Tiberius and is most famous for condemning Jesus of Nazareth to death by cr…
1 year, 8 months ago
The Battle of Crécy
Episode 1423
The English won a decisive battlefield victory over the French in the first decade of the Hundred Years' War. At the Battle of Crécy, an outnumbered …
1 year, 8 months ago