Podcast Transcript Italy as we know it today is a relatively recent invention. Ever since the collapse of the Western Roman Empire, the Italian Peninsula had been a patchwork of city-states, dutchies, kingdoms, and lands controlled by the pope. It wasn’t until the 19th century that a group of idealistic Italians sought to unify the …
Podcast Transcript Each of the fifty US states is like a separate country. Its area, population, and economy are comparable to those of other independent nations. Yet, the histories of each state, while different, all share broad commonalities. However, one state has a history that is totally different from all the rest. Learn more about …
Podcast Transcript If you’ve been around long enough, and by that, I only mean a couple of years, you have probably observed the one fundamental truth about computers: they always get faster. While games and web browning might seem faster, the average person’s computer usage doesn’t necessarily express just how much more powerful computers have …
In November 1884, representatives from a dozen European countries met in Berlin. The reason for the meeting was audacious. They were going to carve up the continent of Africa between them. No one from Africa was in attendance at the conference, and no one was even invited. The decisions they made at this conference, and …
Podcast Transcript For generations, families all over the world have attended circuses. Circuses were a collection of animals, acrobats, clowns, and other exotic oddities. In an era before television and the internet, circuses were a major form of entertainment for many people. Over time, however, circuses have changed and evolved into something very different in …
Podcast Transcript We all eat every day. We use English words for the foods and meals we eat without even thinking about it. But where did those words come from, and what did they originally mean? What is the difference between dinner and supper? Were the modern distinctions we have between fruits and vegetables always …
Podcast Transcript A little over 500 years ago, the world underwent massive change. Empires were growing, religious and political institutions were changing, science was advancing, and art was undergoing a revolution. It was the start of what many historians called the Early Modern period. A period that began the slow and painful transition to what …
Podcast Transcript One of the most significant figures in 16th-century Britain was Mary Stuart, aka Mary, Queen of Scots. Mary’s life was one of the most fascinating of the period. Depending on which historian you consult, she was a schemer, a traitor, a pawn, or a victim. According to some, she was all of these …
Podcast Transcript For thousands of years, humans all around the world have coveted gemstones. Gemstones have been used as symbols of authority by kings, queens, and emperors, have been central to religious ceremonies, and have served as adornments for the wealthy. While you may have heard of diamonds, rubies, emeralds, and sapphires, what exactly are …