Podcast Transcript When we look at history, we tend to focus on grand things like great leaders and great battles. In reality, what makes for successful empires is often the mundane: stable laws, an uncorrupt civil service, or, for large sprawling empires, a system of roads. Roads were one of the secrets to the success …
Podcast Transcript Many people have one or more favorite sports teams. Most people support these teams because they happen to be the team close to where they live. What many people don’t realize is that many teams, especially major sports teams in North America, didn’t originate in the city where they are today. In some …
Podcast Transcript The United States Constitution identifies three separate branches of government: the executive, the legislative, and the judicial. Each branch has a set of checks and balances, which, in theory, limits the power of the others. Two of those branches are outlined in detail in the Constitution. The third, the judicial, is given very …
Podcast Transcript After years of war throughout the continent of Europe, in 1814, Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte abdicated and was exiled to the small island of Elba off the coast of Italy. The European powers thought that they had seen the last of Napoleon. However, they were wrong. He came back and, in a shockingly short …
Podcast Transcript In 1972, one of the greatest movies ever made was released: The Godfather. The Godfather is not only one of the most critically acclaimed movies in history but was also one of the most successful at the box office. Despite its overwhelming success, however, it almost didn’t get made and could have wound …
Podcast Transcript In 1922, British archaeologist Howard Carter stumbled upon one of the most pristine tombs of an Egyptian Pharaoh ever found. The tomb of King Tutankhamun. That discovery became a pop culture sensation and revolutionized our understanding of Ancient Egypt. Learn more about King Tutankhamun, aka King Tut, on this episode of Everything Everywhere …
Podcast Transcript On December 11, 1978, one of the most audacious heists in history took place at JFK Airport in New York City. A small group of thieves executed an almost perfect crime and walked away with 6 million dollars in cash and jewelry. While the actual robbery went off without a hitch, it was …
Podcast Transcript For decades, the nation of Ethiopia has dreamed of creating a dam on the Blue Nile River. Such a dam would provide an enormous amount of electricity for a country that is one of the lowest electricity consumers in the world. It would be a massive undertaking, but it would also bring a …
Podcast Transcript A popular activity that millions of people around the world engage in every week is bowling. Today, all the equipment manufacturers and bowling alleys constitute a multibillion-dollar business. However, this modern pastime has a history that goes back not hundreds of years but thousands. Learn more about bowling, where it came from and …