Podcast Transcript One of the defining events of the Middle Ages took place in Constantinople on April 12, 1204. Soldiers of the Fourth Crusade, under orders of the Doge of the Republic of Venice, breached the walls and sacked one of the greatest cities on Earth. The sack wasn’t just an orgy of violence and …
Podcast Transcript For over 600 years, the empire that dominated the region of Southeast Asia was the Khmer Empire. Built out of a collection of kingdoms, the Khmer Empire dominated its corner of Asia. It was an advanced civilization known for its massive building projects and its system of waterworks. Even though the empire eventually …
In the late 19th century, New York City was the battleground for a conflict between two great powers. These powers were not armies or nations; rather, they were newspaper conglomerates headed by two of the most powerful figures in the history of American media. The competition between them was furious, and it was fought not …
Podcast Transcript Every October in the Northern Hemisphere, leaves on the trees turn color and fall to the ground. While the leaves turn from green to the bright colors of autumn, listeners’ green questions are also transformed into colorful answers. Stay tuned for volume number 23 of questions and answers on this episode of Everything …
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 …