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History Unplugged Podcast podcast

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History Unplugged Podcast

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  History Unplugged  

For history lovers who listen to podcasts, History Unplugged is the most comprehensive show of its kind. It's the only show that dedicates episodes to both interviewing experts and answering questions from its audience. First, it features a call-in show where you can ask our resident historian (Scott Rank, PhD) absolutely anything (What was it like to be a Turkish sultan with four wives and twelve concubines? If you were sent back in time, how would you kill Hitler?). Second, it features long-form interviews with best-selling authors who have written about everything. Topics include gruff World War II generals who flew with airmen on bombing raids, a war horse who gained the rank of sergeant, and presidents who gave their best speeches while drunk.

For history lovers who listen to podcasts, History Unplugged is the most comprehensive show of its kind. It's the only show that dedicates episodes to both interviewing experts and answering questions from its audience. First, it features a call-in show where you can ask our resident historian (Scott Rank, PhD) absolutely anything (What was it like to be a Turkish sultan with four wives and twelve concubines? If you were sent back in time, how would you kill Hitler?). Second, it features long-form interviews with best-selling authors who have written about everything. Topics include gruff World War II generals who flew with airmen on bombing raids, a war horse who gained the rank of sergeant, and presidents who gave their best speeches while drunk.

 

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#945

Did Orson Welles’s 1938 ‘War of the Worlds’ Broadcast Really Cause a Mass Panic?

On a warm Halloween Eve, October 30, 1938, during a broadcast of H G. Wells' War of the Worlds, Orson Welles held his hands up for radio silence in the CBS studio in New York City while millions of people ran out into the night screaming, grabbed shotguns, drove off in cars, and hid in basements, attics, or anywhere they could find to get away from Martians intent on exterminating the human race. As Welles held up his hands to his fellow actors, musicians, and sound technicians, he turned six seconds of radio silence—dead air—into absolute horror, changing the way the world would view media forever, and making himself one of the most famous men in America. The revisionism lately of Orson Welles War of the Worlds 1938 broadcast is that it did not affect many beyond l the East Coast and most people did not believe Martians had invaded and were exterminating the human race with heat ray guns and poisonous gas. William Hazelgrove’s new book “Dead Air The Night Orson Welles Terrified America,” points to a different America thrown into mass panic from the broadcast produced and directed by the twenty-three-year-old Welles.Did people really believe that Martians were exterminating the human race and did mass panic engulf the country? Willliam Hazelgrove makes a convincing case people did believe the broadcast and the ensuing terror and panic was a real time example of what would happen if aliens ever did land on earth. See [omnystudio.com/listener] (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information. ... Read more

17 hrs Ago

48 MINS

48:41

17 hrs Ago

#944

A Talk With The Polar Geographer Who Discovered Shackleton’s Endurance Under 10,000 ft of Frozen Wat...

On August 1, 1914, British explorer Sir Ernest Shackelton and his crew sailed from England, set on making history as the first to cross Antarctica. Their ship never returned from her maiden voyage. On November 22, 1915, the aptly named Endurance disappeared, crushed by ice and swallowed by the Weddell Sea. Today, nearly everyone is familiar with Shackelton’s harrowing survival story and incredible rescue of all 27 crew members. Yet Endurance was thought lost forever, impossible to find because of her remote, frozen resting place—until March 5, 2022. Today’s guest is John Shears, author of “Endurance: The Discovery of Shackleton’s Legendary Ship.” He takes us inside the Endurance22 mission to locate, film, and survey the wreck of  Shackleton’s lost ship. We get a firsthand account of the search for Endurance and its discovery—upright and largely intact, at a depth of 9,869 feet underwater. See [omnystudio.com/listener] (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information. ... Read more

02 Jan 2025

43 MINS

43:41

02 Jan 2025

#943

The Founding Fathers Were 20 and 30-Somethings. Why Is America Now a Gerontocracy?

A house on the Florida coast. An assisted living program. A lively retirement community. Medicare. Our modern concept of old age—and even the idea of old age as a distinct stage of life—are products of our recent past. Where once Americans had little choice but to work until death, in the years after World War II government subsidies and employer pensions allowed people to retire en masse. But the enormous strides made in the 20th century are under siege today as we face critical issues like the uncertain future of social security, a caregiving crisis, and an aging and increasingly diverse society. Today’s guest is James Chappel, author of “Golden Years: How Americans Invented and Reinvented Old Age.” He shares the surprising history of old age in modern America, showing how we created unprecedented security for some and painful uncertainty for others. From social security and 401(k)s to fitness programs and even The Golden Girls, Chappel explores the rise and fall of a shared ideal of old age, showing how it has been shaped by politicians’ choices, activists’ demands, medical advancements, and popular culture. See [omnystudio.com/listener] (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information. ... Read more

31 Dec 2024

42 MINS

42:28

31 Dec 2024

#942

A Pre-WWI French Philosopher Was More Popular Than Elvis and Possibly Entered the US Into the Great ...

In New York City, 1913, French philosopher Henri Bergson gave a lecture at Columbia University, resulting in fanfare, traffic jams, and even fainting spells among the thousands of people clamoring for a seat. But this was not Bergson’s only taste of celebrity. When he got married in 1891, Marcel Proust served as his best man. In 1917, the French government sent him to the United States to convince Woodrow Wilson to join World War I. In the early 1920s, he debated the nature of time with Albert Einstein. Once an international celebrity acclaimed for his philosophy of creativity and freedom in a changing, industrializing world, Bergson has since faded into obscurity among English speakers. But as we contend with another century of rapid technological advancements and environmental decay, Bergson’s philosophies may be more relevant today than ever before. Now only known among scholars, French philosopher Henri Bergson achieved international fame in the years before World War I by inspiring a generation worried that new scientific discoveries had reduced human existence to a cold mechanical process. As new facial recognition and artificial intelligence technologies have us fearing for our freedom and humanity, we can find philosophical inspiration in a surprising source, by looking back to the thinker of radical change and creativity in the early 20th century.  Today’s guest is Emily Herring, author of “Herald of a Restless World: How Henri Bergson Brought Philosophy to the People.” It reminds us of an influential philosopher who deserves to be remembered as a both an icon of 20th century culture and an unexpected source of inspiration in turbulent times. See [omnystudio.com/listener] (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information. ... Read more

26 Dec 2024

43 MINS

43:28

26 Dec 2024

#941

While Starving at Besieged Leningrad, Scientists Hid Drought-Resistant Crop Seeds That Could Prevent...

In the summer of 1941, German troops surrounded the Russian city of Leningrad—now St. Petersburg—and began the longest blockade in recorded history, one that would ultimately claim the lives of nearly three-quarters of a million people. At the center of the besieged city stood a converted palace that housed the world’s largest collection of seeds — more than 250,000 samples hand-collected over two decades from all over the globe by world-famous explorer, geneticist, and dissident Nikolai Vavilov, who had recently been disappeared by the Soviet government. After attempts to evacuate the priceless collection failed and supplies dwindled amongst the three million starving citizens, the employees at the Plant Institute were left with a terrible choice. Should they save the collection? Or themselves? These were not just any seeds. The botanists believed they could be bred into heartier, disease-resistant, and more productive varieties suited for harsh climates, therefore changing the future of food production and preventing famines like those that had plagued their countrymen before. But protecting the seeds was no idle business. The scientists rescued potato samples under enemy fire, extinguished bombs landing on the seed bank’s roof, and guarded the collection from scavengers, the bitter cold, and their own hunger. Then in the war’s eleventh hour, Nazi plunderers presented a new threat to the collection…Today’s guest is Simon Parkin, author of “The Forbidden Garden: The Botanists of Besieged Leningrad and Their Impossible Choice.” We look at the story of the botanists who held their posts at the Plant Institute during the 872-day siege and the remarkable sacrifices they made in the name of science. See [omnystudio.com/listener] (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information. ... Read more

24 Dec 2024

40 MINS

40:45

24 Dec 2024

#940

Surviving Nearly 2 Years of Shipwreck on a South Pacific Island in the 1880s

Today, half of the world’s population lives around the Pacific Rim. This ocean has been the crossroads of international travel, trade, and commerce for at least 500 years. The economy was driven by workers in rickety sailing boats like in Moby Dick. The risk of starvation, dehydration, shipwreck, sinking, and death began as soon as you stepped out into open water. Today, we’re going to zero in on one of those stories. On December 10, 1887, a shark fishing boat disappeared. On board the doomed vessel were the Walkers—the ship’s captain Frederick, his wife Elizabeth, their three teenage sons, and their dog—along with the ship’s crew. The family had spotted a promising fishing location when a terrible storm arose, splitting their vessel in two. The Walker family was shipwrecked on a deserted island in the South Pacific. The survivors soon discovered that their island refuge was already inhabited by a ragged and emaciated man who introduced himself as Hans. This fellow castaway quickly educated the Walkers and their crew on the island’s resources. But Hans had a secret, and as the Walkers slowly came to learn more, the luck of having this mysterious stranger’s assistance would become something more ominous. To look at this story and the wider world of Pacific maritime life – and death – we are joined by today’s guest, Matthew Pearl, author of “Save our Souls: The True Story of a Castaway Family, Treachery, and Murder.” See [omnystudio.com/listener] (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information. ... Read more

19 Dec 2024

43 MINS

43:28

19 Dec 2024

#939

How Did 450 Boers Defeat 15,000 Zulus at the Battle of Blood River in 1838?

By the 1830s, the Zulu kingdom was consolidating its power as the strongest African polity in the south-east, but was under growing pressure from British traders and hunters on the coast, and descendants of the early Dutch settlers at the Cape – the Boers. In 1837, the vanguard of the Boers' Great Trek migration reached the borders of Zulu territory, causing alarm. When the Boer leader Piet Retief and his followers were massacred in cold blood, war broke out. Although the initial Boer counter-attacks were defeated by the Zulus, in December 1838 a new Trekker offensive resulted in a nation- defining clash between Boer and Zulu at the battle of Blood River. Today’s guest is Ian Knight, author of “Blood River 1838: The Zulu–Boer War and the Great Trek.” We explore the 1836 Boer/Ndebele conflict, the imbalance in technique and weaponry, the reasons why the British settlers allied themselves with the Boer Trekkers, and why the war was a key turning point in the use of traditional Zulu military techniques. This work also reveals that a Boer victory at Blood River was by no means a foregone conclusion. See [omnystudio.com/listener] (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information. ... Read more

17 Dec 2024

49 MINS

49:00

17 Dec 2024

#938

Key Battles of the Barbary Wars, Episode 9: The End of North African Piracy and the Beginning of Ame...

In this final episode of our series on the Barbary Wars, we look at the fates of the Barbary States. After 1815, the Barbary States lost their independence, with Algiers, Tunis, Tripoli, and Morocco succumbing to European powers through military defeats and colonization, culminating in French and Spanish protectorates by the 19th century. We also look at how the Barbary Wars placed the United States on a pathway to global naval hegemony. See [omnystudio.com/listener] (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information. ... Read more

12 Dec 2024

58 MINS

58:45

12 Dec 2024

#937

When Did Americans Become Americans? 1945, 1865, 1787, or 1776?

When news reached Parliament of the Boston radicals’ destruction of the Royal East India Company’s tea, it passed the Coercive Acts, a collection of punitive measures designed to rein in that insubordinate seaport town. The Coercive Acts unleashed a political firestorm as communities from Massachusetts to Georgia drafted resistance resolutions condemning Parliament’s perceived encroachment upon American liberty. Local leaders also directed colonists to refrain from purchasing British merchandise and forego the theater, horse racing, and other perceived debauched traditions. Local activists next convened the Continental Congress to coordinate a pan-colonial resistance movement to pressure Parliament into repealing the Coercive Acts and settling American rights on a constitutional foundation. Once convened, Congress deftly drafted the Articles of Association. Traditionally understood as primarily an economic response by the colonies to Parliament’s actions, the Continental Association called for public demonstrations of commercial and cultural restraint, conduct delegates hoped would both heal the empire and restore colonial virtue. Today’s guest is Shawn McGhee, author of No Longer Subjects of the British King: The Political Transformation of Royal Subjects to Republican Citizens, 1774-1776. We discuss the process by which the Continental Association organized American towns and counties into a proto-national community of suffering to protect political identities they felt were under threat. Those sacrificing for the common cause severed their bonds of allegiance to the British king and separated from the broader imperial nation. In this crucible of austerity, they formed an American political community, completing the political transformation from subject to citizen. See [omnystudio.com/listener] (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information. ... Read more

10 Dec 2024

46 MINS

46:56

10 Dec 2024

#936

Key Battles of the Barbary Wars, Episode 8: The Second Barbary War (1815)

The conclusion of the War of 1812 elevated America's naval reputation and marked the start of the "Era of Good Feelings," a period of national pride. With peace restored, President Madison redirected attention to the Barbary pirates, who had exploited American merchant ships during the war. Furious at the enslavement of American sailors, Madison secured Congressional approval to wage war against Algiers in early 1815. Naval leaders like Stephen Decatur achieved swift victories, leveraging military strength to negotiate treaties that ended tribute payments and secured favorable terms for the U.S. Decatur's diplomacy extended to Tunis and Tripoli, compelling restitution for captured ships and releasing enslaved Europeans, bolstering America’s global standing. The Second Barbary War showcased the growing might of the U.S. Navy, earning respect from European powers and silencing earlier British doubts about American resilience. Celebrations of naval triumphs at home solidified national identity, while the treaties reflected America's emergence as a formidable maritime force. See [omnystudio.com/listener] (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information. ... Read more

05 Dec 2024

38 MINS

38:53

05 Dec 2024

#935

How Much of a Nation’s Fate is Bound Up In Its Geography?

Napoleon Bonaparte is reported to have said. “The policies of all powers are inherent in their geography. Is he correct? How much does geography determine the character of a nation in its politics and culture? To explore this question is today’s guest, Paul Richardson, author of “Myths of Geography.”  See [omnystudio.com/listener] (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information. ... Read more

03 Dec 2024

42 MINS

42:05

03 Dec 2024

#934

Key Battles of the Barbary War, Episode 7: An Uneasy Peace -- The Interbellum Period and the War of...

The 1807 Treaty with Tripoli ended the First Barbary War, allowing American ships to sail freely in the Mediterranean without tribute payments. This victory spurred national pride, with many Americans viewing the war as a continuation of their revolutionary ideals. However, new challenges emerged in the Atlantic as the Napoleonic Wars intensified, pressuring U.S. trade. Jefferson's attempt to protect American neutrality through an embargo on Britain and France faced domestic resistance and ultimately proved ineffective. Tensions boiled over with the Chesapeake-Leopard Affair, where a British warship attacked the U.S. Chesapeake, pushing the nations closer to conflict. In the Mediterranean, American withdrawals left U.S. ships vulnerable, leading to renewed pirate attacks that forced the U.S. to resume tribute payments. Jefferson's preference for a small, defensive fleet backfired, and America soon found itself unable to protect its Mediterranean interests. By 1812, escalating disputes with Britain led the U.S. to declare war, hoping British preoccupation with France would offer an advantage. American victories, particularly the USS Constitution's successes and the Battle of New Orleans, bolstered U.S. morale. The Treaty of Ghent ended the War of 1812 without territorial gains, but American resilience was solidified, and the British eventually ceased impressing American sailors. See [omnystudio.com/listener] (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information. ... Read more

28 Nov 2024

43 MINS

43:51

28 Nov 2024

#933

The Scramble for More Aircraft Carriers in WW2 Meant Retrofitting Cruisers Into These Sorts of Ships

With the Japanese taking control around the Pacific in early 1941, it became apparent that more resources and ships would be needed if there was any hope to defend against and defeat those forces. It was determined that several previously manufactured vessels could be converted to better suit the needs for this type of warfare. This is why a Cleveland class light cruiser was turned into an aircraft carrier, becoming the USS Princeton (nicknamed “Sweet P”). From humble beginnings it had incredible exploits in the Pacific Theater of World War II. In this episode we explore what life was like aboard this vessel from the people who were aboard, ” detailing various battles in the campaign against the Japanese, every day decisions, and technical aspects of such a ship. We’re joined by David Leick, author of “USS Princeton: The Life and Loss of ‘Sweet P,’” to see an account of one of the first light aircraft carriers through to its eventual sinking. See [omnystudio.com/listener] (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information. ... Read more

26 Nov 2024

54 MINS

54:06

26 Nov 2024

#932

Key Battles of the Barbary War, Episode 6: Swashbuckling Ship Battles and 500-Mile Desert Marches Wo...

In Episode 6, we dive into two pivotal battles in the First Barbary War: Tripoli and Derne. It starts with  Stephen Decatur's dramatic assault on Tripoli Harbor in August 1804, where he led American gunboats against a larger Tripolitanian fleet, avenging his brother's death in single combat and shelling the city. Commodore Preble's daring attempts to destroy Tripoli's defenses are followed by the tragic loss of the USS Intrepid crew.  We then move to William Eaton’s ambitious overland march with a small band of Marines and mercenaries across the Libyan desert to Derne. Facing hunger, mutiny, and harsh terrain, Eaton's force managed to surprise Derne’s defenders, capturing the city in America’s first coordinated land-sea assault. Despite Eaton’s victory, peace talks led by Tobias Lear overshadowed Eaton’s campaign, forcing a strategic withdrawal that left Hamet Karamanli, Eaton’s ally, without power. Eaton returned home as a hero, but haunted by the treaty’s outcome. This episode captures the challenges of America’s first overseas conflict and the complicated peace that followed.  See [omnystudio.com/listener] (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information. ... Read more

21 Nov 2024

41 MINS

41:30

21 Nov 2024

#931

Knights Could Still Be Found on English Battlefields in the 1640s. What Were They Doing There?

The 17th-century battlefield ushered in a new era, with formed musketeers and pistol-wielding cavalry gradually taking over from the knights and men-at-arms that had dominated the European battlefield. But knights could still be found on these battlefields as late as the 1640s, proudly donning their full-plated armor as their lightly clad compatriots looked on in a mix of envy and confusion. What were they doing fighting 17th-century battles?Today’s guest is Myke Cole, author of “Steel Lobsters: Crown , Commonwealth, and the Last Knights in England.” We examine the life and times of Sir Arthur Hesilrige and his Regiment of Horse, known as "the Lobsters" as they were encased in plate armor. We cover the full history of England's last knights, from the seeds of their creation in Hesilrige’s experience as a young cavalry officer, to their final defeat at Roundway Down in July 1643, and the decision to abandon their armor. See [omnystudio.com/listener] (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information. ... Read more

19 Nov 2024

42 MINS

42:03

19 Nov 2024

#930

Key Battles of the Barbary Wars, Episode 5: The Destruction of the USS Philadelphia

The USS Philadelphia, launched in 1799, played a crucial role in early American naval history but was captured by Tripolitan forces in 1803 after running aground near Tripoli during the Barbary Wars. Captain William Bainbridge attempted to prevent its capture by lightening the ship and destroying key materials but was ultimately forced to surrender, leading to his crew’s captivity and increased ransom demands. Commodore Preble responded by planning to destroy the Philadelphia to prevent it from strengthening Tripoli's forces, selecting Lieutenant Stephen Decatur for a daring raid to set the frigate ablaze. Decatur and his crew succeeded in a swift, covert operation that won admiration back in the U.S. and internationally, shifting the balance of the war in America’s favor. See [omnystudio.com/listener] (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information. ... Read more

14 Nov 2024

37 MINS

37:13

14 Nov 2024

#929

The Jewish Confederates

Over a 100,000 Jewish Americans lived in the Old South before the Civil War. They were active members of society, involved in farming, business, and politics (one Secretary of State of the Confederacy was Jewish). One of which was Emma Mordecai. She was Jewish when Jews comprised less than 1 percent of the population of the Old South. She also lived well within the social parameters established for Southern white women, espoused Southern values, and owned enslaved African Americans.In today’s episode, we discuss her Civil War experiences, and those of Jewish Southerners at large. We are joined by Melissa Klapper, who with Diane Ashton, edited and published The Civil War Diary of Emma Mordecai. See [omnystudio.com/listener] (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information. ... Read more

12 Nov 2024

56 MINS

56:49

12 Nov 2024

#928

Key Battles of the Barbary Wars, Episode 4: The First Barbary War (1801-05)

The First Barbary War began in response to decades of harassment of American traders by North African pirates. Before becoming president, Thomas Jefferson faced renewed Barbary pirate attacks, with the Pasha of Tripoli threatening war unless more tribute was paid. Despite being known for his frugality and opposition to a naval buildup, Jefferson deployed a naval squadron, believing military force was cheaper and more effective than paying tribute.  In 1801, after the U.S. failed to meet the Pasha’s demands, Tripoli declared war, leading to naval skirmishes, including a decisive early victory by the USS Enterprise. Jefferson's efforts to blockade Tripoli faced setbacks, including the capture of the American frigate Philadelphia and its crew. This loss raised the stakes, with the Pasha demanding an even larger ransom, complicating efforts to resolve the conflict. See [omnystudio.com/listener] (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information. ... Read more

07 Nov 2024

37 MINS

37:00

07 Nov 2024

#927

Was The Vietnam War Unwinnable?

It’s been fifty years since the end of the Vietnam War, yet the memory of the war lives on, the nationwide protests of the 1970s mirroring ones happening on college campuses today. In today’s episode we take a panoptic overview of the political debates in Washington, the ground and air operations in Southeast Asia, and the shocking erosion of American defense capabilities. We also dive into the five-decade-old question of whether the Vietnam War could have been won (proponents say victory could come by such strategy as Americans invading Laos and Cambodia and cutting off the Ho Chi Minh Trail; opponents say such policies as “search and destroy” led to recruitment of more Viet Cong soldiers rather than reduce their numbers). We’re joined by Geoffrey Wawro, author of “The Vietnam War: A Military History.” We discuss whether the American war in Vietnam was a war of choice, pursued for all the wrong reasons. Shedding light on the inner workings of three presidential administrations and their field commanders, we look at political power, its limits, and the devastation that arises when power is compounded by willful delusion and carelessness in the White House, Congress, and the Pentagon. See [omnystudio.com/listener] (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information. ... Read more

05 Nov 2024

59 MINS

59:27

05 Nov 2024

#926

Key Battles of the Barbary Wars, Episode 3: The Barbary States and Their 300-Year Reign of Mediterra...

The Barbary States (Morocco, Tripoli, Algiers, Tunis) were the greatest thorn in the side of the young American republic after it won independence, preying on trade ships, enslaving American crews, and demanding levels of ransom that consumed much of the federal budget. But why did the Barbary states rely on piracy for economic survival and why couldn't they engage in typical commerce? In the 16th century, the Barbary States transitioned from Mediterranean trade to piracy after Spain's conquests and Ottoman expansion disrupted their economy. Algiers and other North African ports became notorious bases for corsairs, launching raids on European shipping under the protection of the Ottoman Empire. By the early 17th century, piracy became central to their economy, with hundreds of corsair vessels operating from Algerine ports, capturing ships and enslaving crews. However, by the late 1800s, the Barbary States' power had waned due to European naval interventions, reducing their fleets and influence significantly. But they were still a major threat, as the newborn United States was soon to find out. In this episode, James and Scott look at the origins of the Barbary States and understand their perspective in the Barbary Wars. See [omnystudio.com/listener] (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information. ... Read more

31 Oct 2024

38 MINS

38:06

31 Oct 2024

#925

What a Modern-Day Stonemason Can Tell Us About Hand Building 13th- Century Gothic Cathedrals and Car...

Churches are many things to us - they are places of worship, vibrant community hubs and oases of calm reflection. To know a church is to hold a key to the past that unlocks an understanding of our shared history.Andrew Ziminski, today’s guest and author of “Church Going – A Stonemason’s Guide” has spent decades as a stonemason and church conservator, acting as an informal guide to curious visitors He has restored medieval churches across the British Isles, in which he reveals their fascinating histories, features and furnishings, from flying buttresses to rood screens, lichgates to chancels. See [omnystudio.com/listener] (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information. ... Read more

29 Oct 2024

40 MINS

40:45

29 Oct 2024

#924

Key Battles of the Barbary Wars, Episode 2: The British Origins of the US Navy

The American Navy was birthed in the Barbary Wars. Sure, there was a token navy in the Revolutionary War, but battles were mostly won in that war by American privateers (or, if you were British, pirates). To understand where the U.S. Navy came from, we need to take a step back and look at the stake of naval warfare in the 18th century.  The early American Navy resembled the British Navy in its use of British ship designs, naval tactics, and organizational structures, largely inherited from the colonial period when the colonies relied on British maritime power. Many American naval officers had British training or were influenced by British traditions, such as ship discipline, officer ranks, and the use of frigates for protecting trade routes. However, the U.S. Navy was different in its focus and scale. While the British Navy was a vast global force designed for empire-building and large-scale warfare, the early American Navy was smaller and more focused on defending American merchant ships, often relying on nimble frigates rather than large ships-of-the-line. Additionally, the U.S. Navy operated with a more democratic ethos, as naval officers in America were often more accountable to elected officials, reflecting the values of the new republic. See [omnystudio.com/listener] (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information. ... Read more

24 Oct 2024

40 MINS

40:49

24 Oct 2024

#923

The Conquest of Constantinople in 1453 Permanently Altered Siege Warfare, Middle Eastern Demographic...

On May 29, 1453, Ottoman Sultan Mehmet II captured Constantinople, bringing an end to over a thousand years of Byzantine rule. The city's formidable walls, which had stood nearly impenetrable for eight centuries, finally fell to hisforces. With its conquest, Constantinople was declared the new capital of the Ottoman Empire. Some historians marked this conquest as the end of the Middle Ages. Built by Theodosius II to safeguard the "New Rome," these walls stretched from the Golden Horn to the Sea of Marmara, marking the borders of ancient Istanbul. Through centuries of earthquakes, sieges, and urban expansion, their gates and fortifications have endured, preserving the legacy of the city's past. To discuss the world-history importance of this conquest is today’s guest, Alexander Christie-Miller, author of “To The City: Life and Death Along the Ancient Walls of Istanbul.” See [omnystudio.com/listener] (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information. ... Read more

22 Oct 2024

39 MINS

39:51

22 Oct 2024

#922

Key Battles of the Barbary Wars, Episode 1: America Wanted to Take 1776 to the High Seas. North Afri...

In this new mini-series, Scott Rank is rejoined by James Early (his co-host on many other military history mini-series, covering the Civil War, World War One, and the Revolutionary War) to look at a little-known war that pitted the infant United States against the Barbary States of North Africa. The Barbary Wars were a series of conflicts between the United States and the Barbary States of North Africa (modern-day Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, and Libya) from 1801 to 1815, fought over the piracy and tribute demands imposed on American ships. These wars marked the U.S. Navy's first significant overseas military engagements and helped establish American maritime power. We also see the birth of of the U.S. Marines and how they literally fought on the shore of Tripoli. See [omnystudio.com/listener] (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information. ... Read more

17 Oct 2024

30 MINS

30:21

17 Oct 2024

#921

New Series Launches Tomorrow: Key Battles of the Barbary Wars (with James Early)

James Early and Scott will be doing a nine-part series starting tomorrow called Key Battles of the Barbary Wars (1801-1815). We look at an infant United States try to assert itself in the Atlantic World, as North African pirates demand tribute, capture crews, and do everything it can to humiliate the nation as European powers looked on, wondering if the new nation would be project any sort of power beyond its shores. New episodes every Thursday. See [omnystudio.com/listener] (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information. ... Read more

15 Oct 2024

01 MINS

01:35

15 Oct 2024