Why Gutenberg Didn’t Kick Off the Reformation
Gutenberg’s moveable type printing press was the prime mover of the Renaissance. From his machine came millions of books, leading to the democratization of knowledge, the fall of the papacy, and the r...
6 Sep 20175min
What if Japan Hadn’t Surrendered After Nagasaki?
The Allied Forces hoped the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki would finally convince Imperial Japan to end the war. If not, they were prepared to launch Operation Downfall—the proposed plan fo...
5 Sep 20178min
Genghis Khan, Attila the Hun, and the Barbarian Empires of the Steppe—Kenneth Harl
Attila the Hun and Genghis Khan loom large in Western popular consciousness as two of history’s most fearsome warrior-leaders. Chroniclers referred to them as “The Scourge of God” and “Universal Lord”...
4 Sep 20171h 1min
Why the Galileo Affair is Completely Misunderstood
There are few episodes in history that are so misunderstood as the condemnation of Galileo. His trial has become a stock argument to show the fundamental clash between science and dogmatism. Turns out...
1 Sep 201711min
Did Medieval Women Really Wear Chastity Belts?
According to legends of the Middle Ages, knights used the chastity belt on their wives as an anti-temptation device before embarking on the Crusades. When the knight left for the Holy Lands, his Lady ...
31 Aug 20176min
Why is Louis Such a Popular Name for French Kings?
If you want to be a French king who is also named Louis, then you have to slap enough Roman numerals at the end of your name to look like an encrypted message. Why are so many French kings named Louis...
30 Aug 20177min
Did People in the Past Get 8 Hours of Sleep a Night?
Doctors love to say that eight hours of nightly rest is vital to good health. But did people in the past get this much sleep, more, or less? And how did the lack of a lightbulb affect their sleep cycl...
29 Aug 20177min
The Real-Life Pirates of the Caribbean—Matt Albers from The Pirate History Podcast
Pirates are popular these days: they adorn our favorite brands of bargain-basement rum and populate beloved Disneyland rides and multibillion-dollar film franchises. But who were these men and women w...
28 Aug 20171h 7min
