The Origin of the Middle Finger Insult
We’ve all done it in moments of anger. But why do we use our middle finger to express anger? And why do we call it “the bird.” Suggestions range from The Battle of Agincourt in 1415 to Ancient Rome. W...
26 Sep 20176min
Why the Battle of Hastings in 1066 and the Norman Conquest of England Changed Everything—Jennifer Paxton
If you were to ask a scholar about one critical moment after which the history of the English-speaking world would never be the same again, it would undoubtedly be the year 1066. I know that because I...
25 Sep 20171h 15min
The Daily Schedule of a Samurai
Samurai were the military nobility and officer cast of feudal Japan, serving an important role of social stability until their functions ceased in the 19th century. But what did a samurai exactly do e...
22 Sep 201710min
Why Did British Men Wear Wigs in the 1700s?
You’ve seen the look in historical dramas. You laughed at the foppish dandies that appear on Masterpiece Theater. In grade school you sneered at pictures of King George with his powdered wig, adjustin...
21 Sep 20176min
Who Had the Worst Flatulence in History?
The goal of this podcast is to answer any question that you have about history... and I mean anything. To prove it, I am answering a question from a listener named Raj about who had the worst flatulen...
20 Sep 20178min
Constantinople’s Walls—The Strongest Fortress Ever Built
There are many contenders for the strongest fortress in history (Malumat in Iran or the island fortifications of Malta to name a few). But nothing can compare to the Theodosian City Walls of Constanti...
19 Sep 201711min
How Religion Has Influenced Politics Across History, From Ancient Sumeria to the 21st Century—Paul Rahe
In our interview, Prof. Paul Rahe says that a liberal democracy that guarantees the rights of all citizens needs the guarantee that no one religion is established as the official state belief system. ...
18 Sep 201749min
Why The Potato Led to the Rise of Modern Europe
The humble potato has done more for Old World peasants than any other food. Famine plagued the lower class from time immemorial. But once the potato was introduced to Europe in the 1500s and widely pl...
15 Sep 201711min
