Copernicus completes his studies and begins his major astronomical research. Before long, the Father of Modern Astronomy becomes convinced Ptolemy was wrong. The sun does not revolve around the earth. And that is not all Ptolemy was wrong about. Website Patreon Support Western Civ 2.0 Free Trial
Today we begin the life of Nicholas Copernicus - the father of modern astronomy. While there is a lot of validity to Copernicus' title, what I cover today are his immediate predecessors: George Peurbach and Regiomontanus. Without these two men, Copernicus might never have written On The Revolutions of the Heavenly Bodies . Website Patreon Support Western Civ 2.0...
Bismarck. Napoleon III. France. Prussia. Germany. The siege of Paris. The great precursor to World War One. Today I talk about it all when I sit down with Rachel Chrastil and talk about her new book: Bismarck's War: The Franco-Prussian War and the Making of Modern Europe . Click the link to buy the book. But, honestly, even if you don't, you are going to love this excellent historian interview. Website Patreon Support Western Civ 2.0...
In our last overview episode, before we start Copernicus, I want to cover the concept of the "fact" and the "experiment" as each pertains to the Scientific Revolution. Both were products of the Scientific Revolution and did not exist, at least in our modern sense, in the Middle Ages or prior. While Francis Bacon usually gets the credit for the "fact", the true story is more complicated. Website Patreon Free Trial Western Civ 2.0 Free Trial...
Today I sit down with Historian Mark William Jones and discuss his newest book: 1 923: The Crisis of German Democracy in the Year of Hitler's Putsch . The story of Hitler's rise to power is documented in many histories. Jones, however, gives a much more detailed account that describes how Hitler's rise was anything but inevitable. More than anything, the work serves as a cautionary tale about how we can never take democracy for granted. Links : Buy The Book Website Patreon Free Trial Western Civ...
Prior to the Scientific Revolution, math was considered a part of philosophy. But with a new emphasis on measurement and objective facts, it did not take long for mathematics to have a profound impact on the European world. Website Patreon Western Civ 2.0
Today we continue exploring the origins of the Scientific Revolution. If it was possible to sail across the Atlantic Ocean, and if there were large landmasses directly opposite Asia, then how the ancients had thought about the earth was wrong. The idea of Earth would need to be rethought and reconsidered. Moreover, while Columbus' discovery might have implications for the continents, it also had implications for the cosmos. Website Patreon Support (With Seven-Day Free Trial) Western Civ 2.0...
It is weird to think about, but when Columbus "discovered" the New World there was no word for "discover" in English. Or French. Or Latin for that matter. Discover, as a word, did not exist because it was not something one did. Today I talk about the origins of the Scientific Revolution which are inherently grounded in the Age of Discovery. I also answer the question: can there be a Scientific Revolution without discovery? Website Patreon Support Western Civ 2.0...
***NOTE: I was not able to upload this episode as one file which is not what I originally planned. So I had to break it in half. In this episode, I begin a deep dive into Hernando de Soto who, in so many ways, absolutely represents the conquistador era. I over Soto's travails through Panama with Balboa, in Nicaragua on his own, in Peru with Pizarro, and, ultimately, to La Florida. Soto would die in the wilds of Arkansas, still searching for that El Dorado he would never find. Website Patreon (Fr...
***NOTE: I was not able to upload this episode as one file which is not what I originally planned. So I had to break it in half. In this episode, I begin a deep dive into Hernando de Soto who, in so many ways, absolutely represents the conquistador era. I over Soto's travails through Panama with Balboa, in Nicaragua on his own, in Peru with Pizarro, and, ultimately, to La Florida. Soto would die in the wilds of Arkansas, still searching for that El Dorado he would never find. Website Patreon Sup...
Today I sit down with author Jason Voiovich and discuss his most recent book: Booze, Babe, and the Little Black Dress. Jason and I talk about all manner of topics related to the Roaring Twenties, everything from Prohibition and speakeasies to baseball and the radio. It is a fantastic book and, as always, Jason is an engaging interview. LINKS: Buy The Book Website Patreon Account Western Civ 2.0...
After so many battles and insurgencies today the Inca Empire finally runs out of gas. The Inca free state is destroyed and the last Inca Emperor is executed. Then I examine some of the common themes that run through the stories of our two conquistadors: Cortés and Pizarro. Website Patreon Support Western Civ 2.0
Francisco Pizarro failed to recognize the growing discontent from Almagro's old faction and, today, it costs him his life. Gonzalo, his brother, outlives him by a little over three years and dies challenging the Spanish crown for the right to rule Peru. Meanwhile, Manco Inca mistakenly trusts yet another Spaniard and this time it, likewise, costs him his life. Website Ad-Free Shows Western Civ 2.0...
I was fortunate enough to take a short trip to Colombia: Medellin and Cartagena. Colombia is a wonderful country to visit. I decided to do a short show with my recommendations for traveling in Colombia and a few pitfalls to avoid. Links : Website: www.westerncivpodcast.com Avianca: https://www.avianca.com/us/en/ La Causa: https://www.lacausa.com.co/ Alambique: http://www.alambiquemedellin.com/ Coffee Tour: https://www.tripadvisor.com/AttractionProductReview-g297478-d14045057-Coffee_Tour_In_Horse...
In this episode, Manco Inca flees to the Amazon to avoid capture with Gonzalo Pizarro in hot pursuit. But before that can happen, Hernando Pizarro exacts revenge on Diego de Almagro by executing the man in cold blood. As a result, Hernando returns to Spain to explain his conduct - leaving two Pizarro brothers in Peru. Website Patreon Western Civ 2.0...
Diego de Almagro returns from conquering the wealthy Inca Empire of the south. Just kidding. There is no southern Inca Empire, as Almagro and his royally ticked-off, men now understand. Fuming and frostbitten, Almagro returns to the scene to find Hernando and Gonzalo Pizarro holed up in Cusco surrounded by Manco Inca's army. Eager to exploit the situation, he reaches out to both groups to try and ensure that he, Almagro, is the new lord of Cusco moving forward. Website Patreon Western Civ 2.0 Fr...
Manco Inca now has the Spaniards in Peru on the ropes. Hernando and Gonzalo Pizarro are trapped in Cusco. Francisco Pizarro is likewise trapped in what will become Lima. The brothers are desperate to help each other but Manco's armies have the mountain passes sealed shut. This time, Manco comes tantalizingly close to ending the Pizarro family business once and for all. And then it all falls away... Website Patreon Support Western Civ 2.0...
Manco Inca launches his Great Rebellion in Peru. While Francisco Pizarro is pinned down in Lima, Manco seeks to crush the remaining Pizarro brothers in Cuzco. Website Patreon Support Western Civ 2.0 Free Trial
Up to this point, Francisco Pizarro has done a fantastic job of following the conquistador playbook. But now the weakness of the Pizarro family business - namely Francisco's brothers - comes into play. Juan and Gonzalo Pizarro torment Manco Inca to the point that he has no choice but to begin the Great Rebellion. Website Support Western Civ 2.0...
Atahualpa's time finally runs out. Pizarro believes his captive emperor has ordered an Inca army to attack and finally consents to his death. Luckily, shortly thereafter Pizarro finds a new, puppet emperor: Manco Inca. Website Patreon Support Western Civ 2.0
Atahualpa promises Pizarro rooms full of gold in the hope of getting the conquistador to leave. Little does he realize, in the Sixteenth Century sated the Spanish lust for gold is an impossibility. Website Patreon Support Western Civ 2.0
In another of those history-making meetings of two cultures, Pizarro and Atahualpa finally come face to face. Against overwhelming odds, Pizarro succeeds in capturing the Inca Emperor. Website Patreon Support Western Civ 2.0
Last time I introduced Francisco Pizarro. Today we bring Atahualpa onto our board. He will be the Incan Emperor at the time of Pizarro's conquest. But Atahualpa wasn't sitting around waiting for Pizarro to arrive. He had actually just defeated his half-brother in a short civil war caused by the ravages of European smallpox. In other words, there's a lot of context here... WEBSITE SUPPORT THE SHOW WESTERN CIV 2.0 FREE TRIAL...
Today we introduce our Conquistador: Francisco Pizarro. Pizarro hears rumors of a great and wealthy Native American empire to the south: Peru. After a reconnaissance voyage, Pizarro discovers that there is some truth to the rumors. Website Patreon Support Western Civ 2.0 Free Trial
Today we look more closely at the Inca political and military structure. These two aspects of the Incan Empire will be crucial to understand how Pizzaro, like Cortés, is able to conquer such a vast and powerful empire with so few men. Support the show at Patreon . Check out the Website for more content. Western Civ 2.0 Free Trial...
Here is a sneak peek of the kind of things I get to do on Western Civ 2.0. This feed is available in two ways: Patreon and Glow . (Note: With Glow there is a seven-day free trial.) In this episode, I cover the beginnings of Macedonia as we track the rise of Philip of Macedon and his son. You might have heard of him. We call him Alexander the Great. There are over twenty hours of content on this paid feed and I add another two hours each month. If you enjoy the free podcast feed but would like mo...
Today I sit down with Historian Martyn Rady and discuss his latest book: The Middle Kingdoms: A New History of Central Europe . This is a sweeping, survey history of Central Europe that is accessible to any reader whatever their knowledge of Central European history. There is a lot in the book and we, in the interview, only get to the Thirty Years' War. Though we do start in the Roman Empire so I guess that's progress! Buy the book HERE . Website Patreon Support Page Western Civ 2.0...
Today we pivot again and travel further south to the land of the Inca. Long before Pizzaro arrived, the people of the Andes built a miraculous civilization along the highest mountains in North or South America. In this episode, I cover the broad geography and culture of the Andean people. Patreon Support Page Western Civ 2.0 Free Trial Website...
With Tenochtitlan conquered, Cortés tries to figure out how to make New Spain work. Website Ad-Free Shows Western Civ 2.0 Free Trial
Cortés returns to Tenochtitlan and finally forces the great city into submission, effectively ending Old Mexico. Website Patreon Western Civ 2.0
