In this episode, we explore the complex causes behind the outbreak of World War II. Listeners will learn how the harsh terms of the Treaty of Versailles, economic turmoil during the Great Depression, and the rise of fascist leaders like Adolf Hitler set the stage for global conflict. We break down the policies and political decisions—including appeasement by Britain and France, the failure of the League of Nations, and alliances between Germany, Italy, Japan, and the USSR—that allowed aggression...
Apr 18, 2025•21 min
Explore the pivotal role of agriculture in shaping human history in our latest episode. Journey back to the ancient Near East, where the Fertile Crescent is celebrated as the birthplace of agriculture. Discover how the domestication of plants and animals in regions like Mesopotamia and the Levant led to the first large-scale cities and empires. This cradle of civilization, enriched by fertile soil and rivers like the Euphrates and Tigris, witnessed innovations such as artificial irrigation, crop...
Jan 10, 2025•15 min
In this episode, we explore the fascinating history of women in ancient Persia, revealing their significant roles and freedoms within society. Listeners will learn about notable Persian women like Cassandane Shahbanu, Atusa Shahbanu, and Artemisia I of Caria, who were queens, military leaders, businesswomen, and more. The episode highlights how Persian women held positions of power, managed businesses, and even led military campaigns, enjoying rights and autonomy unparalleled in many other ancie...
May 11, 2023•21 min
In this episode, we explore the fascinating role of women in ancient Persia, highlighting their high status and autonomy across various empires. Listeners will learn about the rights and responsibilities of women during the Achaemenid, Parthian, and Sassanian periods. Discover the influential roles of royal women, their participation in business, and even their presence in military ranks. We'll also discuss the decline of women's rights following the fall of the Sassanian Empire and how ...
May 11, 2023•27 min
In this episode, we delve into the fascinating world of Ancient Egyptian mythology, exploring the pantheon of over 2,000 deities that shaped the daily lives and spiritual beliefs of the Egyptian people for more than 3,000 years. Listeners will learn about some of the most prominent gods and goddesses, such as Isis, Osiris, Horus, Amun, and Ra, as well as lesser-known but equally intriguing deities like Qebhet and Seshat. We'll discuss how these gods were worshiped and their roles in various ...
May 11, 2023•2 hr 11 min
Clothes in the Elizabethan era (1558-1603 CE) became much more colourful, elaborate, and flamboyant than in previous periods. With Elizabeth I of England (r. 1558-1603 CE) herself being a dedicated follower of fashion, so, too, her court and nobles followed suit. Clothing was an important indicator of status so that those who could afford it were careful to wear the correct colours, materials, and latest fashions from Continental Europe . Heavy brocade, stockings, tight-fitting doublets, long bi...
Apr 05, 2023•18 min
The Black Death is the 19th-century CE term for the plague epidemic that ravaged Europe between 1347-1352 CE, killing an estimated 30 million people there and many more worldwide as it reached pandemic proportions. The name comes from the black buboes (infected lymph glands) which broke out over a plague victim's body. The cause of the plague was the bacterium Yersinia pestis, which was carried by fleas on rodents, usually rats, but this was not known to the people of the medieval period, as it ...
Feb 08, 2023•23 min
The Black Death was a plague pandemic which devastated medieval Europe from 1347 to 1352 CE, killing an estimated 25-30 million people. The disease originated in central Asia and was taken to the Crimea by Mongol warriors and traders. The plague then entered Europe via Italy , carried by rats on Genoese trading ships sailing from the Black Sea. Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/whencyclopedia Original Article: https://www.worldhistory.org/Black_Death/...
Feb 02, 2023•15 min
Elizabethan theatre , sometimes called English Renaissance theatre , refers to that style of performance plays which blossomed during the reign of Elizabeth I of England (r. 1558-1603 CE) and which continued under her Stuart successors. Elizabethan theatre witnessed the first professional actors who belonged to touring troupes and who performed plays of blank verse with entertaining non-religious themes. Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/whencyclopedia Original article: https://www....
Jan 23, 2023•22 min
The Egyptian Book of the Dead is a collection of spells which enable the soul of the deceased to navigate the afterlife. The famous title was given the work by western scholars; the actual title would translate as The Book of Coming Forth by Day or Spells for Going Forth by Day. Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/whencyclopedia...
Jan 17, 2023•19 min
The Song of Everlasting Sorrow is a narrative poem of the Tang Dynasty (618-907 CE) inspired by the love affair between Xuanzong (r. 712-756 CE), the seventh emperor of the dynasty, and his consort Lady Yang . It was written by the Chinese poet Bai Juyi (l. 772-846 CE) and is his most popular work. Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/whencyclopedia...
Jan 16, 2023•26 min
Foot-binding was a practice first carried out on young girls in Tang Dynasty China to restrict their normal growth and make their feet as small as possible. Considered an attractive quality, the effects of the process were painful and permanent. Widely used as a method to distinguish girls of the upper class from everyone else, and later as a way for the lower classes to improve their social prospects, the practice of foot-binding would continue right up to the early 20th century CE. Support us ...
Jan 16, 2023•16 min
The world's oldest love poem is The Love Song for Shu-Sin (c. 2000 BCE) composed in ancient Mesopotamia for use in part of the sacred rites of fertility. Prior to its discovery in the 19th century, and its translation in the 20th, the biblical Song of Songs was thought to be the oldest love poem extant. Support our non-profit organization on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/whencyclopedia Original article: https://www.worldhistory.org/article/750/the-worlds-oldest-love-poem/...
Jan 11, 2023•13 min
In ancient Greek medicine illness was initially regarded as a divine punishment and healing as, quite literally, a gift from the gods. However, by the 5th century BCE, there were attempts to identify the material causes for illnesses rather than spiritual ones and this led to a move away from superstition towards scientific enquiry, although, in reality, the two would never be wholly separated. Greek medical practitioners, then, began to take a greater interest in the body itself and to explore ...
Jan 03, 2023•11 min
Hadrian written by Joshua J. Mark and narrated by Grace MacLachlan: https://www.worldhistory.org/hadrian/ Hadrian (l. 78-138 CE) was emperor of Rome (r. 117-138 CE) and is recognized as the third of the Five Good Emperors (Nerva, Trajan, Hadrian, Antoninus Pius, and Marcus Aurelius) who ruled justly. His reign marked the height of the Roman Empire, usually given as c. 117 CE, and provided a firm foundation for his successor. If you like our audio articles, please support us by becoming a member ...
Nov 07, 2022•18 min
Egyptian Hieroglyphs written by Priscila Scoville and narrated by Jennifer Sabir: https://www.worldhistory.org/Egyptian_Hieroglyphs/ The Egyptian hieroglyphic script was one of the writing systems used by ancient Egyptians to represent their language. Because of their pictorial elegance, Herodotus and other important Greeks believed that Egyptian hieroglyphs were something sacred, so they referred to them as 'holy writing'. Thus, the word hieroglyph comes from the Greek hiero 'holy' and glypho '...
Oct 24, 2022•13 min
Mont-Saint-Michel written by James Blake Wiener and narrated by Jennifer Sabir: https://www.worldhistory.org/Mont-Saint-Michel/ Mont-Saint-Michel is the name of a tidal island located off the coasts of Normandy and Brittany, near the mouths of the Couesnon River and the town of Avranches in France. While the island of Mont-Saint-Michel has held cultural, religious, and strategic value since the Merovingians held power over the region, Mont-Saint-Michel is universally recognized today as the site...
Sep 12, 2022•12 min
Gutians written by Joshua J. Mark and narrated by DW Draffin: https://ww.worldhistory.org/Gutians/ Watch it on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gnOoTTH8bco The Gutians were a West Asiatic people who are thought to have lived around the Zagros Mountains in a region referred to as Gutium. They had no written language and all that is known of them comes from their enemies, including the Akkadians, Sumerians, and Assyrians, who blame them for the destruction and desolation of the land. If y...
Aug 25, 2022•19 min
A Short History of the Buddhist Schools written by Joshua J. Mark and narrated by Jennifer Sabir: https://www.worldhistory.org/article/492/a-short-history-of-the-buddhist-schools/ The different Buddhist schools of thought, still operating in the present day, developed after the death of the Buddha (l. c. 563 - c. 483 BCE) in an effort to perpetuate his teachings and honor his example. Each of the schools claimed to represent Buddha's original vision and still do so in the modern era. Although Bu...
Aug 01, 2022•28 min
Shang Dynasty written by Emily Mark and narrated by Ethan Hu https://www.worldhistory.org/Shang_Dynasty/ The Shang Dynasty (c. 1600-1046 BCE) was the second dynasty of China, which succeeded the Xia Dynasty (c. 2700-1600 BCE) after the overthrow of the Xia tyrant Jie by the Shang leader, Tang. Since many historians question whether the Xia Dynasty really existed, the Shang Dynasty may have actually been the first in China and the origin of Chinese culture. If you like our audio articles, please ...
Jul 25, 2022•16 min
Ancient Chinese Philosophy written byJoshua J. Mark and narrated by Jennifer Sabir: https://www.worldhistory.org/Chinese_Philosophy/ The term Ancient Chinese Philosophy refers to the belief systems developed by various philosophers during the era known as the Hundred Schools of Thought when these thinkers formed their own schools during the Spring and Autumn Period (c. 772-476 BCE) and the Warring States Period (c. 481-221 BCE) after the Zhou Dynasty (1046-256 BCE) had begun to decline. If you l...
May 29, 2022•21 min
Life in a Japanese Buddhist Monastery written by Mark Cartwright and narrated by Jennifer Sabir: https://www.worldhistory.org/article/1423/life-in-a-japanese-buddhist-monastery/ Buddhist monasteries have been part of the Japanese cultural landscape ever since the 7th century CE, and they remained both powerful and socially important institutions right through the medieval period. Today, many of Japan's finest examples of ancient and medieval architecture are located at temple complexes, a good n...
Mar 20, 2022•16 min
Druid written by Mark Cartwright and narrated by Jennifer Sabir: https://www.worldhistory.org/druid/ Druids were a class of individuals in ancient Celtic cultures known for their great wisdom and knowledge of traditions. Not only priests who managed all religious rituals such as sacrifices (including humans), druids were able to give practical help by interpreting events of nature, divining the future as soothsayers, and making medicinal potions, especially using sacred plants like mistletoe. If...
Feb 20, 2022•14 min
Ancient Egyptian Symbols written by Joshua J. Mark and narrated by Jennifer Sabir: https://www.worldhistory.org/article/1011/ancient-egyptian-symbols/ Religion in ancient Egypt was fully integrated into the people's daily lives. The gods were present at one's birth, throughout one's life, in the transition from earthly life to the eternal, and continued their care for the soul in the afterlife of the Field of Reeds. The spiritual world was ever present in the physical world and this understandin...
Jan 24, 2022•22 min
Cleopatra VII written by Joshua J. Mark and narrated by Jonathan Bailey: https://www.worldhistory.org/Cleopatra_VII/ Cleopatra VII (l. c. 69-30 BCE, r. 51-30 BCE) was the last ruler of Egypt before it was annexed as a province of Rome. Although arguably the most famous Egyptian queen, Cleopatra was actually Greek and a member of the Ptolemaic Dynasty (323-30 BCE) which ruled Egypt after the death of Alexander the Great (l. 356-323 BCE). If you like our audio articles, please support us by becomi...
Jan 17, 2022•20 min
Medieval Knights: 12 of the Best written by Mark Cartwright and narrated by Jennifer Sabir: https://www.worldhistory.org/article/1245/medieval-knights-12-of-the-best/ The knights of medieval Europe were meant to be the finest fighting men of their age, even more important, they were expected to be pure in thought and deed, as exemplified in the chivalrous code which they (usually) followed. Here are the stories of 12 such knights. The legendary figures are perhaps based on historical knights and...
Jan 11, 2022•25 min
Mitanni written by Joshua J. Mark and narrated by Kelly Macquire: www.worldhistory.org/Mitanni/ The Kingdom of Mitanni, known to the people of the land, and the Assyrians, as Hanigalbat and to the Egyptians as Naharin and Metani, once stretched from present-day northern Iraq, down through Syria and into Turkey and was among the greatest nations of its time, though today it is largely forgotten. If you like our audio articles, please support us by becoming a member or donating to our non-profit c...
Dec 06, 2021•19 min
How To Read A Maya Glyph written by Lily Ball and narrated by Jennifer Sabir: https://www.worldhistory.org/article/789/how-to-read-a-maya-glyph/ For over three centuries, the ancient Maya flourished in Mesoamerica. They built giant stone pyramids surrounded by dense jungle, used a calendrical system that made many believe that 2012 would be the end of the world, and created a writing system that is as beautiful as it is complex. Its decipherment is ongoing, even today. In fact, it is so aestheti...
Nov 14, 2021•7 min
Aryan written by Joshua J. Mark and narrated by DW Draffin: www.worldhistory.org/Aryan/ Aryan is a designation originally meaning “civilized”, “noble”, or “free” without reference to any ethnicity. It was first applied as a self-identifying term by a migratory group of people from Central Asia later known as Indo-Iranians (who settled on the Iranian Plateau) and, later, applied to Indo-Aryans (who traveled south to settle northern India). Find it on YouTube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=D2Y-LSo-Tws I...
Nov 07, 2021•25 min
Hermes written by Mark Cartwright and narrated by Kelly Macquire: https://www.worldhistory.org/Hermes/ Hermes was the ancient Greek god of trade, wealth, luck, fertility, animal husbandry, sleep, language, thieves, and travel. One of the cleverest and most mischievous of the Olympian gods, he was the patron of shepherds, invented the lyre, and was, above all, the herald and messenger of Mt. Olympus so that he came to symbolise the crossing of boundaries in his role as a guide between the two rea...
Aug 13, 2021•8 min
