In this episode, I explore the myriad reasons for the fall of the Bronze Age.

Now in complete control in Geneva, John Calvin sought to forge a Protestant alliance with first Strasbourg, then Saxony, and finally with Bullinger in Zurich. While dealing with foreign issues, within Geneva itself, things were getting rough. The situation in France had deteriorated for Protestants, leading thousands to flee. Many of these refugees found their way to Geneva. But the influx of hundreds of foreigners always causes issues and, in the case of Geneva in the Sixteenth Century, the issue was thorny and struck right at the heart of Calvin's church.

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Calvin

John Calvin

In this episode, John Calvin makes his triumphant return to Geneva where he can all his plans into action. Here he will build his Godly society and found his famous "Consistory": designed to regulate human moral conduct. As you can imagine, it was controversial. 

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The Institutes of the Christian Religion

Calvin

John Calvin

Today we meet our final early reformer: John Calvin. Calvin was significantly younger than Luther or Zwingli and does not even begin his reformation efforts in Geneva until the latter had died. But John Calvin and his Institutes of the Christian Religion are probably more important in the long run than Luther or Zwingli. Calvin, unlike either of those two, took the time to create a completely reformed doctrine. In this first episode, we meet Calvin and discuss his early life. 

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John Calvin

The Institutes of the Christian Religion

Calvin

Last time, Zwingli rose to prominence in Zurich, creating his model for the perfect Reformed Christian community. For him, this was nothing less than the revelation of a prophecy foretold millennia earlier. The Swiss were to be the New Israelites and the Swiss Confederation a New Israel. And then, in shocking speed, it all came crashing down. Within less than a decade of his success in 1525, Zwingli would lay dead on the battlefield, a causality of his own aggression. Today Zwingli remains a bit of a mixed bag. A national hero in Switzerland, some still regard the reformer as "the ugly side" of the Reformation. 

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Zwingli: God's Armed Prophet

For God and His People

Zwingli (For fun here is that movie I mentioned.)

Last time, we introduced Ulrich Zwingli and walked through his initial struggles with the Roman Church and his transition to Zurich. This time, we follow Zwingli as he changes the Zurich Church, creating arguably the most reformed church in Reformation Europe at the time. 

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Zwingli: God's Armed Prophet

For God and His People

Having finished with Martin Luther, we now shift our gaze to the Swiss Confederation, Zurich, and Ulrich Zwingli. Zwingli is another of our early reformers. His efforts in Zurich took place around the same time as Luther though the men, while both opposed to Rome, did not see eye to eye on much else. Yet, like Luther, Zwingli began his career within the Roman Catholic Church. Today we begin his story. 

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Ulrich Zwingli: Life and Legacy

Life of Ulrich Zwingli

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Today we finish with Martin Luther, the man credited with beginning the Reformation. Luther's final years are filled with increasingly angry battles with everyone from the Anabaptists to the Pope in Rome and, lastly, with Europe's Jewish population.

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Martin Luther: Renegade and Prophet

Martin Luther: A Life Inspired

I enjoy the narrative format we usually use but I wanted to do something different this time when covering a topic that is more thematic than chronological: the United States President and the Press. United States Presidents have famously, some infamously, fought with members of the press over the centuries. Today I ramble on a bit about three of those Presidents: John Adams, Abraham Lincoln, and Woodrow Wilson, and talk about what this all means. If you enjoy the format, check out the PATRON feed where we do this much more often.

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Consider ordering CLASH by Jon Marshall for more information about the topic.

Andreas Karlstadt and Martin Luther began the Reformation as fast friends. Karlstadt and Luther faced off against Eck together in the Leipzig Debates. But over time the two slowly fell out over a variety of issues including the Eucharist. Karlstadt's relationship with Luther became emblematic as to how Luther's personality would impact the Reformation in his later years. 

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Martin Luther's early Reformation built to one moment: the Diet of Worms. Held in the spring of 1521, the Diet of Worms offered Luther his first chance to lay out his faith before the Princes of Germany and the Holy Roman Emperor, Charles V. Before doing so, however, Luther wrote three crucial works that will define the early evangelical movement in Germany, the most important of which was On the Freedom of a Christian, which, theologically, is denser than his 95 Theses. 

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Martin Luther: A Life Inspired

The Freedom of a Christian

Martin Luther: The Man Who Rediscovered God and Changed the World

In this bonus episode, I sit down with author and historian Joan DeJean and discuss her new book: Mutinous Women. When we tell the story of the settlement of North America, so often we focus entirely on the Thirteen Original Colonies which will become the United States of America. But when I found out that the French hatched a scheme in the early Eighteenth Century to populate the Gulf Coast with French convicts, and women at that, I simply had to learn more. In her book, DeJean covers the insane miscarriage of justice that leads nearly two hundred women from Paris to the Gulf Coast where, above all odds, many of them not only thrive but found dynasties that continue to this day. 

To purchase the book, click HERE or just go literally wherever books are sold. 

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The world changed forever on October 31, 1517. On that day a hitherto unknown monk named Martin Luther posted Ninety-Five Theses meant for debate. And oh would they be debated. The Ninety-Five Theses begin a period of western history known as the Reformation. But, as we shall see, a schism in the western church was not certain at this point, nor did anyone take Luther's criticisms too seriously. 

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And at last, we have made it. I "began" the Reformation in January. It's April. And at last, we are at Martin Luther. You simply cannot discuss the Reformation and not begin with Martin Luther. While the Reformation is going to fracture fairly quickly, it begins with Martin Luther and his Ninety-Five Theses. Today we start the story, learn about Luther's origins and family, and how his upbringing forged the man brave enough to challenge the might of the Roman Catholic Church.

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In our final episode, before we (finally) get to Martin Luther, we cover the papacies of Julius II, the Warrior Pope, and Leo X, the Medici Pope.

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Julius II: The Warrior Pope

The House of Medici

All good things must come to an end, as they say. And, for some, the Borgia Age was actually a good thing. Just not for the Catholic Church in general. In this episode, the deaths of Rodrigo Borgia and his son Cesare bring the "promise" of the Borgia Age to an unexpected end. Meanwhile, in Ferrara Lucrezia Borgia comes into her own outliving both her father and brother.

Sources:

The Borgias: Power and Fortune

The Borgias: The Hidden History

The Borgias and Their Enemies

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Pope Alexander VI, Rodrigo Borgia, had plans for his son Cesare. Big plans. Like, Roman Empire-sized plans. No joke on that one. In this episode, Cesare Borgia sets his sights on Romagna with the intention of creating a permanent Borgia empire in Italy.

Sources:

The Borgias: Power and Fortune

The Borgias: The Hidden History

The Borgias and Their Enemies

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While Pope Alexander VI, Rodrigo Borgia, could have created a mystique in his own right, we know the Borgia family just as much for the children as the father. Lucrezia and Cesare Borgia would have made fascinating case studies in psychology then and they still do now. In this episode, the Borgias begin to make their name synonymous with ambition at any cost.

Sources:

The Borgias: Power and Fortune

The Borgias: The Hidden History

The Borgias and Their Enemies

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Just like the last bonus episode I released, this is another episode off of my Patron's feed that I thought, in light of current events, was worth sharing with the larger audience. 

The history of Ukraine is complex and, decidedly, not synonymous with the history of Russia. In fact, many ethnic Ukrainians suffered greatly under Stalin and Moscow's iron grip. This is a condensed history of Ukraine that sets its unique history and story in perspective. Ukraine has always straddled east and west and I hope this short history explains that.

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In light of current events, I decided to release an interview I completed last year with Professor Serhii Plohky discussing his book: The Gates of Europe: A History of Ukraine. We talk about the early history of Kyiv, the Cossacks, the differences between ethnic Ukrainians and Russians, and even talked about what the future for Ukraine might be if Putin continued his aggressions, which, clearly, he has. Ukrainian history is complicated and, in this difficult time, it is important to remember its history is certainly not the same as Russia's history. 

If you are interested in the book you can buy a copy HERE.

This is an example of the types of bonus author interviews available on my Patrons' Feed. If you are interested in supporting the show, check out the site HERE. 

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Last time, Rodrigo Borgia climbed the ladder up the Papal Curia. In this episode, he outmaneuvers his opponents and manages to secure the unthinkable: the throne of St. Peter. Borgia takes the name Alexander VI and immediately begins setting forth his vision for a Borgia Italy.

Sources:

The Borgias: Power and Fortune

The Borgias: The Hidden History

The Borgias and Their Enemies

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Decided to have fun with this one. Rather than do the same old author interview, I sit down with author Scott Rank and conduct my first ever Presidential Draft. We take turns each of us drafting a United States President and justifying our reasons. If you like United States History and certainly US Presidents. You will enjoy the show.

Happy Presidents Day!

Full Disclosure: The audio did not come out perfect on this one. 

Books by Scott Rank:

History's 9 Most Insane Rulers

The Age of Illumination: Science Technology and Reason in the Middle Ages

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The Borgias is a name infamous for treachery, naked ambition, and depravity. But how did a relatively unknown Cardinal from Spain manage to will his way to becoming Pope Alexander VI? Today, we begin the story of the Borgia family and watch Rodrigo Borgia climb the ladder of the Curia, positioning himself for that final step.

Sources:

The Borgias: Power and Fortune

The Borgias: The Hidden History

The Borgias and Their Enemies

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In this episode, we cover the first several Renaissance Popes. The Avignon Papacy did plenty of damage to the reputation of the Holy Roman Catholic Church. But, unfortunately, those Renaissance Popes who came afterward did not help the situation. 

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In this bonus episode, I sit down with Jason Voiovich and talk about his most recent book: "Marketer in Chief". In this unique American history, Jason explains how each United States President sold the idea of America. We talk about Benjamin Franklin, George Washington, John Adams and Thomas Jefferson. 

Buy the book here: <iframe style="width:120px;height:240px;" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ac&ref=qf_sp_asin_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=westerncivpod-20&marketplace=amazon&amp;region=US&placement=B094YK7XCQ&asins=B094YK7XCQ&linkId=457aeb3912939b6ac22d6d064de07ddf&show_border=false&link_opens_in_new_window=true&price_color=333333&title_color=0066c0&bg_color=ffffff"> </iframe>

Consider supporting the show by becoming a Patron at www.patreon.com/westerncivpodcast 

Realizing that I have referenced "Christendom" and "Europe" interchangeably for a bit, I figured I needed to correct any misunderstandings. So in this "half" episode, I walk through what Christendom was the main factors that brought it down: the Renaissance, the Reformation, growing nationalism, economic disruptions, and the discovery of the New World.

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Beginning in the early Fourteenth Century, the Papacy went through a period of protracted exile from Rome. The Popes changed the seat of the Papal Government to Avignon, on the Rhone River in modern-day France. This period of exile coincided with the further decline and secularization of the Roman Catholic Church in ways that would hurt the overall reputation of the church in the decades to come. 

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Sources:

Avignon and Its Papacy

The Avignon Papacy Contested

The Avignon Papacy and the Crusades

The Church of the West and the Middle Ages

I sit down with Virginia Postrel and talk about her new book: "The Fabric of Civilization: How Textiles Made The World". We discuss how the development of textiles has often been overlooked in historical study and why that is such a crucial mistake.

Buy the book here: The Fabric of Civilization

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Today we examine the ways in which Roman Catholicism impacted the lives of everyday European in the Late Middle Ages and early Renaissance period to better understand the impact that the Reformation will have on normal early modern Europeans.

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Interested in learning more about the Middle Ages? Check out the following excellent work by Dan Jones: Powers and Thrones

I have a bonus preview of one of my Patron Deep-Dives this week: It's All Greek To Me. This is a several-hour-long look at the Greek civilization and Greek cultural influences on the world at large. In this part, I take the Hellenes from Minoan Domination through the Persian Wars. 

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Buy the Book: The Greeks

Today I sit down with Brendan Simms and Charlie Laderman and talk about their most recent book: Hitler's American Gamble. It is an hour-by-hour breakdown of one of most the crucial thirty-six-hour periods in world history. 

Enjoyed the interview? You'll love the book, check it out here: Hitler's American Gamble

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Today I sit down with scholar Roderick Denton to discuss his new book: The Greeks. The book is available now at all the usual places, but if you buy it HERE you get the same book for the same price AND the show gets a kickback. 

The book covers everything from Mycenae to the more recent economic collapse in Greece during the early 2000s. In the interest of time, we focused our interview on the period of Greek history from Mycenae to the death of Constantine the Great in 337 CE. 

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Today I sit down with renowned expert Michael Foley as we talk all things Johnny Cash in his new book: Citizen Cash: The Political Life and Times of Johnny Cash. 

This was definitely something different from me but who doesn't love a little "Ring of Fire" now and again?

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Pilgrims, turkey, and United States Presidents. What do these three things have in common? Thanksgiving. 

Interested to know more? Listen to find out the real history behind Thanksgiving.

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It has been a bit since we've done one of these but I wanted to step back and cover broadly everything we have covered in the last six months or more. We'll go over Henry the Navigator, Columbus, Vasco da Gama, Magellan, and more. 

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Today I sit down with historian and author Jay Cost and talk about his new book: James Madison: America's First Politician. Madison to me tends to be the forgotten Founding Father - at least since the epic revitalization of interest into Hamilton. But, as we talk about in this interview, Madison is so much more than just the "Father of the Constitution", as if that were not enough.

You can get the book HERE

Ponce de Leon and the fountain of youth... right? Not so much. Today we discuss the historical reality of Juan Ponce de Leon, which has nothing to do with fountains and much to do with Florida.

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Tis the season of bonus author interviews on Western Civ! This time, I sit down with Andrew Petegree and Arthur Der Weduwen to talk about a subject near and dear to us all: books. Specifically, the library. Their new book: The Library: A Fragile History, covers the history of the library from the Great Library of Alexandria all the way to our modern children's section. 

Buy the book HERE

Without Magellan, the remaining three ships still must find a way to get to the Spice Islands and back to Spain if they are to complete their mission. Under normal circumstances, this would be difficult, but a storm, a betrayal, and an angry Portuguese fleet make the prospect even more difficult. 

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Today I sit down with scholar Peniel Joseph and talk about his latest book, The Sword and the Shield, a new history of Martin Luther King Jr and Malcolm X.

Buy the book HERE

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Now that Magellan has passed through the Dragon's Tail, he still has to cross the Pacific Ocean, which proves to be much larger than anyone in Europe believed. Arriving in the Philippines, Magellan's early success goes to his head and he begins to believe God will not allow him to lose. He puts this theory to the test on the island of Mactan. 

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Today I sit down with author Paul Lockhart and discuss his latest book: Firepower: How Weapons Shaped Warfare.

It is a brilliant book that covers the evolution of warfare from pikes and longbows to heavy bombers and tanks. You can purchase the book HERE

For my own abbreviated coverage of parts of the work check out our members feed at patreon.com/westerncivpodcast 

Magellan had made it through several mutinies. But he had yet to defeat his most intractable foe: the strait. But where was this mysterious strait around South America? To find it, Magellan would need to pass through the Dragon's Tail. 

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While many different explorers discovered new lands, only Magellan tried to circumnavigate the globe. In our first of three Magellan episodes, we discuss not only how the voyage began but the various reasons it almost did not. 

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A short bonus episode covering the, totally gross, life at sea during the early Age of Discovery. Hygiene? Not much. Stench? You got it! 

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*** NOTE: I changed the order of the episodes, so this is the correct episode 173.

While Spain and Portugal were sailing the southern seas, England took a chance on a different explorer promising to find a northern route to Asia. We know little even today about the voyages of John Cabot (Anglified version) but what we do know offers a tantalizing view of early exploration in the northern Atlantic.

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Vasco da Gama returns to India one last time. Portugal builds an empire in the Indian Ocean but before long its glory fades like the setting sun. 

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Vasco da Gama's voyages to India revolutionize the Portuguese Overseas Empire. By the end of his second voyage to India, Portugal (and Europe) has effectively replaced the Muslim trading cities of Arabia and Egypt as the dominant force in the Indian Ocean.

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Vasco da Gama returns to India intent upon enforcing Portuguese authority and will. This requires him to deal with the Zamorin and Calicut. And he decides there is only one way to do that... violence. 

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Vasco da Gama gives up on Calicut and sails for Portugal. News of his successful voyage infuriates the Spanish and Venetians in equal parts. Before long, Vasco da Gama finds himself once more forced into service. 

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Vasco da Gama reaches India but quickly finds out that it is not the paradise he expected. Faced with the intractable Zamorin of Calicut, eventually, de Gama realizes he has to resort to force to deliver the spices he so badly must.

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Vasco de Gama rounds the Cape of Good Hope and moves up the Eastern Coast of Africa - a first for Europeans. The Age of Exploration hits several new firsts as, among other things, Christians and Muslims come to blows on the waves of the Indian Ocean for the first time in recorded history. 

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Vasco de Gama eventually became famous as the first European explorer to sail into the Indian Ocean. But, in reality, his selection for the job was a surprise to everyone at the time. In this episode, we cover the basics of the man and the beginnings of his first voyage.

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Today we begin our Vasco de Gama story arc. Vasco de Gama did what Columbus could not: he found a sea route to India. But, In this episode, we explore how it was SO much more than a commercial endeavor. It was a crusade.

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Columbus's voyaging comes to end marooned in Jamaica. He makes it back to Spain, but... where did his body end up?

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Christopher Columbus's shaky hold on Hispaniola finally breaks apart. Now, with India still nowhere to be found and with ever-dwindling supplies of gold, Columbus has to deal with a revolt by the very mayor of Santo Domingo. 

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Columbus's efforts to capitalize on the New World quickly turns exploitive, disgusting Las Casas. When an Inquisitor from Spain arrives to investigate his conduct, Columbus finds he has no choice but to return to Spain and defend himself.

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Columbus crosses the Atlantic Ocean a second time, this time intent upon founding a series of colonies to build the wealth of Spain (and himself) in the New World. He quickly determines that is much more difficult than it seems. 

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After a shipwreck destroys the Santa Maria, Columbus must somehow figure out how to get back to Spain with only two ships remaining. 

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In 1492 Christopher Columbus sailed the ocean blue. Well, we made it. In this episode the Northern and Southern Americas enter our story as Columbus lands in the Bahamas, changing the world forever. 

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A quick preview of my Russian Revolution deep-dive for those who cannot wait for the podcast to get there (in approximately 2045). 

Check it out at: westerncivpodcast.com or for Patrons at patreon.com/westerncivpodcast

Today I sit down with Professor Sean McMeekin and discuss his latest book: The Russian Revolution. In this excellent and fast-paced work, McMeekin studiously details the revolution, explaining what it was, debunking what it was not. 

Purchase a copy HERE. 

Become a patron and hear the entire bonus episode HERE.

In this overview episode, I cover the Reconquista through three broad lenses: military, financial, and liturgical. 

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After the Battle of Las Navas, the Christian Kingdoms of Spain drive out what remains of the caliphate until only the rump state of Grenada survives. 

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Continuing where we left off, in this episode, we cover the transition of the Reconquista from small-scale raids to full-blown crusades. As the Almoravid Caliphate collapses the Kingdoms of Castile and Aragon begin pushing south with purpose. 

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A quick bonus preview of our "History of Western Thought" series. In Part Four, we cover early Catholic thought between St. Augustine and Thomas Aquinas. 

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An interview with author and translator Robin Waterfield whose new translation of Meditations by Marcus Aurelius became available on April 9. Buy a copy of the book HERE.

For those interested in stoicism, check out our bonus episode on the History of Western Thought at westerncivpodcast.com. 

Or become a Patron today to get all our bonus episodes at patreon.com/westerncivpodcast 

Richard III murders his nephews and seizes power. Yet, before he gets too comfortable, Henry Tudor crosses the Channel and the final War of the Roses begins.

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After the Battle of Towton, Edward IV became the first Yorkist King of England. But, the Wars of the Roses know no boundaries and soon Edward found the crown easier to win than hold. 

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York takes over with Henry VI in tow. But, how long can he keep the masses happy as the power behind the throne?

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As the 1440's come to a close, those around Henry VI begin to come to terms with his ineptitude. First, the Duke of Suffolk and then the Duke of Somerset tries to control the government from behind the scenes. Both lose their heads. Ultimately, one man steps into power: Richard, Duke of York. 

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We begin our Wars of the Roses story arc by looking at the death of Henry V and the minority of his son, Henry VI. The Dukes of Bedford and Gloucester vie for power as England desperately tries to stabilize the situation in France. 

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Today we catch up on early modern France after the Hundred Years' War. Then we do a quick run through the medieval Low Countries, Scandinavia, and Ireland to catch everyone up to 1492. 

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Valentine's Day has not always been all flowers and heart-shaped cards. Our eighth most popular holiday today, St. Valentine's Day is the product of a combination of ancient, medieval, and Victorian traditions, not all of which are pleasant or even relate to love. In this bonus episode, we cover the history of the holiday.

Leonardo da Vinci. Everyone knows the name. But how much do you really know about the great man? The Mona Lisa? Sure. The Last Supper? Of course. But, Lady with Ermine? Probably not. Groundbreaking medical discoveries? Nope. In this mega-episode, we cover all this and more. 

Check out Walter Isaacson's amazing book HERE.

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In this bonus episode, we do cover the basics of Renaissance painting, sculpture, writing, and architecture. I highly recommend looking at the images on our website, westerncivpodcast.com, while listening so you can follow along. 

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In our last look at the Italian Renaissance, we turn to Florence and the Medici, the name that is almost synonymous with the Renaissance. 

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In this episode, we turn to Milan and its contributions to the Renaissance as well as doing a quick overview of the city's history during this early-modern period. Then, we shift south to Rome and catch up with the Papacy as well as reviewing the history of the Sistine Chapel. 

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Inspired by my interview with Historian Robin Lane Fox, I put together a brief overview of Classical Greek medical thought and practice. If you want much more information, check out Robin's book here: https://www.basicbooks.com/titles/robin-lane-fox/the-invention-of-medicine/9780465093458/

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In our first Renaissance episode, we cover the traditional "Fathers" of the Renaissance: Petrarch and Boccaccio. We discuss Humanism. Then, finally, we end with an examination of early-modern Venice. 

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In this very quick supplemental, we take a short tour of Europe around the year 1450 (well, really 1453). There is a map posted on the website, westerncivpodcast.com, for those interested in following along. Then, next time, we start the Italian Renaissance!

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A bonus episode covering the history of the western world's most popular holiday. From Santa Claus to December 25 and the origins of the Christmas tree, we cover it all. 

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The entire "Alexander Redux" series is complete and now available for purchase at the website: westerncivpodcast.com. For only two dollars you get four hours of audio content. Enjoy a free preview here! 

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The battle for Constantinople comes to a head. Mehmet and Constantine fight for the future of Europe outside the great Theodosian Walls. Nearly sixty days of siege come down to five short hours. Giustiniani suffers a severe injury that sidelines him at the last moment, just when he was needed the most. When the sun set over Constantinople on May 28, 1453, it would set over the greatest city in Christendom for the last time.  

The lost city of Atlantis. Is there any more romantic archeological find remaining? Is it real? Or, does Atlantis continue to reside merely in Plato's imagination? In a three-part series, I take a look and answer those questions and more. 

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The battle for Constantinople continues as Constantine and Mehmet punch and counter-punch before the Theodosian Walls. This time, the battle extends to the Golden Horn for the first time as both sides look to the sea to score a key victory. 

Today, on Veterans Day, we take a look at why we celebrate veterans when we do and how the holiday developed. And do not forget to thank any veterans you see today and every day! 

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Bonus episode! A sneak peek inside my new deep-dive series: Alexander Redux! In this ten-part series, we look at the lives of two of the most important people in western history: Philip of Macedon and his son, Alexander the Great. Each episode is available to patrons at patreon.com/westerncivpodcast and for fifty cents each at westerncivpodcast.com. In part five we follow Alexander as he finally encounters Darius at the Battle of Issus. 

Today's bonus episode is a very scary (not really) history of the third most popular holiday in America: Halloween. From Jack-o-Lanterns to Trick-or-Treat, our modern holiday of Halloween owes more to our ancient Celtic roots than anything in American history. 

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Last time, we reviewed the Theodosian Land Walls and covered the opening moves made by Constantine XI and Mehmet II upon the latter's ascension to power in 1451. Now, we get into the gritty world of medieval cannons and how those were going to change the game completely as the siege of Constantinople truly begins. 

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A conversation with Adrian Goldsworthy about his latest book: Philip and Alexander is available HERE.

We talk all things Greek and Macedonian. Tons on Alexander the Great and his father, Philip. Plus, a little fun on a historical what-if between Julius Caesar and Alexander the Great. 

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Constantine XI and Mehmet II make their opening moves for the battle for Constantinople. Constantine begs for aid, which is slow to come from a medieval Europe inching ever closer to modernity. Mehmet is more proactive, constructing a massive new fort only six miles north of Constantinople itself. But, in the end, let's face it, this is all window dressing. The true conflict will be decided at the Theodosian Walls, which we here review. 

In this episode, we get the other half of the story. This time from the perspective of the Ottomans, occasionally known to history as the Turks. We cover Ottoman history from roughly the time the Ottomans became a state until the rise of Mehmet II in 1451. 

In a new Patrons-only (also available for purchase at the website) series, I am covering the history of western civilization but from the perspective of thought and philosophy. This first deep dive episode covers western thought from ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia to the early Greek thinkers that predate Socrates. 

The full hour and fifteen-minute long episode is available at westerncivpodcast.com 

And, this plus all the episodes, are available to Patrons at patreon.com/westerncivpodcast for only $2 per month! Plus, it supports the show. 

This time, we bring ourselves up to speed on Byzantium before we take that final plunge towards its final demise. This episode covers late medieval Byzantine history from roughly the Fourth Crusade until 1450. 

A quick reap of the Hundred Years War including my analysis of why we should all DEFINITELY study this incredible conflict that straddles the line between medieval and early modern European history. If you enjoy this episode, check out all our other, much more detailed, episodes on the intricacies of the war. 

After the death of Bedford, things begin to unravel quickly for English interests in France. Gunpowder has now replaced the longbow as the preeminent weapon on the field and Charles VII takes full advantage. By the end of 1453, the English have been driven from all but Calais, effectively ending the Hundred Years War. 

Led by Bedford, the English in France attempt to snuff out the remaining resistance under the Dauphin. Suddenly, an unexpected challenge rides to the future French King's rescue: a young peasant girl that history will come to know as Joan of Arc. Together, Joan and Charles VII push back the English as Bedford struggles to hold Lancastrian France together as the Hundred Years War reaches its final stages. 

A quick announcement regarding some ways to engage with and support the show.

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