Henry V returns to England after his victory at Agincourt to a jubilant population. Parliament quickly votes the king the money to continue the war and now Henry joins forces with the Duke of Burgundy to fight the Dauphin. Henry's early death in 1422 denies him the right to rule both kingdoms, but his son, Henry VI becomes King of both England and France that same year. In the years after the death of Henry VI, a fractured France allows John, Duke of Bedford to nearly complete the Lancastrian conquest of the realm. 

The Hundred Years War continues in this episode as Charles VI descends into madness, France into a quasi-civil war, and Henry IV deals with issues at home, granting France a brief reprieve. That reprieve then comes to a crashing end then as Henry V takes the helm at the Battle of Agincourt. 

All good things must come to an end. In this episode, we are back in late Medieval England as the two-hundred-year reign of the Plantagenets finally comes crashing down. Henry Bolingbroke sizes the throne from Richard II and the House of Lancaster rules England. 

In this bonus episode, we take a quick look at how the Black Death altered medieval European medical practices, including changes in medical education, practice, hospitals, and the development of the public health system. 

Three quick announcements:

1. A new website coming!
2. New (Totally Free) Book Available 
3. Call for Educational Experiences Related to the Hundred Years War

In this episode we examine in more detail the short and long-term consequences of the plague. The Black Death has been credited with bringing about the end of the Middle Ages, which, as we will see, is both true and false. 

Here are the links to my books available for purchase on Amazon:

The Agency: Crisis at Kadesh

The Agency: A Whole New Kind of Marathon

If It Were Done: A Shakespeare Mystery Series Novel

As always, I appreciate the support.

In this bonus episode we look at games, sports and tournaments in the Middle Ages. 

Check my newest historical fiction novel on Alexander the Great: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B087PJ5S9N 

In this episode we finish our historical story arc for the Black Death. Last time, we watched as the first cycle of plague died out on the Russian Steppe. But, this time we cover the Flagellants - one of the most memorable groups to come out of the plague. For all their hilarity though, the Flagellants remain an example of militant anti-semitism and apoplectic overreaction that we would do well to remember today. 

If you have not, please check out my historical fiction novel: The Agency: Crisis at Kadesh here https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0859LCJ4M

In this episode, we continue to follow the Black Death as it ravages medieval Europe. In 1348 the Black Plague hits London and devastates its population.  From their the plague moves to Scotland and Ireland, Scandinavia, and Central Europe, before dying out somewhere in the wilds of the Russian steppe. 

If you have not, don't forget to check out, The Agency: Crisis at Kadesh, a young adult historical fiction novel about Ancient Egypt. Link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0859LCJ4M

Image One

Image Two

Image Three

Image Four

Image Five

Image Six

Image Seven

While we all shelter in place, I thought I would put out a few fun supplemental episodes on cultural topics that I have not been able to fit into the narrative. This first episode in the series looks at the mechanics of cathedral building: finances, plans, workers, and the basic structure. 

If there are other cultural topics you want immediate episodes on, email me at westerncivpodcast@gmail.com. 

We return to the plague narrative proper in this episode. Edward III sits victorious upon the medieval English throne fresh from victories in France. However, the Black Death cares not for kings or victories and marches towards England in the summer in 1348. In England, we get some of our best statistics for the plague due to the English tendency towards record-keeping. 

If you are interested in another free ebook, check out the second installment of The Agency here:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B085NDFT49

We back the narrative up a little bit this time to catch up with England and France before continuing with the Black Death. In this episode, Edward III becomes King of England in his own right and the Hundred Years War begins. We explore the Battle of Crećy as well as the King's son, also a rising start: Edward the Black Prince. Finally, we look at how the longbow revolutionized combat in the Late Middle Ages. 

For those interested, I have included the link to my first Young Adult Historical Fiction Novel, The Agency: Crisis at Kadesh, here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0859LCJ4M

It will be available free of charge in ebook form from March 13-15. 

We continue tracking the Black Death as it moves from Italy to France in this episode. First we follow the plague to Marseilles and see our first anti-semitic response to the mounting death toll. Then the plague chases the Pope out of Avignon. Finally, we follow the plague across the medieval French countryside before it descends on Paris. 

In this episode, we continue our Black Death narrative. Last time we considered the impact of the plague on medieval Genoa and Venice. This time we turn to Florence, Siena, and Rome.  From Florence we get our greatest plague chronicler: Giovanni Boccaccio. 

In this episode, we follow the Black Death as it moves from Sicily to Italy - striking the Italian cities of Genoa and Venice. 

We resume our narrative proper and take up the story of the Black Death in this episode. Now, the Black Death finally arrives in Europe in 1347 via, according to some truth and a lot of legend, the Genoese traders of Caffa on the Black Sea. 

In this final introductory episode to the Black Death, we consider the ecological factors that made Europe especially susceptible to plague in the Fourteenth Century. 

In this episode, we begin our Black Death narrative arc with a look at the plague itself. We will cover what causes the plague and what made the Black Death so destructive in Medieval Europe. 

In this supplemental episode, we take a whirlwind tour of Europe at roughly the year 1350, when the plague will begin to hit Europe. We cover quickly which kingdoms were where and who was rising or declining. Then, we take stock of the huge period of history we have covered since the fall of the Western Roman Empire before moving on to the Late Middle Ages. 

In this episode we follow the hapless reign of King Edward II of England. King Edward would find himself dominated by one court favorite after another starting with the infamous Piers Gaveston until finally he is simply removed from power in favor of his son, Edward III. In France, things are no better. The death of of Philip IV would led to three kings in the better part of two decades with no producing male heirs. This will lead to our first encounter with the so-called, Salic Law, which will ultimately plunge England and France into the Hundred Years War.   

In this episode we continue our look at the High Medieval period in France and England. When we last left off, the deaths of two Kings, Henry II in England and Louis IX in France, left new kings in power. In this episode we will watch as Philip of France and Edward I of England led their kingdoms increasing toward nationhood.  

As the title suggests, we are heading back to western Europe for this episode. When we last left England, King John had died in the midst of a civil war. Now, the young Henry III was King of England. In this episode we follow his turbulent reign as England moves from the brink of civil war, to civil war, and back again. Meanwhile, in France, the death of Philip II will, ultimately, bring Louis IX to power. We have already met Louis during our episodes on the crusade but will get deeper into his reign during this episode.  

In this episode we head back to 1204 and pick up the narrative of the Byzantine Empire after the sack of Constantinople by the Fourth Crusade. The sack of Constantinople leads to a crusader/Venetian coalition in charge of what had once been the greatest Christian city in the world. True to their style, the crusaders waste no time in fighting amongst themselves. Meanwhile, in Nicaea and Epiros, two rival successor states to the Byzantines work to restore all that remains. 

In this episode we see the Mamluks bring the crusader states to their final end and the end of the crusading epoch in Europe. Then, I do my level best to break down the importance of the crusades to European history and Western Civ. 

In this episode we conclude our brief Mongol storyline. We cover how the Mongol Empire transitions from one global empire to several, massive nation-states. We will also see how the Mongols successfully transition from warriors to managers. Finally, we will begin to discuss the Mongol Peace (Pax Mongolica) and how that will usher the Black Death to Europe.

In this episode, the newly titled, Genghis Khan, sees the Mongol horde explode out of the steppe against China. Then, a chance event leads the Mongols to seek out new plunder from the Middle East as a caravan raid gone bad changes world history. Then, when Genghis Khan dies, a disputed succession leaves the lovable, but drunk, Ogedei Khan in control and badly in need of new conquests. The only question is, which direction should the horde go? 

For the first time on this podcast, we really leave Europe and the Near East. Genghis Khan has had a greater impact on the world than perhaps any other person in world history. His impact and the impact of the Mongol conquests are undeniable. So, in this episode we begin to look at the man who would become Genghis Khan and his rise to power.

Multiple people had emailed about resources that I use for the podcast. So I am going to start listing the major sources here for those who want more information. I highly recommend them all. 

Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World. Jack Weatherford.

The Secret History of the Mongols. Translation. Multiple Versions Available. 

The Mongol Empire. Michael Prawdin.

The History of the Mongol Conquests. John Joseph Saunders.

This episode covers the crusade of King Louis IX of France which started out with a lot of promise and ends... well, I guess the title kind of gives this one away. This is our last episode before we take a HUGE divergence from the narrative to introduce the Mongols because of the massive impact they will have on our narrative. 

This episode covers the second half of Frederick II's reign as Holy Roman Emperor, King of Southern Italy, and King of Sicily. I try to answer the question: why is Frederick II considered to be one of Europe's greatest Medieval Monarchs? 

This episode covers roughly the first half of Frederick II's reign from his regency through his crusade to recover Jerusalem. We will also discuss Cardinal Pelagius and his pathetic efforts to invade Egypt. 

In this episode we cover the Norman conquests of Southern Italy and Sicily between roughly 1025 and 1100. A series of brothers from the house Hauteville in Normandy personally begin the expansion as the demand for mercenaries spikes in Apulia. The conquest proceeds apace until finally Sicily and Southern Italy are united under Roger II.

In this episode we follow the reigns of King Richard I and King John as they battle to maintain their Plantagenent Empire against King Philip of France. We will see King Richard die after foolishly failing to wear armor one April evening. We will see King John battle the French King and his own nobles before eventually signing the Magna Carta. And we will see the final collapse of the Plantagenet Empire as England and France begin to form into nation states. 

This episode covers the disaster that was the Fourth Crusade. Pope Innocent III will try and reinvigorate crusading and wind up sacking one of the most Christian cities in the world. Then we will take a quick look at life in the Near East between the Third and Fifth Crusades. 

In this episode we take a look at the Eleventh and Twelfth Centuries from the Byzantine perspective. We will go from the death of Basil II through the beginning of the Fourth Crusade. These centuries give us our last look at Byzantium as an "Empire". We will also cover some of the major political and economic changes that will dictate Byzantine history in the Thirteenth and Fourteenth Centuries. 

In this episode we wrap-up the Third Crusade. Richard the Lionheart will battle Saladin to very end for Jerusalem. We will see how Richard's misunderstandings about how a crusade could be run ultimately undermine the Third Crusade. 

Richard the Lionheart, King of England and the Angevin Empire, arrived in the Holy Land in June, 1191. When he arrived he found the crusaders already battering the walls of Acre surrounded on the other side by Saladin's army. The fight for Acre would prove to be Richard's first real test in the Holy Land. But it would not prove to be his last. Yet, with Richard's arrival the Third Crusade could truly and fully begin. 

In this episode we set the stage for the Third Crusade. Frederick Barbarossa will make an overland march to Asia Minor while Richard I and Philip Augustus use naval transportation for the first time en masse to start a crusade. Meanwhile, back in the Near East Saladin pressed to capture Tyre and destroy the remaining crusader outposts. 

In this episode we follow the career and reign of the ruler widely considered to be Germany's greatest medieval Monarch: Frederick Barbarossa. In total Frederick will conduct six Italian campaigns, battle a Pope, and rework Germany's economy. And all this before he leaves for the Third Crusade with the likes of Richard the Lionheart and Philip of France to take on Saladin. 

In this episode Saladin cements his hold over the Near East by subduing Damascus, Aleppo, and Mosul. Then he turns his attention to the Crusader State: the Kingdom of Jerusalem. Meanwhile, the death of King Amalric in his early thirties results a child succeeding to the throne in Jerusalem. The young Baldwin IV would live a tragic life and suffer from leprosy throughout his short reign. His death would then lead directly to the devastating crusader defeat at the Horns of Hattin and the fall of the Kingdom of Jerusalem. Saladin would emerge from these decades as the undisputed ruler of the Near East. 

In this episode we turn back to the Near East as the fortunes of the Crusader States continue to fall. Nur al-Din presses his empire further and further into the declining Latin Kingdoms while both Nur al-Din and the Kingdom of Jerusalem fight over the future of Fatimid Egypt. Finally, at the end of the episode a new man rises to power: Saladin. 

In this episode we return to our narrative though not to the Crusades. We will head back to the year 1095 when the First Crusade was launched and set about catching the rest of Europe back up to speed. Then, we spend the bulk of the second half of the episode tackling Norman England. The realm of William the Conqueror is once again fractured by civil war and it is going to take Geoffrey Plantagenet and his son, the future King Henry II, to put it all back together again. (Years: 1095-1154)

In this supplemental episode we examine music in the Early Middle Ages. Essentially, this comes down to Gregorian Chanting (Religious) and secular music.

Audition Template: 1 Mono Host track (with Speech Volume Leveler), 1 Mono Interview track (with Speech Volume Leveler), 1 Stereo Sound FX with effects, 1 Stereo Music Bed track. 44.1k, 16 bit, Stereo Master.

In this episode we take a look at the Counties of Edessa and Tripoli and give a quick overview of life in the Near East during the Crusades. Finally, the Crusader States are dealt a series of crushing blows in the 1140's setting the stage for the Second Crusade.

In this episode we follow the development of the four key Crusader States after the unexpected success of the First Crusade. King Baldwin I leads the Kingdom of Jerusalem to new heights while Tancred is forced to clean up a royal mess in Antioch. 

In this episode, we follow the First Crusader as the crusader army swings south into Asia Minor and approaches the formidable city of Antioch. At Antioch, the First Crusade will nearly meet its premature end as the crusaders quickly go from besiegers to besieged. 

In 1095 Pope Urban declared a "pilgrimage" to the Holy Land. In this episode we start with his declaration and then follow the First Crusade as it moves through Byzantine territory and faces its first challenge: Nicaea. 

In this episode we begin the Crusades. Specifically, we need to catch up on Byzantium a little bit since we left off with Michael IV in the middle of the Eleventh Century. After we get back up to speed in the East we will then turn our attentions towards setting the stage for the First Crusade which begins in 1095. 

In this episode we wrap-up our survey of Early Medieval Art by looking at the changes brought about by the transition to the Middle Ages particularly the advent of Christianity. Like in the last episode, here are a few links to images that I reference:

Ivory Carving of Jesus

Quedinburg Itala

Cross of St. Martin 

Gospel of St. Augustine (St. Luke with Gospel)

In this episode we are going to begin our look at Early Medieval Art by considered Late Classical and specifically Roman influences on artistic expression that outlived the empire itself. For this episode, you might want to view the following images:

Coronation of Otto III

Trajan's Column

Marcus Aurelius' Column

Four Tetrarchs 

Click the hyperlinked text to see the image. 

In this episode we take a break from the political narrative to focus on some of the key social and economic changes that are taking shape in Northern Italy between 875 and 1000 AD. During this period, Medieval Italy experiences a number of changes (urbanization, estate fragmentation) that will result in major changes to Italian economic and social life in the very near future. Next time, we will see how these broader changes influence the political development of Italy during this same period. Finally, in this episode I want to answer the often asked question: what did happen to the old Roman Senators and wealthy landowners after the collapse of the Western Roman Empire? 

In this episode we continue our examination of the Holy Roman Empire between 973 and 1106. We pick up the story with Otto II and then follow Otto III and Henry II as they try desperately to both expand and consolidate German power in medieval Europe. Then, we detail the stories of Henry III and IV who would battle increasingly powerful and difficult Popes. The story comes to a climax in the epic showdown between Pope Gregory VII and Henry who must humble himself before the Pope and then seeks his revenge. 

In this episode we start our in-depth look at the Holy Roman Empire. This episode covers the time period from the collapse of the unified Carolingian Empire to the death of Otto I in 973. In this episode we will also take a larger look at the Empire in general, its political system, culture, and economy. 

In this episode we conclude our close look at the Papacy by picking up the story at the fall of the Roman Empire in 476 and following the Vicars of Christ through to Gregory VII and his death in 1085. The Popes during this period were often far from moral. 

Audition Template: 1 Mono Host track (with Speech Volume Leveler), 1 Mono Interview track (with Speech Volume Leveler), 1 Stereo Sound FX with effects, 1 Stereo Music Bed track. 44.1k, 16 bit, Stereo Master.

In this episode we return to what we will loosely be calling "France". The Carolingian Empire is forever gone. In its place are a patchwork of small kingdoms ruled over, nominally, by the new King, Hugh Capet. Over the next roughly one-hundred years, Capet and his successors would battle Dukes, Counts, and other Kings, in an effort to re-centralize authority in Medieval France. 

In this episode William the Conqueror cleans up the last few rebellions in England, only to turn around see his possessions back on the continent under siege. While William fights his son and the King of France, his subordinates in England nearly drive the English to yet another rebellion. 

Between 1066 and 1074 William the Conqueror fights off a series of rebellions in England to solidify his rule. 

In this episode we follow Harold Hardrada and William of Normandy across the seas to England to battle Harold Godwinson for the throne. When the dust settled, William the Bastard would be re-titled, William the Conqueror. 

In this episode, we step back again from the narrative to consider the major demographic changes which swept Europe during the High Middle Ages (1000 - 1300 AD). 

In this episode we consider the question: what are the Dark Ages? And specifically, when should the Early Middle Ages be said to begin?

In this episode we swing back to Ireland and explore the fascinating story of the battle that took place on Good Friday, 1014 AD. 

In this episode, we examine England in the Viking Age. In the late Ninth Century England was nearly overrun by the Northmen. Only the tiny Anglo-Saxon Kingdom of Wessex held out. Enter stage left: Alfred the Great. (England 793 - 920 AD)

This episode traces Byzantine History from the middle of the Seventh Century through the reign of Leo V in the middle of the Eighth Century. 

In this episode we trace the Viking Invasions of the Ninth and Tenth Centuries as they ravage Francia. 

A background of early Scandinavian history. In this episode, we back up and provide the background of the Viking invasions of the Ninth and Tenth Centuries. 

Check out our website for more! westerncivpodcast.com

Become a Patron today for bonus content! patreon.com/westerncivpodcast.com

Believe it or not, modern Europe actually finds its origins as early as the Ninth Century. Today, we look at how the division of the Carolingian Empire actually corresponds nicely with the map of modern Europe. 

Medieval France (802-843)

Check out our website: westerncivpodcast.com

Become a Patron today! patreon.com/westerncivpodcast

Charlemange makes a claim to be the new Emperor of Rome. The new HOLY Roman Emperor in fact... 

Check out our website for more at westerncivpodcast.com and become a Patron today for bonus content and to support the show at patreon.com/westerncivpodcast

Feudalism dawns in Carolingian France. Serfs, lords, fiefs, and so, so much more! 

Check out our website for more! westerncivpodcast.com

Become a Patron today! patreon.com/westerncivpodcast

In today's episode, we cover a wide range of events during the Early Middle Ages in Italy and Spain. 

Check out our website for more content at westerncivpodcast.com

Become a Patron today and support the show for as little as one dollar! patreon.com/westerncivpodcast

Today we step away from our narrative and shift our focus to the Arabian Peninsula. We will detail the creation and rapid expansion of the first Islamic Caliphate in the years after the death of the Prophet Muhammad. Things will never be the same. 

Check out our website for more content! westerncivpodcast.com

Become a Patron today and enjoy bonus content for as little as $2.00 per month! patreon.com/westerncivpodcast

After the death of Justinian, Justin II takes the reigns and tries to reverse the course of the declining Empire. His death is followed by the brief reigns of Tiberios and Phokas as well as the long and relatively successful reign of Maurice. This episode finishes with the Great Persian War under the Emperor Herakleios during which the Empire nearly falls. 

Today we cover English History after the fall of the Roman Empire and until the Anglo-Saxon invasions. 

Check out our website for more content at westerncivpodcast.com.

Become a Patron today for extra content! Check it out at patreon.com/westerncivpodcast

Justinian takes his forces West to re-conquer the Roman Empire under a brilliant young general: Belisarius. 

A look at western Europe between immediately after the fall of the Roman Empire. (476 - 533 CE)

Check out our website: westerncivpodcast.com

Become a Patron today! patreon.com/westerncivpodcast

In this episode, we cover the reigns of various Eastern Emperors leading up to Justinian's attempted reconquest of the West. 

Check out our website: westerncivpodcast.com

Become a Patron today! patreon.com/westerncivpodcast

In this episode, we recap the last 4,500 years of Western History and set the stage for the turbulent Dark Ages to come. 

Check out our website: westerncivpodcast.com

Become a patron today! patreon.com/westerncivpodcast

Take it for what it is worth. Here is my list of the top ten BEST and WORST Roman Emperors. 

Check out our website for more content: westerncivpodcast.com

Become a patron today! patreon.com/westerncivpodcast

By 476 AD, the Western Roman Empire had fallen. In this episode, we trace the final twenty years of Roman History in the West. We continue with the collapse of the Hunnic Empire after the death of Attila and see how the West gets on without Aetius. Then, the Eastern Empire mounts one last rescue mission before the final Roman Emperor in the West is deposed. Before finishing, we briefly consider the different arguments as to why the Western Empire fell and discuss the merits of each. 

In the late 430's power in Hunnic Society finally centralized around one, powerful leader: Attila. He would use this power to assault both the Eastern and Western Roman Empires. These episodes follow those turbulent years and then take stock of the total damage wrought on the Empires by the arrival of the Huns. 

In 410 AD the Roman Empire hit one of its lowest points. But, within a decade it had rebounded. The reason Flavius Constantius. Constantius would rebuild the West only to die and early and unexpected death which would then throw the West back into chaos. Aetius would spend a decade cleaning up the mess (again) and would become the dominant force in the West by 433 AD. Meanwhile, the Vandals set sail for Africa with terrible consequences. 

Our story continues with Theodosius briefly reuniting the Empire in 394. Then, all hell breaks loose again as the Huns force different Germanic Tribes from the Hungarian Plain in the first decade of the Fifth Century. Gaul is overrun and the situation is compounded by a growing rift between the East and West halves of the Roman Empire. Then, the Goths return to Italy around 408 AD behind a new leader, Alaric, desperate to find a permanent homeland within in the Empire. All that sets the stage for the epic sack of Rome in 410. 

In this Episode, we take a step back and chronicle the changing social and political landscape beyond Rome's borders to the North. There, the arrival of the Huns from the Eurasian Steppe has a dramatic domino effect on the people's of Northern and Central Europe which eventually brings a group of Goths to the Danube in 376 seeking asylum. Once the Goths are allowed in things go from bad to worse culminating in the critical Battle of Adrianople in 378 AD. 

Jovian Tries to Turn Back the Clock. Valentinian Tries to Keep the Peace. And Valens Fights with Everyone...

Check out our website for more content!!! 

westerncivpodcast.com

Constantine wins the civil war, ushering in a new age for the Romans. For the first time, the empire will be Christian. 

Check out our website for more content: westerncivpodcast.com

Also, become a Patron today and support the show at patreon.com/westerncivpodcast

Between 284 CE and 305 CE, Emperor Diocletian rebuilds the Roman Empire. His model for what will become known as "The Dominant" would become the model for European kingship for centuries. 

Check out our website for more content: westerncivpodcast.com

Become a Patron today for hours of additional content plus support the show for only $2.00 per month! Check out patreon.com/westerncivpodcast

The Third Century was not a kind century to the Roman Empire. A rising Persia coupled with nearly non-stop civil unrest nearly ended the empire long before the final fall of Rome. In this episode, we cover this tumultuous period in detail. 

For more information, check out our website at westerncivpodcast.com.

After the death of Marcus Aurelius, the Roman Empire begins a slow and steady decline. And, it all begins with Commodus...

Rome reaches its height under the Antontines. Trajan leads the Empire to its greatest territorial heights. 

Nero's suicide leads to a year of unprecedented chaos in Rome. Four men stake their claim to the throne and ultimately only one can triumph and lead the Empire into a new golden age. 

Rome gets a short reprieve under the reign of the unexpectedly good Emperor Claudius. Then, after his murder, Nero brings the short-lived age of the Julio-Claudians to an end.