Zack is the author of for God and the Devil, and we discuss the highlights and numerous lowlights of the 30 years war Everyone loves a good historical novel –Read More
Theme: Europe
324 Europe XII Colonisation and War
The early 17th century saw the emergence of the Dutch Republic as a new colonial power, and the resurgence of France after her religious wars. But most of all theRead More
323 Europe XII Absolutely Nations
Hobbes argued that only an all powerful ruler could do what was required to protect the people and preserve property, and for that the loss of individual liberty was worth paying.Read More
322 Europe XII Religion and Science
In the first of three episodes on Europe 1600-1650, we talk about religion, scientific revolution, and Witchcraft. And why Galileo was a weaker No 8 than Dean Richards. For thoseRead More
307a Renaissance Warfare by Ben Jacobs
Ben Jacobs talks about how the demands and costs of Renaissance warfare changed the nature of Europe for ever Wittenberg to Westphalia Podcast Ben Jacobs is the hostRead More
255 Europe XI The Spanish Century
By 1600, the Spain and her Empire was acknowledged as the richest and most powerful state in Europe. the hardworking Phillip II worked into the night deep in his massive palaceRead More
254 Europe X Chaos and Threat
Our survey of 16th century Europe moves on to the growth of the Ottoman Empire under Suleyman, and the chaos of the French religious wars. Religious division in Europe Here isRead More
253 Europe IX Confessionalism Unleashed
How the rise of Calvinism, the Catholic Reformation and the peace of Augsberg combined with attitudes towards heresy to divide Europe along harsher, confessional lines. The Hapsburg Empire under Charles VRead More
224 Deadly Poison
In 1520 the Pope threatened an obscure Augustinian monk with excommunication. Why ? What happened next? And how did the English react?
218a Witchcraft in Tudor England by Sam Hume
The 16th and 17th centuries saw a surge in worry about witchcraft through most of Europe. Sam gives us a survey of how fear of witchcraft affected England. Sam also hasRead More
195 The History of Europe Part VIII
15th Century European kingdoms were wracked by internal division as well as international war. By the end of the century, many nations had achieved unity and some degree of internalRead More
167a The Fall of Constantinople by Paul Vincent
The fall of Constantinople in 1453 is one of the most momentous events in world history. Sure, the power of the Roman Empire had long since faded; but here atRead More
153a Wycliffe, Hus and Bohemia
This week a guest episode on Wycliffe, Hus and their influence on the history of Bohemia. With many thanks to Pete Collman from the Bohemican Podcast, and Travis Dow ofRead More
133 The History of Europe Part VII
This week we finish off our survey of Europe, bringing us up to date with Byzantium, and the threat from the East. But we’ll also bring you up to dateRead More
Maps: 1100 – 1300 Europe
Here are maps of continental Europe you might find useful, and links to the relevant blog posts. Below we have: France Spain Germany and the Holy Roman Empire Italy FranceRead More
132 The History of Europe Part VI
The growth of Aragon and its mediterranean empire, consolidation and political change in Northern Italy, fragmentation in Germany; Jan Hus, heresy and the Council of Constance. 132 A History ofRead More
131 The History of Europe Part V: Economic change and technology
Ths episode is the first of 3 to bring us up to date with the history of Europe to the time of Henry IVth. This week it's all about theRead More
99a Stephen Guerra The Avignon Papacy
The Story of the early 14th Century papacy and their exile in Avignon – a guest episode from Stephen Guerra 99a Stephen Guerra Avignon Papacy
96 A history of Medieval Europe – Part IV
With the defeat of the Hohenstaufen, surely the Papacy had finally won it's battle for supremacy? Actually not. A new challenge rode into town in the form of Phillip IVthRead More
95 The History of Medieval Europe – Part III
Frederick II renewed the argument that had been going on since the time of Otto the Great – Emperor or Pope? This time there would be a solution one wayRead More
56 The History of Medieval Europe, Part 2
The Holy Roman Empire to the death of Barbarossa, the briefest of histories of Norway, Denmark and Spain, and the 4th Crusade. It's action packed. 56 The History of MedievalRead More
55 The History of Medieval Europe, Part I
From Charles Martel and the battle of Tours in 732, through Charlemagne and Otto the Great, the first installment concentrates on France, Germany and Italy and takes us to theRead More