Historically Speaking Podcast

Legend has it that there once was a King named Arthur who allegedly lived in the late 5th and early 6th centuries and who, with his many companions, successfully fought off numerous enemies in Britain. But was there actually an historical Arthur of real flesh and blood? The Arthurian stories are arguably the greatest legends in Western history, and here in our 50th Episode we explore how the fabled Arthur compares with the historical one.

Books:

• De Excidio et Conquestu Britanniae by Gildas 
• Historia Brittonum by Nennius
• The New Arthurian Encyclopedia Edited by Norris Lacy
• Historia Regum Britanniae by Geoffrey of Momouth
• Le Morte d’Arthur by Sir Thomas Malory
• Anglo-Saxon England by Sir Frank Stenton 

Film:

• Excalibur (1981) with Nigel Terry and Helen Mirren
• Monty Python and The Holy Grail (1975) with John Cleese and Eric Idle
• Camelot (1967) with Richard Harris and Vanessa Redgrave

It was a political scandal that rocked France to its core and proved to be a watershed event for European antisemitism. A French officer, Alfred Dreyfus, was accused of passing military secrets to the Germans. He was found guilty by a military tribunal and sent to Devil’s Island, one of the most notorious penal colonies in the world. What happened next will shock and appall you as it did not only France but the entire world. Here in Episode 49, we explore just how far the French military went to cover up their colossal mistake in what would become known as The Dreyfus Affair.

Books:

• Five years of My Life: 1894-1899 by Alfred Dreyfus
• The Man on Devil’s Island: Alfred Dreyfus and the Affair That Divided France by Ruth Harris
• The Dreyfus Affair: “J’Accuse and Other Writings of Emile Zola
• The Dreyfus Affair: The Scandal That Tore France in Two by Piers Paul Read
• The Collapse of The Third Republic by William Shire

Film:

• I Accuse (1958) with José Ferrer as Captain Alfred Dreyfus
• Papillon (1973) with Steve McQueen and Dustin Hoffman 

There have been many impostors throughout history and in this 48th episode we deal with six of them, two related to English history and four related to Russian history. All at one time or another had many who believed in them (or at least tried to use them for advantage). All six went a long way to pulling off their ruse and we discuss many of the details in this episode.

Episode Notes:

• Ivan IV (the Terrible) was Grand Prince of Moscow from 1533 to 1547 and Czar of Russia from 1547 to 1584.

Books:

• The Earlier Tudors by J.D. Mackie
• Henry VII and the Tudor Pretenders by Nathen Amin
• A Short History of Russia's First Civil War: The Time of Troubles of and the Founding of the Romanov Dynasty by Chester S.L. Dunning
• A History of Russia by Nicholas V. Riasanovsky 
• A Romanov Fantasy:  Life at the Court of Anna Anderson by Frances Welch

Film:

• Ivan the Terrible (2014) Documentary
• Anastasia (1956) Starring Ingrid Bergman

After a six-week hiatus, we’re back and with a fast-paced adventure story that rivals even the best of Hollywood. It’s the story of Hannibal Barca. When outnumbered by the Roman military two to one, this fearless Carthaginian general, complete with eye patch and riding atop a black stallion, defied all odds in one of the bloodiest battles in all of antiquity, thus becoming one of the greatest military commanders the world has ever known. Join us as we delve into the life and times of this extraordinary man. 

Episode Notes:

• The immediate predecessor of Hannibal in Spain was his brother-in-law, Hasdrubal the Fair (not to be confused with Hannibal's brother, Hasdrubal), who ruled from 229-221 BC., after which Hannibal in 221 at the age of 26 took over Carthaginian Spain.
• According to some ancient sources, Hannibal did marry an Iberian woman named Imilce and they had a son, but we do not know this for certain.

 Books:

• The Punic Wars by Adrian Goldsworthy
• A History of Rome by Michael Grant
• Hannibal: The Military Biography of Rome’s Greatest Enemy by Richard Gabriel
• The Histories by Polybius
• A History of Warfare by John Keegan

Film:

• Hannibal (2006) BBC Film
• Hannibal: A March on Rome (2018) Documentary
• Hannibal in the Alps (2018) PBS Documentary

Imagine being hung three times… unsuccessfully. That’s exactly what happened to Englishman, John “Babbacombe” Lee in 1885. Or in the case of Herman Göring, being slipped a cyanide pill just hours before you were scheduled to be hung. Or foiling your pursuers by killing yourself first and being laid out in full regalia upon their arrival. Here in Episode 46, we explore seven individuals who cheated the hangman one way or another.

Books:

• Antony and Cleopatra by Adrian Goldsworthy
• Queen Elizabeth I by J.E. Neale
• Valiant Ambition: George Washington, Benedict Arnold, and the Fate of the American Revolution by Nathaniel Philbrick
• "Babbacombe" Lee: The Man They Could Not Hang by John Lee
• Jack the Ripper: The Definitive Casebook by Richard Wittington Egan
• Inside the Third Reich by Albert Speer

Film:

• Cleopatra (1963) with Elizabeth Taylor
• Benedict Arnold: Hero Betrayed (2021) Documentary
• Jack the Ripper (2017) Documentary with Trevor Marriott
• Judgement at Nuremburg (1961) with an all-star cast
• Downfall (2005) with Bruno Ganz as Hitler

“Let them hate me, so they but fear me.” ~ Gaius Caesar Augustus Germanicus (aka Caligula)

Caligula, the third Julio-Claudian emperor of the great Roman Empire, was known as a cruel, erratic, sex-crazed and delusional tyrant. Not only did he decree that his horse was a Roman consul, but he also marched his troops all the way to the English Channel only to have them pick up seashells, and he’s also said to have committed incest with all three of his sisters. Was he a madman or a victim of an undiagnosed medical condition? Here in Episode 45, we take an in-depth look at not only Caligula, but all five of the emperors who reigned during the Julio-Claudian Dynasty, including Claudius and the famed Nero.

Books:

• From the Gracchi to Nero: A History of Rome from 133 BC to AD 68 by H.H. Scullard
• History of Rome by Michael Grant
• The Twelve Caesars by Suetonius
• Roman History by Dio Cassius

Film:

• I, Claudius (1976) 12 Episodes by BBC
• Caligula (1979) terrible cult film, but incredible cast including Peter O’Toole, Helen Mirren & Malcolm McDowell

South Africa has a fascinating, complex, and often tragic history. From the migration of the Bantu to the settlements by the Dutch and British; from the Boar Wars to the fight to abolish apartheid, here in Episode 44, we explore the history of this geologically and culturally rich nation - a nation that is still striving to reach its full potential. 

Books:

• A History of South Africa by Frank Welsh
• Long Walk to Freedom by Nelson Mandela
• Hero of The Empire by Candice Millard
• Cry, The Beloved Country by Alan Paton

Film:

• Zulu (1964) with Michael Caine
• Breaker Morant (1980) directed by Bruce Beresford

What do Georgetown University, St. Joseph’s University, and Loyola University have in common (besides basketball)? They were all founded by the Jesuits, and the Jesuit order of the Catholic Church was highly instrumental in the phenomenon known as the Counter Reformation. Once Luther, Calvin and others challenged the authority and teachings of the Catholic Church, the Church had no choice but to respond to these accusations and alternative beliefs. Here in Episode 43, we dive into the Counter Reformation which began in the 1540’s under Pope Paul III and ushered in many lasting changes in the Catholic Church.

Episode Notes:

·       Peter O’Toole played Pope Paul III in the Showtime series, The Tudors.
·       Yes, a Jesuit did become Pope. He is the present pontifex maximus, Pope Francis I.

 Books:

• The Counter Reformation by A.G. Dickens
• The Reformation Crisis edited by Joel Hurtsfield
• The Penguin Dictionary of English and European History, 1485-1789 by E. Williams
• Keepers of the Keys of Heaven: A History of the Papacy by Roger Collins

Film:

• Black Robe (1991) directed by Bruce Beresford

The Protestant Reformation was one of the single greatest events in the history of Western Civilization. Led by Martin Luther, this protestation against the Catholic Church altered all of Western history. Here in Episode 42, we take a closer look at this exceptional, though conflicted man, as well as other early protestant reformers like Ulrich Zwingli and the formidable John Calvin, who together rocked the very foundation of western Europe and even led to the founding of America itself.

Books:

• Young Man Luther: A Study in Psychoanalysis and History by Erik Ericson
• Europe: From the Renaissance to Waterloo by Robert Ergang
• The Penguin Dictionary of English and European History, 1485-1789 by E.N. Williams
• The Reformation Crisis Edited by Joel Hurstfield

Film:

• Martin Luther (2003) PBS Documentary

"Into the valley of death rode the six hundred." Here in Episode 41, we take a closer look at the events that inspired Lord Alfred Tennyson to write those words in his epic poem "The Charge of the Light Brigade". We also explore both the long-term and short-term causes of the Crimean War and why it was a "first" in many areas of modern warfare, interrupting as it did a largely peaceful 19th century Europe between 1815-1914. 

Episode Edit:

• Just to be clear, the antagonists in the Crimean War were the British, French, Turks and Piedmontese on the one side and the Russians on the other side. Kim was thinking a little too far ahead at the 2:48 mark as well as the 5:38 mark. 

Books:

• The Ottoman Centuries by Lord Kinross
• Dictionary of Modern History: 1789-1945 edited by Duncan Townson
• The Charge of the Light Brigade by Lord Alfred Tennyson
• The Crimean War by Orlando Figes
• Florence Nightingale: The Making of an Icon by Mark Bostridge
• Notes on Nursing: What it is and What it is Not by Florence Nightingale

Film: 

• The Crimean War (2018) documentary
• Florence Nightingale (1985) staring Jaclyn Smith
• Charge of the Light Brigade ((1936) staring Errol Flynn
• The Charge of The Light Brigade (1968) staring Trevor Howard

Lawrence of Arabia is the stuff of legend. There have been numerous books written and films made about him, but who was T.E. Lawrence actually? What made this man with so many talents, who was also immensely brave and resourceful, act and think as he did? Our 40th Episode explores some of the possible reasons. 

Books:

• Seven Pillars of Wisdom by T.E. Lawrence
• Lawrence of Arabia: The Authorized Biography of T.E. Lawrence by Jeremy Wilson
• T.E. Lawrence by His Friends edited by Arnold Lawrence
• The Letters of T.E. Lawrence edited by David Garnett

Film:

• Lawrence of Arabia (1962) Starring Peter O’Toole
• Lawrence of Arabia: The Battle For The Arab World (2003) PBS Documentary

 Edits:

• T.E. Lawrence is buried in the churchyard of St. Nicolas’ Church in Moreton, Dorset, but there is a memorial bust of Lawrence located in St. Paul’s Cathedral in London.
• Even though we mentioned it, we never did get around to discussing the Allenby Rule. Per the 1962 film, when in Damascus and a large fire broke out, one of General Allenby’s subordinates asked him, “What should be done?”  to which Allenby replied, “Nothing, it’s usually best.” So, when a problem arises and you’re faced with a myriad of options, often your best choice is to do nothing, i.e., the Allenby Rule. 

Many diseases throughout history have wiped out entire families, villages or even towns, but nothing even comes close to the death and destruction that would become known as the Black Death. It made periodic appearances throughout the centuries, dying out for some and reemerging for others. Today, modern medicine can cure this disease, but even so, hundreds of people still die from this disease every year, even in America. So, what is it and how did it shape world history? We cover all that and more here in Episode 39.

Books:

• Medieval Europe: A Short History by Judith M. Bennett and C. Warren Hollister
• Death in the Middle Ages by T.S.R. Boase
• The Black Death by Philip Ziegler
• The Waning of the Middle Ages by Johan Huizinga
• A Journal of the Plague Year by Daniel Dafoe

Imagine sitting in a 97-degree court room in the middle of July while you’re being prosecuted for a crime you’re not even sure you committed. This is exactly the situation twenty-four-year-old John T. Scopes found himself in during the summer of 1925. Almost overnight this trial became a national sensation and put the small town of Dayton, Tennessee on the map. It would involve two of the most famous attorneys of the day going head-to-head over a newly passed Tennessee State law called the Butler Act. What was the crime? Teaching evolution in the classroom.

Books:

• The Memoirs of William Jennings Bryan by William Jennings Bryan and Mary Baird Bryan
• Trying Biology: The Scopes Trial, Textbooks, and the Antievolution Movement in American Schools by Adam Shapiro
• Six Days or Forever? Tennessee v. John Thomas Scopes by Ray Ginger 
• Summer for the Gods: The Scopes Trial and America’s Continuing Debate Over Science and Religion by Edward Larson

Film:

• Inherit The Wind (1960) with Fredrich March, Spencer Tracy, and Gene Kelly

Napoleon, was he hero or villain? An enlightened genius or supreme egotist? Superb diplomat or an immoral usurper? All of the above? Continuing with Part II of our Napoleon series, we take a closer look into his greatest achievements as well as his greatest mistakes. From his coronation as Emperor at Notre-Dame in 1804 to his loss at Waterloo in 1815, this man’s story is seemingly inexhaustible. Has the world ever seen his equal either before or since? We’ll leave that for you to decide.

Notes:

• Though buried at St. Helena's when he died in 1821, by 1840 Napoleon's legacy was such that some two decades later he was brought back to France in 1840 with great ceremony of state and placed in the Hotel des Invalides where he still resides.

Books:

• The Congress of Vienna: A Study of Allied Unity: 1812-1822 by Harold Nicolson
• Dictionary of the Napoleonic Wars by David C. Chandler
• Europe: From the Renaissance to Waterloo by Robert Ergang
• The Napoleonic Wars by Richard Holmes
• Napoleon: A Life by Andrew Roberts
• Napoleon: A Concise Biography by David A. Bell

Film: 

• Napoleon (2003 TV Miniseries) staring Christian Clavier

Are great leaders made or just born that way? It seems that in the case of Napoleon, he truly was born to lead. It is said that his troops would have followed him into the gates of hell. But how good or bad was he and what is his legacy? Here in Episode 36, we explore these questions and take a closer look into the early life of Napoleon from his upbringing on the island of Corsica through his early victories in Italy and elsewhere as well as his marriage to Josephine. Get ready because we packed a lot into this 36-minute episode.

 Books:

• Dictionary of the Napoleonic Wars by David G. Chandler
• Europe: From the Renaissance to Waterloo by Robert Ergang
• The Napoleonic Wars by Richard Holmes
• Napoleon: A Life by Andrew Roberts
• Napoleon: A Concise Biography by David A. Bell

 Film: 

• Napoleon (2003 TV Miniseries) staring Christian Clavier

Also Mentioned in Episode 36:

• A Tale of Two Cities: The Musical by Jill Santoriello

“A leader is a dealer in hope.” —Napoleon Bonaparte
Here in Episode 35, we take a closer look at two perhaps lesser-known great leaders in history. When all hope was lost and the odds were stacked against them, they defied all probability and led their men safely home. These are two of the most fascinating adventure stories ever told. Sir Ernest Shackleton and Xenophon did the extraordinary and both lived to tell their tales.

Episode Notes:

• Shackleton's final Antarctic expedition of 1921-22 had imprecise goals but one of them was a possible circumnavigation of the continent.

 Books:

• Anabasis by Xenophon
• A History of Greece to the Death of Alexander the Great by J.B. Bury and Russell Meiggs
• Endurance: Shackleton’s Incredible Voyage by Alfred Lansing
• South! The Journey of Shackleton’s Last Expedition 1914-1917 by Sir Ernest Shackleton

 Film: 

• Shackleton (2012) with Kenneth Branagh

There are a handful of people in history who seem to have had an uncanny ability to escape death. Whether evading a lone assassin, dodging friendly fire during the heat of battle, or simply defying the laws of nature by smoking over 200 cigarettes a day, these four historical figures featured in Episode 34 proved they were all Hard to Kill.

Books:
The Reign of Elizabeth by J.B. Black

Washington: The Indispensable Man by James Thomas Flexner 

King Zog: Self-Made Monarch of Albania by James Tomes

The Double Life of Fidel Castro by Juan Reinaldo Sanchez & Alex Gyldén 

 Film:

Elizabeth I and Her Enemies (2017) Documentary

Washington (2020) Documentary

The Fidel Castro Tapes (2014) Documentary

The Restoration period is known as probably the most bawdy era in English history. And who was it that ushered in this remarkable age? Why, the Merry Monarch himself, Charles II. In addition to having a great fondness for the ladies and the good life, Charles had many remarkable qualities. Here in our first episode of Season 2, we take a closer look at this loveable rogue and the times in which he lived.

Episode Edits:

• Charles had a stroke not months before his death but only about a week before his death.
• The William Penn Statue on top of City Hall in Philadelphia is the largest freestanding statue atop any building in the world.

Books:

• The Later Stuarts by Sir George Clark
• Royal Charles by Antonia Fraser
• The Columbia Companion to British History by Juliet Gardiner & Neil Wenborn
• The Pageant of Stuart England by Elizabeth Burton

 Film:

• Charles II: The Power and the Passion (2003) with Rufus Sewell
• Forever Amber (1947) with George Sanders and Linda Darnell 

The years 1692-1693 were some of the darkest times in American history. They were the years when mass hysteria ruled the land and young girls were inexplicably stricken with fits of screaming, barking, shaking, and crying. It was a group of roughly 9 girls in Salem Village, Massachusetts, who were taken at their fantastical word of being physically tormented by certain members of their own village which eventually led to over 200 people being accused of witchcraft. Nineteen of those accused were hung and one was pressed to death. Here in our last episode of our first season, we take an in-depth look at the fascinating yet heart-breaking time in our history known as The Salem Witch Trials. 

Books:

• A Modest Enquiry into the Nature of Witchcraft by Rev. John Hale
• The Salem Witch Trials: A Reference Guide by K. David Goss
• Salem Story: Reading the Witch Trials of 1692 by Bernard Rosenthal
• A Storm of Witchcraft: The Salem Trials and the American Experience by Emerson W. Baker

Films:

• Three Sovereigns for Sarah (1986) with Vanessa Redgrave
• The Crucible (1996) with Daniel Day Lewis and Winona Ryder

During the late summer and fall of 1888, a district in East London was being terrorized by an unknown Victorian serial killer. In a September 25th letter addressed to the Central News Agency, the yet to be identified murderer boasted of his recent killings and signed the letter “Jack the Ripper”. That name has endured for over 133 years, and the case remains open to this day. Why are we still fascinated by this case? With over 100 suspects, why was it never solved? Here in Episode 31, we walk you through the facts of what is known about the most notorious murderer the world has ever known.   

Books:

• Jack the Ripper: The Definitive Casebook by Richard Whittington-Egan
• The Mammoth Book of Jack the Ripper by Maxim Jakubowski
• The Complete History of Jack the Ripper by Philip Sugden
• The Complete Jack the Ripper by Donald Rumbelow

Film/Documentary:

• Jack the Ripper (1988) with Michael Caine and Jane Seymour
• Jack the Ripper: Tabloid Killer (2015) Documentary
• Jack the Ripper (2017) Documentary with Trevor Marriott