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Submit ReviewIn this episode I spoke with historian Chad Williams about his latest book-"The Wounded World: W.E.B. Du Bois and the First World War" We discussed the legacy of Du Bois; his views on identity and double consciousness; World War I and it's causes; the role of black americans and black soldiers in World War I; the connection between race, capitalism, socialism, and the labor movements of the early 20th century; the Great Migration and it's impacts on American society; racial violence directed at African Americans during this time period; Woodrow Wilson; the Pan-African Congress; as well as how Du Bois should be remembered.
Chad Williams is the Samuel J. and Augusta Spector Professor of History and African and African American Studies at Brandeis University. He specializes in African American and modern United States History, African American military history, the World War I era and African American intellectual history. He is the author of Torchbearers of Democracy: African American Soldiers in the World War I Era, as well as co-editor of Charleston Syllabus: Readings on Race, Racism and Racial Violence and Major Problems in African American History. Chad has published articles and book reviews in numerous leading academic journals and collections, as well as op-eds and essays in The Atlantic, The Washington Post, Time, and The Conversation.
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Support the podcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/reflectinghistory
Try my audio course "Nazi Germany and the Battle for the Human Heart"-- Why do 'good' people support evil leaders? What allure does Fascism hold that enables it to garner popular support? And what lessons can history teach us about today? My audio course 'A Beginners Guide to Understanding & Resisting Fascism: Nazi Germany and the Battle for the Human Heart' explores these massive questions through the lens of Nazi Germany and the ordinary people who lived, loved, collaborated and even resisted during those times. Through exploring the past, I hope to unlock lessons that all learners on the course can apply to the present day - from why fascism attracts people to how it can be resisted. I'm donating 20% of the proceeds to Givewell's Maximum Impact Fund, and the course also comes with a 100% money back guarantee. Check it out at https://avid.fm/reflectinghistory or on my patreon page at: https://www.patreon.com/reflectinghistory.
Try my audio course "Piranesi: Exploring the Infinite Halls of a Literary Masterpiece"-- This course is a deep analysis of Susanna Clark's literary masterpiece "Piranesi." Whether you are someone who is reading the novel for academic purposes, or you simply want to enjoy an incredible story for it's own sake, this audio course goes chapter by chapter into the plot, characters, and themes of the book...“The Beauty of the House is immeasurable; it’s kindness infinite.” Piranesi lives in an infinite house, with no long-term memory and only a loose sense of identity. As the secrets of the House deepen and the mystery of his life becomes more sinister, Piranesi must discover who he is and how this brings him closer to the “Great and Secret Knowledge” that the House contains. Touching on themes of memory, identity, mental health, knowledge, reason, experience, meaning, reflection, ideals, and more…Piranesi will be remembered as one of the great books of the 21st century. Hope you enjoy the course as much as I enjoyed making it. Check it out at https://learner.avid.fm/course/s/piranesi or at https://www.patreon.com/reflectinghistory.
Subscribe to my newsletter! A free, low stress, monthly-quarterly email offering historical perspective on modern day issues, behind the scenes content on my latest podcast episodes, and historical lessons/takeaways from the world of history, psychology, and philosophy: https://www.reflectinghistory.com/newsletter.
Leave a rating or review on apple podcasts or spotify!
“The Beauty of the House is immeasurable; it’s kindness infinite.” Piranesi lives in an infinite house, with no long-term memory and only a loose sense of identity. As the secrets of the House deepen and the mystery of his life becomes more sinister, Piranesi must discover who he is and how this brings him closer to the “Great and Secret Knowledge” that the House contains. Touching on themes of memory, identity, mental health, knowledge, reason, experience, meaning, reflection, ideals, and more…Piranesi will be remembered as one of the great books of the 21st century. This is Part 1 in a seven part series that you can find in its entirety on my Patreon page by supporting the podcast: https://www.patreon.com/reflectinghistory or through a one time purchase at https://learner.avid.fm/course/s/piranesi.
This is Part 1 in a seven part series on Susanna Clark’s incredible book “Piranesi.” It is mostly spoiler free and focuses on the mysteries of the first part of the book, as well as themes of memory, loss and absence, and the relationship between beauty and isolation. Thanks for listening and supporting the podcast.
-Consider Supporting the Podcast!-
Support the podcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/reflectinghistory
Try my audio course: Why do 'good' people support evil leaders? What allure does Fascism hold that enables it to garner popular support? And what lessons can history teach us about today? My audio course 'A Beginners Guide to Understanding & Resisting Fascism: Nazi Germany and the Battle for the Human Heart' explores these massive questions through the lens of Nazi Germany and the ordinary people who lived, loved, collaborated and even resisted during those times. Through exploring the past, I hope to unlock lessons that all learners on the course can apply to the present day - from why fascism attracts people to how it can be resisted. I'm donating 20% of the proceeds to Givewell's Maximum Impact Fund, and the course also comes with a 100% money back guarantee. Check it out at https://avid.fm/reflectinghistory or on my patreon page at: https://www.patreon.com/reflectinghistory.
Leave a rating or review on apple podcasts or spotify!
What if it was possible to "remember" the future? What if our typical conceptions of cause and effect didn't tell the whole story? If the story of your life was laid out in front of you, how would that change you as a person and your relationship with the people around you? All of these questions and more are discussed in this episode that takes a look at Ted Chiang's legendary short story "Story of Your Life," the inspiration for the equally awesome film "Arrival" starring Amy Adams.
-Consider Supporting the Podcast!-
Support the podcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/reflectinghistory
Try my audio course "Nazi Germany and the Battle for the Human Heart"-- Why do 'good' people support evil leaders? What allure does Fascism hold that enables it to garner popular support? And what lessons can history teach us about today? My audio course 'A Beginners Guide to Understanding & Resisting Fascism: Nazi Germany and the Battle for the Human Heart' explores these massive questions through the lens of Nazi Germany and the ordinary people who lived, loved, collaborated and even resisted during those times. Through exploring the past, I hope to unlock lessons that all learners on the course can apply to the present day - from why fascism attracts people to how it can be resisted. I'm donating 20% of the proceeds to Givewell's Maximum Impact Fund, and the course also comes with a 100% money back guarantee. Check it out at https://avid.fm/reflectinghistory or on my patreon page at: https://www.patreon.com/reflectinghistory.
Try my audio course "Piranesi: Exploring the Infinite Halls of a Literary Masterpiece"-- This course is a deep analysis of Susanna Clark's literary masterpiece "Piranesi." Whether you are someone who is reading the novel for academic purposes, or you simply want to enjoy an incredible story for it's own sake, this audio course goes chapter by chapter into the plot, characters, and themes of the book...“The Beauty of the House is immeasurable; it’s kindness infinite.” Piranesi lives in an infinite house, with no long-term memory and only a loose sense of identity. As the secrets of the House deepen and the mystery of his life becomes more sinister, Piranesi must discover who he is and how this brings him closer to the “Great and Secret Knowledge” that the House contains. Touching on themes of memory, identity, mental health, knowledge, reason, experience, meaning, reflection, ideals, and more…Piranesi will be remembered as one of the great books of the 21st century. Hope you enjoy the course as much as I enjoyed making it. Check it out at https://learner.avid.fm/course/s/piranesi or at https://www.patreon.com/reflectinghistory.
Subscribe to my newsletter! A free, low stress, monthly-quarterly email offering historical perspective on modern day issues, behind the scenes content on my latest podcast episodes, and historical lessons/takeaways from the world of history, psychology, and philosophy:https://www.reflectinghistory.com/newsletter.
Leave a rating or review on apple podcasts or spotify!
What is the meaning of life? What does it mean to really live? What is the nature of bureaucracy and how does this seep into our everyday lives and relationships? These questions and more are analyzed in Akira Kurosawa's 1952 masterpiece "Ikiru." Life is brief...
-Consider Supporting the Podcast!-
Support the podcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/reflectinghistory
Try my audio course "Nazi Germany and the Battle for the Human Heart"-- Why do 'good' people support evil leaders? What allure does Fascism hold that enables it to garner popular support? And what lessons can history teach us about today? My audio course 'A Beginners Guide to Understanding & Resisting Fascism: Nazi Germany and the Battle for the Human Heart' explores these massive questions through the lens of Nazi Germany and the ordinary people who lived, loved, collaborated and even resisted during those times. Through exploring the past, I hope to unlock lessons that all learners on the course can apply to the present day - from why fascism attracts people to how it can be resisted. I'm donating 20% of the proceeds to Givewell's Maximum Impact Fund, and the course also comes with a 100% money back guarantee. Check it out at https://avid.fm/reflectinghistory or on my patreon page at: https://www.patreon.com/reflectinghistory.
Try my audio course "Piranesi: Exploring the Infinite Halls of a Literary Masterpiece"-- This course is a deep analysis of Susanna Clark's literary masterpiece "Piranesi." Whether you are someone who is reading the novel for academic purposes, or you simply want to enjoy an incredible story for it's own sake, this audio course goes chapter by chapter into the plot, characters, and themes of the book...“The Beauty of the House is immeasurable; it’s kindness infinite.” Piranesi lives in an infinite house, with no long-term memory and only a loose sense of identity. As the secrets of the House deepen and the mystery of his life becomes more sinister, Piranesi must discover who he is and how this brings him closer to the “Great and Secret Knowledge” that the House contains. Touching on themes of memory, identity, mental health, knowledge, reason, experience, meaning, reflection, ideals, and more…Piranesi will be remembered as one of the great books of the 21st century. Hope you enjoy the course as much as I enjoyed making it. Check it out at https://learner.avid.fm/course/s/piranesi or at https://www.patreon.com/reflectinghistory.
Subscribe to my newsletter! A free, low stress, monthly-quarterly email offering historical perspective on modern day issues, behind the scenes content on my latest podcast episodes, and historical lessons/takeaways from the world of history, psychology, and philosophy:https://www.reflectinghistory.com/newsletter.
Leave a rating or review on apple podcasts or spotify!
Yoko Ogawa's 1994 masterpiece "The Memory Police" is much more than a dystopian novel. It delves into the ways that memory connects with everything-from our deepest sense of self, to our friendships and relationships, to our daily routines. What can memory tell us about grief, loss, and resitance to "quiet authoritarianism?"
-Consider Supporting the Podcast!-
Support the podcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/reflectinghistory
Try my audio course "Nazi Germany and the Battle for the Human Heart"-- Why do 'good' people support evil leaders? What allure does Fascism hold that enables it to garner popular support? And what lessons can history teach us about today? My audio course 'A Beginners Guide to Understanding & Resisting Fascism: Nazi Germany and the Battle for the Human Heart' explores these massive questions through the lens of Nazi Germany and the ordinary people who lived, loved, collaborated and even resisted during those times. Through exploring the past, I hope to unlock lessons that all learners on the course can apply to the present day - from why fascism attracts people to how it can be resisted. I'm donating 20% of the proceeds to Givewell's Maximum Impact Fund, and the course also comes with a 100% money back guarantee. Check it out at https://avid.fm/reflectinghistory or on my patreon page at: https://www.patreon.com/reflectinghistory.
Try my audio course "Piranesi: Exploring the Infinite Halls of a Literary Masterpiece"-- This course is a deep analysis of Susanna Clark's literary masterpiece "Piranesi." Whether you are someone who is reading the novel for academic purposes, or you simply want to enjoy an incredible story for it's own sake, this audio course goes chapter by chapter into the plot, characters, and themes of the book...“The Beauty of the House is immeasurable; it’s kindness infinite.” Piranesi lives in an infinite house, with no long-term memory and only a loose sense of identity. As the secrets of the House deepen and the mystery of his life becomes more sinister, Piranesi must discover who he is and how this brings him closer to the “Great and Secret Knowledge” that the House contains. Touching on themes of memory, identity, mental health, knowledge, reason, experience, meaning, reflection, ideals, and more…Piranesi will be remembered as one of the great books of the 21st century. Hope you enjoy the course as much as I enjoyed making it. Check it out at https://learner.avid.fm/course/s/piranesi or at https://www.patreon.com/reflectinghistory.
Subscribe to my newsletter! A free, low stress, monthly-quarterly email offering historical perspective on modern day issues, behind the scenes content on my latest podcast episodes, and historical lessons/takeaways from the world of history, psychology, and philosophy:https://www.reflectinghistory.com/newsletter.
Leave a rating or review on apple podcasts or spotify!
It's been said that you are what you remember. What is the role and function of memory on a personal level and how does this connect to collective memory and history? Does collective memory fuel cycles of violence? What would happen if we suddenly all forgot our shared past? Would the world be more peaceful? Are some things best forgotten?
In this episode I explore Kazuo Ishiguro's incredible novel "The Buried Giant," and how memory connects to history.
-Consider Supporting the Podcast!-
Support the podcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/reflectinghistory
Try my audio course "Nazi Germany and the Battle for the Human Heart"-- Why do 'good' people support evil leaders? What allure does Fascism hold that enables it to garner popular support? And what lessons can history teach us about today? My audio course 'A Beginners Guide to Understanding & Resisting Fascism: Nazi Germany and the Battle for the Human Heart' explores these massive questions through the lens of Nazi Germany and the ordinary people who lived, loved, collaborated and even resisted during those times. Through exploring the past, I hope to unlock lessons that all learners on the course can apply to the present day - from why fascism attracts people to how it can be resisted. I'm donating 20% of the proceeds to Givewell's Maximum Impact Fund, and the course also comes with a 100% money back guarantee. Check it out at https://avid.fm/reflectinghistory or on my patreon page at: https://www.patreon.com/reflectinghistory.
Try my audio course "Piranesi: Exploring the Infinite Halls of a Literary Masterpiece"-- This course is a deep analysis of Susanna Clark's literary masterpiece "Piranesi." Whether you are someone who is reading the novel for academic purposes, or you simply want to enjoy an incredible story for it's own sake, this audio course goes chapter by chapter into the plot, characters, and themes of the book...“The Beauty of the House is immeasurable; it’s kindness infinite.” Piranesi lives in an infinite house, with no long-term memory and only a loose sense of identity. As the secrets of the House deepen and the mystery of his life becomes more sinister, Piranesi must discover who he is and how this brings him closer to the “Great and Secret Knowledge” that the House contains. Touching on themes of memory, identity, mental health, knowledge, reason, experience, meaning, reflection, ideals, and more…Piranesi will be remembered as one of the great books of the 21st century. Hope you enjoy the course as much as I enjoyed making it. Check it out at https://learner.avid.fm/course/s/piranesi or at https://www.patreon.com/reflectinghistory.
Subscribe to my newsletter! A free, low stress, monthly-quarterly email offering historical perspective on modern day issues, behind the scenes content on my latest podcast episodes, and historical lessons/takeaways from the world of history, psychology, and philosophy:https://www.reflectinghistory.com/newsletter.
Leave a rating or review on apple podcasts or spotify!
Why do we dream? What is the difference between dreaming and being awake? Is the modern world around us merely an "artificial dream"-with it's constant barrage of sensory input, screens to look at, and narratives to dive into? This episode is an examination of Erik Hoel's excellent article "Enter the Supersensorium." The connection between dreams and reality is fascinating, but this connection also has some troubling insights into where humanity is headed.
Read the article here: https://thebaffler.com/salvos/enter-the-supersensorium-hoel
-Consider Supporting the Podcast!-
Support the podcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/reflectinghistory
Try my audio course: Why do 'good' people support evil leaders? What allure does Fascism hold that enables it to garner popular support? And what lessons can history teach us about today? My audio course 'A Beginners Guide to Understanding & Resisting Fascism: Nazi Germany and the Battle for the Human Heart' explores these massive questions through the lens of Nazi Germany and the ordinary people who lived, loved, collaborated and even resisted during those times. Through exploring the past, I hope to unlock lessons that all learners on the course can apply to the present day - from why fascism attracts people to how it can be resisted. I'm donating 20% of the proceeds to Givewell's Maximum Impact Fund, and the course also comes with a 100% money back guarantee. Check it out at https://avid.fm/reflectinghistory or on my patreon page at: https://www.patreon.com/reflectinghistory.
Leave a rating or review on apple podcasts or spotify!
By the end of the Taiping Civil War, millions in China felt the grief of being caught in limbo between remembering and forgetting, personal and state, past and future. Ultimately the more intimate, personal grief felt by ordinary survivors of the war contrasted sharply with state sanctioned commemoration and moralistic narrative.
This is the concluding episode in a series covering Tobie Meyer-Fong's excellent book "What Remains," about some of the less talked about social aspects of the Taiping Civil War such as memory, identity, and psychological distress; as well as the practical physical and psychological realities which played a role in a conflict with tens of millions of casualties.
-Consider Supporting the Podcast!-
Support the podcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/reflectinghistory
Try my audio course: Why do 'good' people support evil leaders? What allure does Fascism hold that enables it to garner popular support? And what lessons can history teach us about today? My audio course 'A Beginners Guide to Understanding & Resisting Fascism: Nazi Germany and the Battle for the Human Heart' explores these massive questions through the lens of Nazi Germany and the ordinary people who lived, loved, collaborated and even resisted during those times. Through exploring the past, I hope to unlock lessons that all learners on the course can apply to the present day - from why fascism attracts people to how it can be resisted. I'm donating 20% of the proceeds to Givewell's Maximum Impact Fund, and the course also comes with a 100% money back guarantee. Check it out at https://avid.fm/reflectinghistory or on my patreon page at: https://www.patreon.com/reflectinghistory.
Leave a rating or review on apple podcasts or spotify!
As the deaths piled up during the Taiping Civil War, the grim but pressing reality of how to deal with and commemorate all of the dead bodies lends insight into historical questions of identity and ritual, but also questions of power and authority. To what extent does the loss of bones lead to loss of identity? Why did civilians fear what would happen to their dead body? How did state and local officials insert themselves into the commemoration process? What does all this tell us about the nature of grief and moral narratives in history?
This episode is part three in a series covering Tobie Meyer-Fong's excellent book "What Remains," about some of the less talked about social aspects of the Taiping Civil War such as memory, identity, and psychological distress; as well as the practical physical and psychological realities which played a role in a conflict with tens of millions of casualties.
-Consider Supporting the Podcast!-
Support the podcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/reflectinghistory
Check out my podcast series on Arcane and the Dark Knight Trilogy here: https://www.reflectinghistory.com/bonuscontent
Try my audio course: Why do 'good' people support evil leaders? What allure does Fascism hold that enables it to garner popular support? And what lessons can history teach us about today? My audio course 'A Beginners Guide to Understanding & Resisting Fascism: Nazi Germany and the Battle for the Human Heart' explores these massive questions through the lens of Nazi Germany and the ordinary people who lived, loved, collaborated and even resisted during those times. Through exploring the past, I hope to unlock lessons that all learners on the course can apply to the present day - from why fascism attracts people to how it can be resisted. I'm donating 20% of the proceeds to Givewell's Maximum Impact Fund, and the course also comes with a 100% money back guarantee. Check it out at https://avid.fm/reflectinghistory or on my patreon page at: https://www.patreon.com/reflectinghistory.
Subscribe to my newsletter! A free, low stress, monthly-quarterly email offering historical perspective on modern day issues, behind the scenes content on my latest podcast episodes, and historical lessons/takeaways from the world of history, psychology, and philosophy:https://www.reflectinghistory.com/newsletter
Leave a rating or review on apple podcasts or spotify!
To what extent do questions of who you are and how others see you relate to your personal and philosophical identity? How would this change in a time of war? During the Taiping Civil War, the process of identity formation, identity signaling, and identity assignment reveals interesting questions about the nature of identity, what it means to be physically and spiritually whole, and how we should look at these questions historically speaking.
This episode is part two in a series covering Tobie Meyer-Fong's excellent book "What Remains," about some of the less talked about social aspects of the Taiping Civil War such as memory, identity, and psychological distress; as well as the practical physical and psychological realities which played a role in a conflict with tens of millions of casualties.
-Consider Supporting the Podcast!-
Support the podcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/reflectinghistory
Check out my podcast series on Arcane and the Dark Knight Trilogy here: https://www.reflectinghistory.com/bonuscontent
Try my audio course: Why do 'good' people support evil leaders? What allure does Fascism hold that enables it to garner popular support? And what lessons can history teach us about today? My audio course 'A Beginners Guide to Understanding & Resisting Fascism: Nazi Germany and the Battle for the Human Heart' explores these massive questions through the lens of Nazi Germany and the ordinary people who lived, loved, collaborated and even resisted during those times. Through exploring the past, I hope to unlock lessons that all learners on the course can apply to the present day - from why fascism attracts people to how it can be resisted. I'm donating 20% of the proceeds to Givewell's Maximum Impact Fund, and the course also comes with a 100% money back guarantee. Check it out at https://avid.fm/reflectinghistory
Subscribe to my newsletter! A free, low stress, monthly-quarterly email offering historical perspective on modern day issues, behind the scenes content on my latest podcast episodes, and historical lessons/takeaways from the world of history, psychology, and philosophy: https://www.reflectinghistory.com/newsletter
Leave a rating or review on apple podcasts or spotify!
How did ordinary people make sense of a devastating and apocalyptic event like the Taiping Civil War? To what extent did the logic of divine reward and punishment play a role in the ordinary lives of people impacted by this conflict? How did people combat the horrors of war psychologically?
This episode is part one in a series covering Tobie Meyer-Fong's excellent book "What Remains," about some of the less talked about social aspects of the Taiping Civil War such as memory, identity, and psychological distress; as well as the practical physical and psychological realities which played a role in a conflict with tens of millions of casualties.
-Consider Supporting the Podcast!-
Support the podcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/reflectinghistory
Check out my podcast series on Arcane and the Dark Knight Trilogy here: https://www.reflectinghistory.com/bonuscontent
Try my audio course: Why do 'good' people support evil leaders? What allure does Fascism hold that enables it to garner popular support? And what lessons can history teach us about today? My audio course 'A Beginners Guide to Understanding & Resisting Fascism: Nazi Germany and the Battle for the Human Heart' explores these massive questions through the lens of Nazi Germany and the ordinary people who lived, loved, collaborated and even resisted during those times. Through exploring the past, I hope to unlock lessons that all learners on the course can apply to the present day - from why fascism attracts people to how it can be resisted. I'm donating 20% of the proceeds to Givewell's Maximum Impact Fund, and the course also comes with a 100% money back guarantee. Check it out at https://avid.fm/reflectinghistory
Subscribe to my newsletter! A free, low stress, monthly-quarterly email offering historical perspective on modern day issues, behind the scenes content on my latest podcast episodes, and historical lessons/takeaways from the world of history, psychology, and philosophy: https://www.reflectinghistory.com/newsletter
Leave a rating or review on apple podcasts or spotify!
The Taiping Civil War was an apocalyptic event for those who lived through it. For most ordinary civilians, the realties on the ground involved violence, looting, hypocrisy, and danger at all times. The chaos, death, and atrocities would force those who survived to face complicated questions of grief and loss.
This is the fifth episode in a series on the Taiping Civil War or the Taiping Rebellion in China. It deals with some of the particularly violent characteristics of the the war, as well as discussing the end of the war from multiple different perspectives.
-Consider Supporting the Podcast!-
Support the podcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/reflectinghistory
Check out my podcast series on Arcane and the Dark Knight Trilogy here: https://www.reflectinghistory.com/bonuscontent
Try my audio course: Why do 'good' people support evil leaders? What allure does Fascism hold that enables it to garner popular support? And what lessons can history teach us about today? My audio course 'A Beginners Guide to Understanding & Resisting Fascism: Nazi Germany and the Battle for the Human Heart' explores these massive questions through the lens of Nazi Germany and the ordinary people who lived, loved, collaborated and even resisted during those times. Through exploring the past, I hope to unlock lessons that all learners on the course can apply to the present day - from why fascism attracts people to how it can be resisted. I'm donating 20% of the proceeds to Givewell's Maximum Impact Fund, and the course also comes with a 100% money back guarantee. Check it out at https://avid.fm/reflectinghistory
Subscribe to my newsletter! A free, low stress, monthly-quarterly email offering historical perspective on modern day issues, behind the scenes content on my latest podcast episodes, and historical lessons/takeaways from the world of history, psychology, and philosophy: https://www.reflectinghistory.com/newsletter
Leave a rating or review on apple podcasts or spotify!
The Taiping Civil War is often seen as a product of clashing belief systems and a testament to the power of belief. This episode provides some analysis for how the belief systems of the 3 major players in the conflict interacted and converged: the Taiping version of Christianity, the Qing appeal to Confucian tradition, and the western imperial civilizing mission.
This is the fourth episode in a series on the Taiping Civil War or the Taiping Rebellion in China. It focuses on the ways that the belief systems of the major forces in the conflict set the stage for understanding the trauma and misery that ordinary people faced as a result of this war.
-Consider Supporting the Podcast!-
Support the podcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/reflectinghistory
Check out my podcast series on Arcane and the Dark Knight Trilogy here: https://www.reflectinghistory.com/bonuscontent
Try my audio course: Why do 'good' people support evil leaders? What allure does Fascism hold that enables it to garner popular support? And what lessons can history teach us about today? My audio course 'A Beginners Guide to Understanding & Resisting Fascism: Nazi Germany and the Battle for the Human Heart' explores these massive questions through the lens of Nazi Germany and the ordinary people who lived, loved, collaborated and even resisted during those times. Through exploring the past, I hope to unlock lessons that all learners on the course can apply to the present day - from why fascism attracts people to how it can be resisted. I'm donating 20% of the proceeds to Givewell's Maximum Impact Fund, and the course also comes with a 100% money back guarantee. Check it out at https://avid.fm/reflectinghistory
Subscribe to my newsletter! A free, low stress, monthly-quarterly email offering historical perspective on modern day issues, behind the scenes content on my latest podcast episodes, and historical lessons/takeaways from the world of history, psychology, and philosophy:https://www.reflectinghistory.com/newsletter
Leave a rating or review on apple podcasts or spotify!
How did Hong Xiuquan transform from ordinary school teacher into the leader of the largest rebellion in modern history and the younger brother of Jesus? What started out as one man's fever dream would slowly reveal itself to be a nightmare in reality for millions of people in China.
This is the third episode in a series on the Taiping Civil War or the Taiping Rebellion in China. It focuses on the origin story of Hong Xiuquan, his interpretation of Christian scripture in the context of the dysfunction of China at the time, his appeals to the disenfranchised and anti-establishment, and the apocalyptic and violent nature of Hong's Taiping religion.
-Consider Supporting the Podcast!-
Support the podcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/reflectinghistory
Check out my podcast series on Arcane and the Dark Knight Trilogy here: https://www.reflectinghistory.com/bonuscontent
Try my audio course: Why do 'good' people support evil leaders? What allure does Fascism hold that enables it to garner popular support? And what lessons can history teach us about today? My audio course 'A Beginners Guide to Understanding & Resisting Fascism: Nazi Germany and the Battle for the Human Heart' explores these massive questions through the lens of Nazi Germany and the ordinary people who lived, loved, collaborated and even resisted during those times. Through exploring the past, I hope to unlock lessons that all learners on the course can apply to the present day - from why fascism attracts people to how it can be resisted. I'm donating 20% of the proceeds to Givewell's Maximum Impact Fund, and the course also comes with a 100% money back guarantee. Check it out at https://avid.fm/reflectinghistory
Subscribe to my newsletter! A free, low stress, monthly-quarterly email offering historical perspective on modern day issues, behind the scenes content on my latest podcast episodes, and historical lessons/takeaways from the world of history, psychology, and philosophy: https://www.reflectinghistory.com/newsletter
Leave a rating or review on apple podcasts or spotify!
The “Great Man” style of history is often scoffed on, but does it have a part to play in the story of the Taiping Civil War? Which plays a bigger role in history-individual choices and decisions made by powerful individuals, or the larger contextual trends acting on those individuals? Ultimately a mix of these two styles of history may help us understand how mixed cultural and religiously syncretic systems of belief, combined with translated religious texts and Christian teachings wound up in the hands of perhaps the one man willing and able to set off the pressure cooker that was China in the mid 19th century.
This is the second episode in a series on the Taiping Civil War or the Taiping Rebellion in China. It focuses on the spread of Christianity in China during the 19th century and the ways that old belief systems mixed to create something new.
-Consider Supporting the Podcast!-
Support the podcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/reflectinghistory
Check out my podcast series on Arcane and the Dark Knight Trilogy here: https://www.reflectinghistory.com/bonuscontent
Try my audio course: Why do 'good' people support evil leaders? What allure does Fascism hold that enables it to garner popular support? And what lessons can history teach us about today? My audio course 'A Beginners Guide to Understanding & Resisting Fascism: Nazi Germany and the Battle for the Human Heart' explores these massive questions through the lens of Nazi Germany and the ordinary people who lived, loved, collaborated and even resisted during those times. Through exploring the past, I hope to unlock lessons that all learners on the course can apply to the present day - from why fascism attracts people to how it can be resisted. I'm donating 20% of the proceeds to Givewell's Maximum Impact Fund, and the course also comes with a 100% money back guarantee. Check it out at https://avid.fm/reflectinghistory
Check out my podcast series on Arcane and the Dark Knight Trilogy here: https://www.reflectinghistory.com/bonuscontent
Subscribe to my newsletter! A free, low stress, monthly-quarterly email offering historical perspective on modern day issues, behind the scenes content on my latest podcast episodes, and historical lessons/takeaways from the world of history, psychology, and philosophy: https://www.reflectinghistory.com/newsletter
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From 1850-1864, China was swallowed by a wave of chaos and destruction that was bizarre, unprecedented, and apocalyptic. Some historians estimate that the Taiping Civil War left more than 20 million dead in it's wake. The tale is often told as the strange story of the Taiping leader Hong Xiuquan, who claimed to be the younger brother of Jesus and essentially started his own version of Christianity in China. But there is more to the story, and understanding the Taiping Civil War starts with understanding some of the broader themes at play in 19th century China. Nationalism, economic crises, environmental degradation, western imperialism, cultural syncretism, and other forces combined with the fever dreams of one man to change the world forever.
This episode focuses on a broad overview of the Taiping Civil War and some of the major themes that will be at play in this series. Future episodes will go more in depth as well as focus on the human element of the catastrophe.
-Consider Supporting the Podcast!-
Support the podcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/reflectinghistory
Check out my podcast series on Arcane and the Dark Knight Trilogy here: https://www.reflectinghistory.com/bonuscontent
Try my audio course: Why do 'good' people support evil leaders? What allure does Fascism hold that enables it to garner popular support? And what lessons can history teach us about today? My audio course 'A Beginners Guide to Understanding & Resisting Fascism: Nazi Germany and the Battle for the Human Heart' explores these massive questions through the lens of Nazi Germany and the ordinary people who lived, loved, collaborated and even resisted during those times. Through exploring the past, I hope to unlock lessons that all learners on the course can apply to the present day - from why fascism attracts people to how it can be resisted. I'm donating 20% of the proceeds to Givewell's Maximum Impact Fund, and the course also comes with a 100% money back guarantee. Check it out at https://avid.fm/reflectinghistory
Check out my podcast series on Arcane and the Dark Knight Trilogy here: https://www.reflectinghistory.com/bonuscontent
Subscribe to my newsletter! A free, low stress, monthly-quarterly email offering historical perspective on modern day issues, behind the scenes content on my latest podcast episodes, and historical lessons/takeaways from the world of history, psychology, and philosophy: https://www.reflectinghistory.com/newsletter
Leave a rating or review on apple podcasts or spotify!
Hey everyone, this is a bonus episode from my Patreon feed. Hope you enjoy it. If you want to support the podcast, you can click the link here: https://www.patreon.com/reflectinghistory
"The Bear" by William Faulkner is one of the legendary stories in American literature. Written many decades ago, I think it still has something important to tell us about Manifest Destiny, nature, unity, truth, beauty, and more. A boy's journey to find and hunt a mythical bear can also teach us something about the value of struggle and endurance. Maybe we aren't there yet, but one day we could be. And that's worth enduring for.
Read the story here: https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=sites&srcid=ZGVmYXVsdGRvbWFpbnx0aGV2aXJ0dWFsZW5nbGlzaG5vdGVib29rfGd4OjFiYjYyNDA4NTQwZDkyMjc
Support on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/reflectinghistory
In this episode, I sat down with Vietnam War veteran and now best selling author William V. Taylor to talk about his memoir “On Full Automatic: Surviving 13 Months In Vietnam.” During the discussion we talked about his enlistment and training process, the types and nature of combat during his time there, the role of the environment and how factors like heat and terrain affected him, his relationship to civilians in Vietnam, his changing view of the nature of the enemy as the war went on, the ways that big picture military strategy often clashed with the realities on the ground, the human element of war, the importance of letter writing for him, and ultimately his thoughts on one of the main questions he asks in his book: was it worth it?
Bill Taylor, author of "On Full Automatic: Surviving 13 Months in Vietnam" served in the First Battalion, Third Marine Regiment in Vietnam for 13 months in 1967 and 1968. He has spoken for Veteran’s Organizations and to local schools about the Vietnam War. He currently belongs to the VFW, Military Order of the Purple Heart, Disabled American Veterans, Third Marine Division Association, and the Marine Corp League. He has been a Chapter Commander of the Military Order of the Purple Heart. Visit his website https://www.williamvtaylor.com.
Support the podcast: https://www.patreon.com/reflectinghistory
Reflecting History on Twitter: @reflectinghist
Susan L. Carruthers is Professor of US and International History, University of Warwick. The author of six books, including The Good Occupation: American Soldiers and the Hazards of Peace, she taught for fifteen years at Rutgers University-Newark, and has held visiting fellowships at Harvard, Princeton, and the Woodrow Wilson Center. She was a finalist for the 2017 PEN Hessell-Tiltman prize.
Support the podcast: https://www.patreon.com/reflectinghistory
Reflecting History on Twitter: @reflectinghist
What is freedom? Is it possible to truly make free decisions? How does this relate to the political concept of tyranny? In a world where freedom is often seen as one of the highest ethical priorities, it's worth taking a closer look at what freedom really is. Questions about freedom have been pondered since the beginnings of humanity, including the Ancient Greek philosophers Socrates and Plato offering analysis on the topic that is still relevant today.
Read Book IX of Plato's Republic here: http://classics.mit.edu/Plato/republic.10.ix.html
Support the podcast: https://www.patreon.com/reflectinghistory
Reflecting History on Twitter: @reflectinghist
"There are decades where nothing happens, and there are weeks where decades happen." Vladimir Lenin's famous words beg the question: are some moments in history more significant than others? Are there "crossroads" time periods in history where a given path can branch into multiple different pathways? What are some examples of these crossroads moments and what creates these seismic shifts in the trajectory of history?
Support the podcast: https://www.patreon.com/reflectinghistory
Reflecting History on Twitter: @reflectinghist
Is it possible to ever be truly happy? What if your happiness rests on a backbone of degradation and exploitation? Is it right to sacrifice the few for the many? What should be done about injustice in the world? All of these questions and more are contemplated in Ursula Le Guin's amazing short story "The Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas."
Read the story here: https://learning.hccs.edu/faculty/emily.klotz/engl1302-6/readings/the-ones-who-walk-away-from-omelas-ursula-le-guin/view
Support the podcast: https://www.patreon.com/reflectinghistory
Reflecting History on Twitter: @reflectinghist
From universities down to the Hitler Youth, the education system in 1930's Germany was co-opted by Nazi ideology. In what ways did the endorsement of Nazi ideals by prominent thinkers and intellectuals impact popular opinion? In what ways did the education system change to align itself with Nazi beliefs? How did this impact ordinary people?
For as long as there has been history, there has been a struggle to interpret and analyze that history. Different perspectives, ideologies, and approaches permeate the study of the past. So which interpretation of history is the correct one? Could we all come to a consensus? What if we had a time machine that allowed us to all go back to the same moment and take the guess work and perspective out of history, leaving behind only the facts and the evidence? What would thinking about these questions tell us about what history means and who deserves to have access to it? Ken Liu uses the World War II era atrocities of Japanese Unit 731 to analyze these questions and more in his epic short story "The Man Who Ended History."
Read the story here: https://bbs.pku.edu.cn/attach/93/f6/93f63ba1560a8e2d/liu_the_man_who_ended_history.pdf
Support the podcast: https://www.patreon.com/reflectinghistory
Reflecting History on Twitter: @reflectinghist
Can something be valuable, good, or useful if it isn't real? Depending on your answer to that and your definition of real, fantasy and science fiction may not qualify. But in this episode I argue for the positive benefits of reading and watching fantasy, why it's inherently valuable, how it helps the study of history, and how it can be useful in the real world.
For a different (and much better) reading of the George RR Martin quote I cite in this episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rUMs1E_ZjLE
Support the podcast: https://www.patreon.com/reflectinghistory
Reflecting History on Twitter: @reflectinghist
Hey everybody, here is a bonus episode I released a few months ago on my Patreon feed. Hope you enjoy and have a great Thanksgiving.
The recent discovery of "Dragon Man" and it's potential relationship to early humanity has created some level of controversy in history and archaeology circles. What does this new discovery tell us about the "process" of history? Is history something that is set in stone? Or does it change as humanity changes? Questions worth pondering. Thanks for the support!
Here is the article referenced in the episode: https://patrickwyman.substack.com/p/dragon-man-emerges
Support the podcast: https://www.patreon.com/reflectinghistory
Reflecting History on Twitter: @reflectinghist
Why do 'good' people support evil leaders? What allure does Fascism hold that enables it to garner popular support? And what lessons can history teach us about today?
My audio course 'A Beginners Guide to Understanding & Resisting Fascism: Nazi Germany and the Battle for the Human Heart' explores these massive questions through the lens of Nazi Germany and the ordinary people who lived, loved, collaborated and even resisted during those times.
Through exploring the past, I hope to unlock lessons that all learners on the course can apply to the present day - from why fascism attracts people to how it can be resisted. I'm donating 20% of the proceeds to Givewell's Maximum Impact Fund, and the course also comes with a 100% money back guarantee. Check it out at https://avid.fm/reflectinghistory
Is there a conflict between a zoomed-out historical approach that is focused on facts, events, and dates, versus a more bottom up approach that is focused on ordinary people and their experience of those facts, events, and dates? More recent popular histories and storytellers have focused on the human element (myself included) to bring more emotion and weight to the arguments that they are making. But can the use of this human element be exploitative at times? Can it go over the top into the realm of shock and awe? Is it fair to use someone else's story who is no longer alive to make a point about history? What sort of ethics are at play here? All of these are questions worth asking in my view.
Support the podcast: https://www.patreon.com/reflectinghistory
Reflecting History on Twitter: @reflectinghist
Well, I never thought I would make it to 100 episodes. But here we are. A sincere thank you to everyone reading this right now and to everyone who has ever taken the time to listen to this podcast.
In this episode I do a deep dive into the movie "Cast Away" starring Tom Hanks from the year 2000. In my view, this movie stands the test of time and is about a lot more than a guy stranded on an island with a volleyball. It's about meaning and purpose, time and resilience, letting go and remembering, humanistic psychology and universal needs, starting over and concluding.
Support the podcast: https://www.patreon.com/reflectinghistory
Reflecting History on Twitter: @reflectinghist
"Don't reach for the stars, reach for the flowers." One of the appealing aspects of humanistic psychology is it's embrace of the ordinary and it's emphasis on the fundamental goodness of human beings. Is it true that human nature is fundamentally good as humanists like Abraham Maslow say? Or is there too much evidence of greed and malevolence from the historical past? Should we focus on what human beings have been? Or what they could be? This episode concludes a two part series on humanistic psychology and the recent updating of the hierarchy of needs in the book "Transcend" by Scott Barry Kaufman.
Support the podcast: https://www.patreon.com/reflectinghistory
Reflecting History on Twitter: @reflectinghist
In popular culture, there is often a morbid fascination with the psychology of evil, but what about the psychology of good? Social Psychology may get most of the headlines, but Humanistic Psychology could have just as much to say about human behavior. In his book "Transcend," psychologist Scott Barry Kaufman investigates humanistic psychology from Maslow's hierarchy of needs to Harlow's infant monkeys. He provides a reimagining of the hierarchy of needs and a new way to think about universal needs and common humanity.
Support the podcast: https://www.patreon.com/reflectinghistory
Reflecting History on Twitter: @reflectinghist
In a massive and seemingly uncaring universe, fatalism and the resignation of inevitability is one way to look at the world. The philosophical concept of Mono No Aware and Ken Liu's powerful short story "Mono No Aware" offer an alternative point of view through concepts of inherent beauty, the transient nature of life and death, and the recognition of the impermanent nature of the moment.
Read the story here: http://www.lightspeedmagazine.com/fiction/mono-no-aware/
Support the podcast: https://www.patreon.com/reflectinghistory
Reflecting History on Twitter: @reflectinghist
In this episode I sat down with historian Karen Cook Bell to talk about her book Running from Bondage: Enslaved Women and Their Remarkable Fight for Freedom in Revolutionary America. We discussed life as a female slave in the Revolutionary period, forms of overt and covert resistance to slavery, the sexual exploitation and abuse of slave women, what made slaves decide to run away, maroon communities of runaway slaves, the difficulty of researching the history of lived experience, the paradox of slave owners viewing their slaves as both property and human beings, the relationship between the founding ideals of the American Revolution and enslaved women, questions of freedom and identity among enslaved women, and more.
Karen Cook Bell is an award winning historian and Associate Professor of History at Bowie State University. She specializes in the studies of slavery, the Civil War and Reconstruction, and women's history.
Support the podcast: https://www.patreon.com/reflectinghistory
Reflecting History on Twitter: @reflectinghist
In this episode, I spoke with writer and journalist Adin Dobkin about his book "Sprinting Through No Man's Land: Endurance, Tragedy, and Rebirth in the 1919 Tour de France." We talked about conflict as a lens into cultural history, the 1919 Tour de France and its relationship to World War I, the emotional and psychological impact of World War I, sporting events and national identity, the role of the bicycle in history-specifically as it relates to World War I and women's history, and more.
Adin Dobkin is a writer and journalist whose work has appeared in the New York Times Magazine, the Atlantic, the Paris Review, and the Los Angeles Review of Books, among other publications. Born in Santa Barbara, California, Dobkin received his MFA from Columbia University. He is the co-host of the podcast "War Stories," which looks at warfare’s development through the accounts of individuals at various points in history.
Support the podcast: https://www.patreon.com/reflectinghistory
Reflecting History on Twitter: @reflectinghist
Children often get overlooked in the study of history. But their stories can be useful tools to study the past as well as fascinating examples of human endurance in their own right. Compiled by Dith Pran, "Children of Cambodia's Killing Fields" is a series of first hand accounts from survivors of the Cambodian Genocide. These survivors were kids during the dark times of the Khmer Rouge, and now they tell their stories.
This is the final part in a series on the Cambodian Genocide. Thanks for listening.
I relied heavily on Ben Kiernan's "The Pol Pot Regime," Loung Ung's "First They Killed My Father," and Dith Pran's "Children of Cambodia's Killing Fields."
Support the podcast: https://www.patreon.com/reflectinghistory
Reflecting History on Twitter: @reflectinghist
Loung Ung's incredible memoir "First They Killed My Father" is a tragic reminder of the realities of the Killing Fields in Cambodia, but also a lesson in the importance of historical empathy. Her story is simultaneously a harrowing account of the realities of genocide, yet also a testament to shared humanity, love, and the triumph of the human spirit.
This is Part IV in a series on the Cambodian Genocide. The final episode will look at children's stories and memories from the Killing Fields.
I relied heavily on Ben Kiernan's "The Pol Pot Regime," Loung Ung's "First They Killed My Father," and Dith Pran's "Children of Cambodia's Killing Fields."
Support the podcast: https://www.patreon.com/reflectinghistory
Reflecting History on Twitter: @reflectinghist
What happened in Cambodia from 1975-1979 was especially cruel. What explains the brutality? While historians debate the underlying causes of the cruelty of the Khmer Rouge, the survivors of Cambodia are left to try to put the pieces together.
This is Part III in a series on the Cambodian Genocide. Future episodes in the series will look into first hand accounts from Loung Ung and other children of Cambodia.
I relied heavily on Ben Kiernan's "The Pol Pot Regime," Loung Ung's "First They Killed My Father," and Dith Pran's "Children of Cambodia's Killing Fields."
Support the podcast: https://www.patreon.com/reflectinghistory
Reflecting History on Twitter: @reflectinghist
Ken Liu's amazing short story "The Paper Menagerie" is simple but poignant. It provides an opportunity to think about some of the most important things in life: love, culture, history, regret, memories, identity, and more. But maybe above all it is the story of the bond between a mother and her son.
Thanks for the support!
Read the story here: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5838a24729687f08e0321a15/t/5bf2bdfa562fa782871c6252/1542635003373/The-Paper-Menagerie+by+Ken+Liu.pdf
Support the podcast: https://www.patreon.com/reflectinghistory
Reflecting History on Twitter: @reflectinghist
What was life like under the Khmer Rouge? Ordinary life for millions of Cambodians was filled with fear, torment, and despair. Yet the people of Cambodia also demonstrated resilience, resistance, and an enduring human spirit to protect their families and those they cared about.
This is Part II in a series on the Cambodian Genocide. It goes over ordinary life in Cambodia under Pol Pot. Future episodes will discuss genocide and other first hand accounts from Loung Ung and other children of Cambodia.
I relied heavily on Ben Kiernan's "The Pol Pot Regime," Loung Ung's "First They Killed My Father," and Dith Pran's "Children of Cambodia's Killing Fields."
Support the podcast: https://www.patreon.com/reflectinghistory
Reflecting History on Twitter: @reflectinghist
A potent mix of communism, nationalism, racialism, imperialism, and violence resulted in the Khmer Rouge coming to power in Cambodia in 1975. Led by a man going by the name of Pol Pot, the Khmer Rouge orchestrated the deaths of 1.5 to 2 million Cambodians in a genocide that has become known to history simply as the killing fields. In only four years of chaos, Pol Pot's reign of terror ranks among the most brutal regimes in all history.
This is Part I in a series on the Cambodian Genocide. It goes over some background causation that led to the rise of the Khmer Rouge, and their initial act of emptying out Cambodia's cities. Future episodes will discuss ordinary life in Cambodia under Pol Pot, genocide, as well as first hand accounts from Loung Ung and other children of Cambodia.
I relied heavily on Ben Kiernan's "The Pol Pot Regime," Loung Ung's "First They Killed My Father," and Dith Pran's "Children of Cambodia's Killing Fields."
Support the podcast: https://www.patreon.com/reflectinghistory
Reflecting History on Twitter: @reflectinghist
"Grief burns but does not consume." A grieving merchant stumbles into the shop of an Alchemist, who shows him a device that allows the user to travel 20 years forward or backward in time. The history of the device and the subsequent choice to step through by the grieving merchant say much about the philosophical nature of determinism and free will, as well as the value of forgiveness.
This episode is a discussion of Ted Chiang's award winning short story "The Merchant and the Alchemist's Gate." Read the story here: https://bbs.pku.edu.cn/attach/80/a2/80a255d7a8fc70db/Ted_Chiang.pdf
Support the podcast: https://www.patreon.com/reflectinghistory
Reflecting History on Twitter: @reflectinghist
Barbarian incursions are often cited as a primary instigator to the collapse of the Roman Empire in the west in 476 AD. But why were they happening at this time in the first place? Why not some other time? Like many parts of the story of Rome, climate change may hold some of the answers. Meanwhile, the empire was able to survive in the east, with Justinian often getting credit for reconquering western territories. A pyrrhic victory perhaps, as starting in 541 AD, the Justinianic Plague was along for the ride. The first version of bubonic plague to terrorize humanity, the disease wiped out as many as 50 percent(!) of the inhabitants of the Roman Empire. The disease and the fallout from the disease put the final nail in the coffin of Rome, wiping out anything resembling a "Roman" Empire.
This is the final part in a series on how climate and disease contributed to the fall of the Roman Empire. It focuses on how climate influenced the end of the Roman Empire, The Plague of Justinian, and the end of Rome. This series is based in large part on Kyle Harper's recent book "The Fate of Roman: Climate, Disease, and the End of an Empire."
Support the podcast: https://www.patreon.com/reflectinghistory
Reflecting History on Twitter: @reflectinghist
Shortly after the end of World War II, journalist Milton Mayer visited an ordinary town in West Germany to live with and interview former civilians of Nazi Germany. His goal was to answer some deep questions: to what extent are ordinary people complicit in the creation of authoritarian evil? In what ways did ordinary Germans accept moral responsibility, deflect it, or avoid it? The results of his Nazi oral history are as fascinating as they are horrifying.
Much has been made of the great Roman crisis of the 200's AD. Civil war, political strife, economic dysfunction, and the collapse of the frontier system were just a few of the major problems that threatened to collapse the empire. In the midst of the crisis, as the climate was changing and becoming less favorable, the Plague of Cyprian hit the empire in devastating fashion. Disease, famine, and death predictably followed. But how did Rome respond? From the rise of Christianity to the adaptive nature of Roman ingenuity and institutions, the Roman spirit managed to survive and show resilience in surprising ways.
This is part three in a four part series on how climate and disease contributed to the fall of the Roman Empire. It focuses on the crisis of the third century, the climate impacts of the Roman Transitional Period, the Plague of Cyprian, and how Rome changed as a result of all of this. This series is based in large part on Kyle Harper's recent book "The Fate of Roman: Climate, Disease, and the End of an Empire."
Support the podcast: https://www.patreon.com/reflectinghistory
Reflecting History on Twitter: @reflectinghist
The Roman Empire during the Pax Romana was in many ways a golden age of ancient commerce, urbanization, and connectivity. But the same things that made the empire great also made the empire vulnerable to a new type of danger: the pandemic. The Antonine Plague ravaged through the empire from roughly 165 to 180, in waves of chaos and misery. The resilience of the empire was tested, but it ultimately endured...for now.
This is part two in a four part series on how climate and disease contributed to the fall of the Roman Empire. It focuses on the causes and impacts of the Antonine Plague, and how the Roman state responded. This series is based in large part on Kyle Harper's recent book "The Fate of Roman: Climate, Disease, and the End of an Empire."
Support the podcast: https://www.patreon.com/reflectinghistory
Reflecting History on Twitter: @reflectinghist
The fall of the Roman Empire is one of the great stories in all of history. Wars, political turmoil, barbarian invasions, moral decay, and economic decline are often some of the reasons given as the chief causes of the fall of the western empire in 476 AD. However, historian Kyle Harper would argue that climate and disease play a pivotal role in the story as well. Climate change seems to be a difficult topic to discuss in the modern day, so perhaps taking a look at the history of climate change during one of the key moments in human history will prove useful.
This is the first part in a four part series on how climate change impacted the fall of the Roman Empire in significant ways. It discusses how climate and human interactions play off of each other, and how the Roman Empire during the Pax Romana benefited from the stability of the Roman Climate Optimum. This series of episodes is based in large part on Kyle Harper's recent book "The Fate of Rome: Climate, Disease and the End of an Empire."
Support the podcast: https://www.patreon.com/reflectinghistory
Reflecting History on Twitter: @reflectinghist
Happy Thanksgiving everybody, here's a bonus episode I put out on the Patreon bonus feed a few months ago. Hopefully you find it useful.
Bullshit is one of those concepts that is difficult to define, but that didn't stop philosopher Harry Frankfurt from attempting to get a better grasp of it. Most of us are familiar with the ways that bullshit has infiltrated our jobs, daily lives, and even political realms. But what is bullshit? How does it differ from merely lying? Can understanding it help us in our every day decision making? Why is modern society filled with it? Useful questions to ask.
Here's the link to Frankfurt's essay, might be useful to read it before listening: http://www2.csudh.edu/ccauthen/576f12/frankfurt__harry_-_on_bullshit.pdf
Thanks for the support!
Support the podcast: https://www.patreon.com/reflectinghistory
Reflecting History on Twitter: @reflectinghist
When we think of the historical process, we often think of archives, books, libraries, primary sources, and journals. And we should. But sometimes there is a useful element to informal history-the interactions, relationships, memories, and stories that academics often don't bother to study. They aren't scientific, but they add color. They can fill in the gaps and add clarity, personality, and meaning to the study of history. Informal history can also highlight some bigger picture historical and psychological themes: how we construct identity, how we view ourselves in relation to others, and how we share a common humanity.
This is the final part in a series based on the recent book "China Tripping," which chronicles the ordinary interactions of so called westerners traveling in China. Different academics and historians contributed essays about some of their most memorable experiences in China. The essays run the gamut from hilarious to tragic, and provide an important reminder of shared humanity.
Support the podcast: https://www.patreon.com/reflectinghistory
Reflecting History on Twitter: @reflectinghist
When deadly and traumatic historical events transpire, there is usually plenty of attention paid to these important events. But less often studied is the scars and ripples of sadness that emanate in the lives of ordinary people after events like this. The Cultural Revolution provides a poignant example of the scars and memories that ordinary people in China still hold to this day, the ways it impacts their lives and the lives of those they interact with on a daily basis, and the extent to which in some way or another, humanity's collective scars, memories, and ghosts of the past will always haunt the future.
This is part two in a three part series based on the recent book "China Tripping," which chronicles the ordinary interactions of so called westerners traveling in China. Different academics and historians contributed essays about some of their most memorable experiences in China. The essays run the gamut from hilarious to tragic, and provide an important reminder of shared humanity.
Support the podcast: https://www.patreon.com/reflectinghistory
Reflecting History on Twitter: @reflectinghist
History is the study of the past. Oftentimes we tend to forget that history still existed and is worth studying during times that wouldn't be considered earth-shattering or momentous. Could the study of "ordinary history" teach us something important about the way we look at the past? Could it teach us something about ourselves specifically or human nature in general?
This is part one in a three part series based on the recent book "China Tripping," which chronicles the ordinary interactions of so called westerners traveling in China. Different academics and historians contributed essays about some of their most memorable experiences in China. The essays run the gamut from hilarious to tragic, and provide an important reminder of shared humanity.
Support the podcast: https://www.patreon.com/reflectinghistory
Reflecting History on Twitter: @reflectinghist
Support the podcast: https://www.patreon.com/reflectinghistory
Reflecting History on Twitter: @reflectinghist
Slavery is a difficult topic to learn and teach about. Combine this with some of the big picture problems inherent in most education systems and there is bound to be misconceptions and confusion abound. This episode tackles just a few of these myths and misconceptions through the work of a few notable historians.
Support the podcast: https://www.patreon.com/reflectinghistory
Reflecting History on Twitter: @reflectinghist
A team of scientists returns home from a journey to investigate the causes of a massive supernova. What they discover in the remnants of the cloudy nebula will change humanity forever. The chief astrophysicist of the mission must wrestle with questions of science, faith, and senseless evil. Arthur C. Clarke's award winning science fiction short story "The Star" provides an opportunity to examine questions on the history of science and faith, the problem of evil, and collapsing civilizations.
Read the story here! (It's only 4 pages!): https://sites.uni.edu/morgans/astro/course/TheStar.pdf
Support the podcast: https://www.patreon.com/reflectinghistory
Reflecting History on Twitter: @reflectinghist
What do we mean when we say that a civilization collapsed? This is an extremely common way to speak about ancient societies and governmental systems. It typically carries a negative connotation, but did these "collapses" actually represent decreases in the well being of the human beings who fell victim to them? A similar series of ponderings can apply to the term "Dark Ages." Dark for who? Why? In what context? In his analysis of collapse, dark ages, and the dichotomy between barbarians and "civilization," historian James C. Scott shows once again that sometimes asking the right questions is more important than getting the right answers.
This is the final part in a series on James C. Scott's recent book "Against the Grain." The book provides a new and contrarian perspective on the origins of humanity, what the earliest states were really up to, and how the environment and "civilization" around us has fundamentally changed us as human beings.
Support the podcast: https://www.patreon.com/reflectinghistory
Reflecting History on Twitter: @reflectinghist
Personal identity and the self are major concepts of historical and philosophical study. But applying these concepts to others IS history. It's a major purpose of what we do. This episode discusses the famous thought experiment "the Ship of Theseus," and Greg Egan's excellent short story "Learning to Be Me." The lessons learned from these sources can help us think about our current crisis by remembering to listen, understand others, and put yourself in someone else's shoes.
P.S. Against the Grain Part IV will be out in a few weeks if anyone is wondering.
Support the podcast: https://www.patreon.com/reflectinghistory
Reflecting History on Twitter: @reflectinghist
If the civilizational narrative of progress as a result of human use of agriculture is flawed, then why did states and civilizations develop? How do we define a state? Were the earliest states single entities that magically appeared when enough people congregated in one area, or is it again better to think of states as one method of organization on a carousel of early human organization and activity? We tend to think of states and governments as positive developments for the well being of humanity, but do we think early humans felt the same way? It's possible that the well being of early humans actually declined as the earliest states developed, due to early states contributing to mass mortality by way of disease, slavery, and war.
This is part three in a four part series on James C. Scott's recent book "Against the Grain." The book provides a new and contrarian perspective on the origins of humanity, what the earliest states were really up to, and how the environment and "civilization" around us has fundamentally changed us as human beings.
Support the podcast: https://www.patreon.com/reflectinghistory
Reflecting History on Twitter: @reflectinghist
In what ways did early humans landscape and change the environment over time? How did early humans develop agriculture? Why was grain such a staple crop for early humans? While the standard historical narrative seems to depict the discovery of agriculture as a single watershed moment that humanity never looked back from, it might be more useful to think of agriculture as one technique in a carousel of human ingenuity and environmental landscaping that early humans continuously spun and adjusted on. Although early humans adapted to their survival needs on this carousel for a long time, ultimately the coevolution of humans and the environment around them led to the development of a "domus complex" that fundamentally changed us as humans.
This is part two in a four part series on James C. Scott's recent book "Against the Grain." The book provides a new and contrarian perspective on the origins of humanity, what the earliest states were really up to, and how the environment and "civilization" around us has fundamentally changed us as human beings.
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In some ways, common historical narratives form the backbone of our study of history. There are certain historical stories that are as old as history itself, and are thus taken for granted by the historical layman. One of the most common historical narratives is a narrative of progress: human beings lived as hunters and gatherers, until eventually learning how to farm-the development of agriculture led to permanent settlements, specialization of labor, domestication of plants and animals, a need for states, and finally the "civilization" that we all know and love. But how do we know this narrative is true? What if it turned out there are some serious holes in the idea of the civilizational narrative? What if the causality is reversed? Perhaps it wasn't humans domesticating plants which led to civilization, but rather civilization, states, and environmental changes which domesticated humans.
This is part one in a four part series on James C. Scott's recent book "Against the Grain." The book provides a new and contrarian perspective on the origins of humanity, what the earliest states were really up to, and how the environment and "civilization" around us has fundamentally changed us as human beings.
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Reflecting History on Twitter: @reflectinghist
As David Foster Wallace points out in his famous commencement address "This is Water," life is filled with simple realities that are difficult to talk about or even comprehend. Upon close examination, sometimes these simple and boring platitudes can have deeper meanings that change the way we look at the world. From the purpose of education, to exercising control over what we think about, to the truths that hide in plain sight, David Foster Wallace makes an argument for living an examined life that could change the way we look at the world around us, and the world that came before us.
Check out the speech here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8CrOL-ydFMI
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The Allegory of the Cave from the ancient Greek philosopher Plato is one of the oldest and most discussed philosophical works in history. Prisoners are chained up in a cave, thinking the shadows they see on the wall in front of them represent all that reality has to offer. Plato's cave has obvious parallels to a modern world in which people seemingly live in the same world, but a different reality. The Cave also has much to tell us about truth, knowledge, and what it means to live a good life. But it also asks an ancient philosophical question: how do we know we aren't living in a simulation? If we are living in a simulation version of Plato's cave, how do we escape? What if we can't? What would that mean for the way we live life and the way we view the world?
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Economic history is notoriously complex and difficult to gain insight from. Nazi history is notoriously complex and strangely enough it seems many ignore the lessons that should be gleaned. Combine these two realities and the result is a Nazi economic history that is controversial and potentially misleading. Some have claimed in recent years that while not wanting to condone Hitler's atrocities, he did help to fix the German economy after the Depression. Does this claim that Hitler "fixed" the German economy hold any water?
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In the aftermath of the Bosnian Genocide, oral historian Selma Leydesdorff interviewed the female survivors of the tragedy. She was able to discover and document the strength and determination that each survivor of catastrophe possesses. The women of Srebrenica tell incredible tales of life before the war, life as a refugee, the experience of being part of an ethnic cleansing campaign, and of course the psychological burdens of surviving genocide. But hidden inside the deep memories is an important historical principle: the importance of remembering.
This is the final episode in a series on the Bosnian War. Thanks for listening.
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The town of Gorazde in eastern Bosnia was promised protection from ethnic cleansing. In the midst of mass murder, violence, and chaos, the United Nations designated Gorazde, Srebrenica, and other locations as "safe areas." Refugees and victims of ethnic cleansing flocked to these areas for safety and protection. The people of these towns celebrated, thinking their suffering was finally over. But words are wind. When the time came for victims to call for help, they were answered with the worst reply of all: silence.
This is part six in a series on the Bosnian War. The final episode will focus on the survivors of the Bosnian Genocide.
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The Bosnian War is known historically for it's vicious cruelty. Ancient hatreds and the impact they had on the people of Bosnia are often used as a primary explanation for the conflict. Kenan Trebincevic was a survivor of the war, wracked by hatred and anger. After escaping his homeland to America, he made a visit to Bosnia years later to face down his past and get vengeance for what he and his family were made to go through. On his journey home, he discovered perhaps a more powerful force than vengeance: forgiveness. Why is forgiveness important? Why is the process of forgiveness so difficult? Is it worthwhile?
This is part five in a series on the Bosnian War. Future episodes will cover different aspects of the conflict, including the the role of journalism in the war, the role of United States foreign policy and the United Nations in the conflict, ethnic cleansing, and the Bosnian Genocide.
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As Bosnia was torn asunder by war and destruction, a newspaper known as Oslobodjenje endured the heat of the Siege of Sarajevo and gained worldwide recognition for it's reporting and it's ability to continue publishing papers in a war zone. Their building was destroyed, their supplies were minimal, and their people were killed, but somehow the paper endured. The reporters at Oslobodjenje provided a valuable service to the community by keeping the people informed of big picture events in the war, but also keeping up with the daily tragedy that was life in Sarajevo. In addition to struggling for their lives, editors and reporters struggled with journalistic questions of objectivity, bias, and emphasis. Should you report everything that comes across your desk during a war? What if it gives the other side an advantage? Should you make an extra effort to be fair in your reporting to people who are actively trying to kill you? What's more important: journalistic integrity or survival? The experience of Oslobodjenje and it's employees provides a great opportunity to think about the ethical questions that any free press faces.
This is part four in a series on the Bosnian War. Future episodes will cover different aspects of the conflict, including the role of United States foreign policy and the United Nations in the conflict, ethnic cleansing, and the Bosnian Genocide.
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For this episode, I sat down with author and historian S.C. Gwynne to discuss the American Civil War and his latest book, "Hymns of the Republic." We talked about Lincoln's opinions on slavery, the causes of the Civil War, why many refuse to see slavery as the primary cause of the war, the African-American experience during the war, medical disasters during the war and the role of Clara Barton, the brutality of the war for the common soldier, the critical election of 1864, how we should think about the morality of the war, the legacy of the Civil War and modern day parallels, among other topics.
S.C. Gwynne is a best selling author of numerous history books, including his biography of Stonewall Jackson "Rebel Yell" and his look at the Comanche Indians and the American West in "Empire of the Summer Moon." He was won numerous awards and been nominated for a Pulitzer Prize for his writing.
If you are wondering about Part IV of the Bosnian War series, it's coming next week!
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Hatred is often given as the historical reason for wars and other nasty events throughout history. There was certainly plenty of it to go around in Bosnia during the 1990's, but how have historians been able to make sense of it? Why did neighbors, friends, and countrymen begin to turn on each other and do horrible things to each other? Is the best answer simply hatred? Or is there something deeper at play? It turns out psychological forces like cognitive dissonance may be able to explain some of these questions.
This is part three in a series on the Bosnian War. Future episodes will cover different aspects of the conflict, including the the role of journalism in the war, the role of United States foreign policy and the United Nations in the conflict, ethnic cleansing, and the Bosnian Genocide.
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For well over two years, Bosnian Serb forces bombarded Sarajevo in an attempt to destroy the city and break the spirit of the people who lived there. Thousands of civilians (including children) were killed in an attempt by Bosnian Serb forces to divide the city and stir ethnic hatred. People lived without food, running water, electricity, or heat. While survival became the priority for most ordinary people, their collective experience of surviving against the odds and standing up to a bully coalesced into something that will always be remembered.
This is part two in a series on the Bosnian War. Future episodes will cover different aspects of the conflict, including the role of journalism in the war, the role of United States foreign policy and the United Nations in the conflict, ethnic cleansing, and the Bosnian Genocide.
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No one who lived through it will ever forget what happened in Bosnia during the 1990's. What had been a unified and (mostly) peaceful region only a few years before melted down into war, chaos, and genocide. The causes of the war are hotly debated, probably due to the complexity of the conflict. Ultimately it was ethnic, political, and religious differences that merged with nationalism to give the 20th century one last European war to be haunted by.
This is part one in a series on the Bosnian War. It gives an overview of some of the themes of the conflict and goes over the origins of the war. Future episodes will cover different aspects of the conflict, including the Siege of Sarajevo, the role of journalism in the war, the role of United States foreign policy and the United Nations in the conflict, ethnic cleansing, and the Bosnian Genocide.
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Historians, philosophers, and armchair historians have often pondered the role of chance in history. To what extent does randomness or luck dictate what happens to us? Are the events of history just a random spin on the wheel of fate, or is there a more determined explanation of historical events? Bringing up questions about historical free will, determinism, and cause-effect relationships, this episode goes through some of the history of people thinking about these types of questions. It also discusses some historical examples of "chance" in action, and the implications that asking these questions has for the study of history-particularly as it relates to the recent rise of "counterfactual" history.
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When Julius Caesar crossed the Rubicon to ignite yet another Roman Civil War, nobody at the time knew that this was the end of the Republic. Caesar's victory in his clash with the forces of Pompey, his former friend and member of the 1st triumvirate, led to Caesar's rule as dictator in which he tried to alleviate the problems of the Republic in a similar fashion as popular reformers of years past. But the Ides of March were coming, and Caesar's heir Octavian would emerge from a struggle with Marc Antony as undisputed emperor of the Roman World: Augustus Caesar. The Roman Republic was dead.
This is the final episode in a series on the downfall of the Roman Republic. It focuses on the final years of the Roman Republic, and summarizes why it fell by a combination of factors that have been discussed in the series. Thanks for listening.
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With the Republic rebuilding after the wreckage caused by Marius and Sulla, a new cast of political characters was taking power in Rome. Julius Caesar, Pompey, Crassus, Cicero, Cato, and others are all legends of history for good reason. The interplay between these men and their competing ambitions combined with the long term structural issues that had plagued the Republic since the beginning to create the conditions for one last Civil War that would put the dying Republic out of it's misery.
This is Part V in a series on the downfall of the Roman Republic. It focuses on the rise of some of the key political figures in the late stages of the Roman Republic and how violence and cynical political norms were now integrated into the Roman system.
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As violence increasingly became a tool at the disposal of corrupt and cynical Romans, it also became a last resort for frustrated and hopeless Romans and Italian Allies. As a result of the Republic's failure to address systemic social and economic issues, the Social War broke out between Rome and the Italian Allies. In the aftermath of this devastating war, the famous Gaius Marius and Lucius Cornelius Sulla waged a titanic and bloody war for the fate of the Roman Republic. The endemic violence and zero-sum nature of the conflict ultimately ensured the future demise of the Republic.
This is Part IV in a series on the downfall of the Roman Republic. It focuses on questions of citizenship in Ancient Rome, the Social War, and the epic struggle between Sulla and Marius. Sulla claimed victory, but ultimately for the Roman Republic it was ashes in the end.
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Many historians have cited moral decline that began after the Punic Wars as a leading cause in the decline of the Roman Republic. While there are different interpretations of this idea, the conflict between ambition and equality was a problem that was built into the Roman system and was ultimately never completely resolved in the Republic. A frustrated underclass of Roman citizens and other Italians who saw their farms shrinking and their economic opportunities limited as a result of the changing economic conditions after the Punic War provided the perfect opportunity for cynical politicians to appeal to populism and ambitious maneuvering to increase their own power and prestige. Whether you view them as populists or genuine reformers, men like Tiberius Gracchus and Gaius Gracchus identified problems in the Roman system and tried to fix them as they saw fit. Ultimately the system swallowed them up and they failed to produce long lasting change to the corrupted system. But their demise introduced a new crisis that the Republic would never solve: political violence.
This is Part III in a series on the downfall of the Roman Republic. It focuses on Tiberius and Gaius Gracchus and their attempt to alleviate disenfranchised Romans who felt the new Roman economic system was leaving them behind.
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The Roman Republic's victory over Carthage in the Punic Wars established Rome as the dominant power in the Mediterranean. But not without cost. In order to defeat Carthage, Rome had to resort to it's own ancient version of total war, which would have insidious effects that would only manifest themselves in the years to come. Victory in the war also led to a fundamental change in the way the Roman economy worked over the years. This led to increased wealth inequality, political and economic corruption, population shifts, and questions over citizenship that would ultimately create friction in the Republic.
This is Part II in a series on the fall of the ancient Roman Republic. It gives an overview of the Punic Wars, and goes over how Rome's victory in these wars led to incredible shifts in Roman politics, economics, and moral norms that would ultimately create the conditions necessary for the Republic to fall.
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Does history repeat itself? Many people have asked this question over the years, but it seems more relevant as interested parties look to the past for answers to solve our seemingly increasing mess of problems in the modern world. If the goal of studying history is to learn from the past and avoid making the same mistakes, there is perhaps no better topic to learn about than the ancient Roman Republic. The downfall of the once durable and effective democratic institution is worth studying and is an important tale that can teach lessons relevant to virtually every element of modern life, from politics to economics to everyday social life.
This is Part I in a series on the downfall of the ancient Roman Republic. It goes over the basic structure of the Roman democracy, some of the features that were built into the system, and takes a look at how and why the system was effective.
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What can a guy who spent much of his day naked in public as he heckled bystanders from his perch in a bath tub teach us about philosophy and history? Quite a bit it turns out. Known as "the dog" for his shameless and strange behavior, Diogenes the Cynic is one of the most widely revered of the Ancient Greek thinkers and one of the first philosophers of cynicism. Analyzing his life can lead to important lessons on moral virtue, happiness, freedom of speech, self-sufficiency, mental and physical toughness, endurance, humor, and materialism.
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Colonialism and Imperialism are among the most controversial historical narratives. An outbreak of Sleeping Sickness disease in the Belgian Congo during the early 1900's provides a lens through which to examine the legacy of European Imperialism and the Scramble for Africa. The epidemic brings up interesting questions about the implementation of control by colonial authorities, the use of western medicine in Africa, and the legacy of Imperialism.
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After the death of Mao Zedong in 1976, a fierce political battle ensued for the soul of modern China. But it was the ordinary people of China who had spent the past 10 years fighting through chaos, violence, and oppression who helped forge a new path. Many never made it through the revolution, but many also took matters into their own hands by finding creative ways to survive and seize economic opportunities to put food on the table and protect their families. Millions took part in a "silent revolution" to preserve their traditions, cultures, and identities in the face of unimaginable tragedy. For the survivors who made it out on the other side of the Cultural Revolution, the world would never be the same.
This is the final episode in a series on the Cultural Revolution. It focuses on the politics surrounding Mao Zedong as well as the actions of everyday people to survive and drive change in China. Thanks for listening to the series.
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In the 1970's Red Guards and "undesirables" were forced to toil away in rural China working at re-education camps or doing manual labor in the people's communes. The ordinary people of China continued to suffer and found little motivation to carry on the Cultural Revolution. Mao and the communist party realized they needed to add extra incentive if the revolutionary goals were to be realized. It turns out nothing motivates like a strong dose of nationalism and the fear of nuclear war.
This is part VII in a multi-part series on the Cultural Revolution in China. It focuses on the mass movement of people into the countryside, and the mobilization of the entire country for a potential war. The next episode after this will be the last episode in the series, discussing the end of the Cultural Revolution.
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The Cultural Revolution began as a campaign against bad class elements, but spiraled out of control as counter-revolutions emerged throughout the country between rebel groups and the local party establishments. As the chaos got out of control, the army had to step in and take control of the country. But whose side would they be on? Sadly for the average person in China at this period, it probably didn't matter as the violence and destruction would continue.
This is Part VI in a series on the Cultural Revolution. It focuses on what was probably the most chaotic and destructive period of the Cultural Revolution. Future episodes will discuss how the end of the Cultural Revolution is in sight, but a whole lot more tragedy would unfold before then.
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By 1967, China was engulfed in the chaos of the Cultural Revolution. But the violence of the counter-revolutions and counter-counter-revolutions was not the only source of misery for ordinary people in China. As fear spread and the Cultural Revolution expanded, it began to have a significant impact on the command economy of China. The campaign to eliminate the Four Olds was growing in intensity, leaving businesses destroyed, trade halted, libraries burned, and people struggling to make a living. The entire economy of China revolved around one man: Mao Zedong.
This is Part V in a series on the Cultural Revolution. It focuses on the campaign to eliminate the Four Olds and how this impacted the economy of China. Future episodes will chronicle the further ebbs and flows of the Cultural Revolution.
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By the end of August in 1966, it was clear that the Cultural Revolution was going to be a unique historical period of violence and upheaval. Violence and brutality were becoming routine, symptoms of the incredibly modern issues that the Cultural Revolution was creating, including student protests and the psychology behind them, leadership seemingly stoking the fires of mistrust and intimidation, and people not knowing which news sources to trust. One of the saddest elements of this violence and chaos was that it was often perpetrated by teenagers. What was life like for the Red Guards, what kinds of experiences did they have at mass rallies, and what made them tick?
This is Part IV in a series on the Cultural Revolution. It focuses on the escalation of the Cultural Revolution in it's early phases and the experiences of Red Guards at mass rallies in Tiananmen Square. Future episodes will chronicle the further ebbs and flows of the Cultural Revolution.
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During the first month of the Cultural Revolution Mao Zedong unleashed a whirlwind of chaos and confusion in China. Mao mobilized students as "Red Guards"- one part student group, one part paramilitary group- to terrorize class enemies and spread fear and paranoia. As Red Guard violence escalated from attacks on teachers to attacks on the power structure itself, within a single month the Cultural Revolution was already spiraling out of control.
This is Part III in a series on the Cultural Revolution. It focuses on the formation of the Red Guards and the violence and chaos of the first month of the Cultural Revolution. Future episodes will chronicle the expansion and further tragedy of the Cultural Revolution.
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After the deaths of tens of millions of people during the Great Leap Forward, Mao Zedong had to re-establish control over the Communist Party in China. Through a process of political maneuvering and ruthless policy making, by 1966 Mao was finally ready to begin his Cultural Revolution.
This is Part II in a series on the Cultural Revolution. It talks mostly about the impacts of the Great Leap Forward and how Mao had to pave a new way forward that would ultimately culminate in the Cultural Revolution. This episode sets up a lot of the background and some of Mao's thought processes before the Cultural Revolution began. Later episodes will look at some more of the specific details and events of the Cultural Revolution.
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The Cultural Revolution in China lasted roughly from 1966-1976. But the cultural disintegration and scars left from Mao Zedong's final campaign of terror and violence will last for generations to come.
This is Part I in a series on the Cultural Revolution in China. It focuses on some of the bigger picture themes and ideas that will be discussed in the series. More specific details on the events of the Cultural Revolution will come in later parts of the series.
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As Ji-Li Jiang describes in "Red Scarf Girl," the Cultural Revolution became more sinister over time and the psychological pressure on Ji-Li to conform became greater. When the humiliations, beatings, and deaths started hitting close to home, Mao Zedong's ultimate loyalty test was given to millions of children in China: Party or family?
This is the second and final part in a series on Ji-Li Jiang's experience during the Cultural Revolution.
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Kids often get overlooked in traditional historical narratives. But in China around 1966, the communist leader Mao Zedong realized that he could weaponize the youth of China to achieve his political goals. The result was disastrously tragic. In her memoir "Red Scarf Girl," Ji-li Jiang tells the horrifying story of the Cultural Revolution through the eyes of a young adult.
This is Part I in a series on Ji-Li Jiang's experience during the Cultural Revolution. Part II should be out in a few weeks.
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What is it that makes you, you? How would your identity change if you suddenly belonged to a new country? For the people of East Germany, this hypothetical became a reality shortly after the fall of the Berlin Wall and the end of the Cold War in the early 1990's. In her book "Where the World Ended," Daphne Berdahl takes a look at the complex interaction between history and identity.
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The end of the Cold War is often simplified to the triumph of democracy and capitalism over communism. But what impact did this triumph have on the everyday people involved? Shortly after the fall of the Berlin wall and the re-unification of Germany, anthropologist Daphne Berdahl traveled to the East German village of Kella to find out. Based on her insight, this episode takes a look at everyday life from a political and social perspective under the authoritarian regime. How much control did the state have over the political and social life of it's citizens? Was their any room for dissent? What role did religion play? How did all of this change once the borders were opened and Germany was reunified?
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Picking up where the last episode left off, this episode looks at some of the core principles and wisdom contained in "The Tao of Pooh." The Taoist concepts of inner nature, yin and yang, wu wei, the uncarved block, simplicity, patience, and compassion are all discussed. It is difficult to read the book and not come away thinking that Taoism is an underrated and useful philosophy in modern times.
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Written in 1982 by Benjamin Hoff, "The Tao of Pooh" gives an overview of the ancient philosophy of Taoism. The book is accessible and full of wisdom, but perhaps its most useful element is how it sheds light on the concerning trends in the modern education system. Intellectual curiosity and the search for meaning seem to be taking a backseat to practicality and career readiness.
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The Bystander Effect is a psychological term for the tendency for people to be less likely to help victims in need when other people are present. During the Holocaust, a significant number of people around the globe knew about the mass murders, deportations, and concentration camps, and yet did nothing to help the victims. Why? What made people more (or less) likely to step up and help?
You can check out materials from Facing History on this subject here.
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The fighting may have ended in 1918, but the Treaty of Versailles negotiations in 1919 may have been just as important. Woodrow Wilson’s noble ideas like “self determination” and “fair and lasting peace” didn’t amount to much as the Allied powers sought mainly to punish Germany. A continued naval blockade, the war guilt clause, reparations, and exclusion from the League of Nations helped put Europe on the path to World War II.
Scene from “Rome” on HBO: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=9SFsAqqN7fU
For more on how the Treaty of Versailles and other factors contributed to the rise of Hitler and Nazi Germany, check out Episode 20.
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As the rest of their alliance crumbled around them, Germany kicked off 1918 with Operation Michael-the first in a series of huge offensives designed to win the war. Desperate times call for desperate measures, but in the end exhaustion and futility ruled the day. The offensives backfired and resulted in a decisive military victory for the Allies. World War I was finally over.
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Of all the crazy years during the Great War, 1917 was probably the most eventful. The Russian Revolution, Unrestricted Submarine Warfare, the Zimmerman Telegram, Woodrow Wilson and the United States entering the war, the Nivelle Offensive, and Passchendaele are just some of the momentous events. It can be difficult to make sense of it all without an understanding of one of the key themes of 1917- the increasingly demoralizing impact of World War I on soldiers, civilians, and governments.
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Fake News and propaganda have been around as long as civilization itself. The modern epidemic of lies and deception as a means to influence public opinion can draw some interesting parallels to World War I. What can we learn from the efforts of both governments and private citizens to control the narrative of war?
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In 1916, World War I continued to corrupt and destroy everything it came into contact with. The rates of death and destruction at Verdun and the Somme were unlike anything ever seen before. Soldiers, governments, and civilians were decimated by the tragedy and the "lost generation" was born.
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During 1915, it was apparent that World War I was becoming something truly malevolent. With the carnage and the devastation continuing on the Western and Eastern Front, new innovations and tactics had to be used in order to have any measure of success. With the horror show continuing to get worse, political and military leaders took part in a "search for elsewhere" looking for any other strategy that might work. As a result, 1915 managed to add the Gallipoli Campaign and the Armenian Genocide to an already horrifying list of tragedies during the Great War.
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The first year of World War I set the tone for the rest of the war. Violence, brutality, and chaos ruled the day as huge armies clashed in what many see as the first truly modern war. But could things have turned out differently? Should the Germans have won the war in 1914? What role did poor leadership play in the disaster that was to come? Why did the war become a self-perpetuating tragedy? This episode will look at questions like this and some of the other human themes that become apparent when you look at the first year of World War I.
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It is amazing how misinformed the general public is regarding the origins of World War I. Even historians debate the causes of the Great War. Who or what is to blame for one of the greatest tragedies in history? Like most things that are complicated and nuanced, it turns out there is a mix of factors that led Europe down a path of terrible destruction.
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