Conversations: What is actually taught in our history classrooms, w/ Brendan Gillis
Release Date: 05/02/2025
Conversations: Lessons from Alternative History, w/ Harry Turtledove
History Shorts
In this Conversation Series episode of History Shorts, Peter sits down with the undisputed master of alternative history, Harry Turtledove, to explore how a single changed moment in the past can reshape the entire course of human history. From Civil War battlefields altered by future technology to alien invasions colliding with World War II in his sweeping Worldwar, Turtledove has spent decades asking one powerful question: what if? In this wide-ranging conversation, he reveals how real historical research underpins even his wildest scenarios, why turning points matter more than famous...
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Mutiny on the Bounty
History Shorts
In 1789, one of the most famous rebellions in maritime history exploded aboard the British ship HMS Bounty. After months at sea under the harsh command of Captain William Bligh, a group of sailors led by Fletcher Christian seized control of the ship in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. Bligh and his loyal men were cast adrift in a small open boat — a death sentence that somehow turned into one of the greatest survival voyages in history. DON’T FORGET TO SUBSCRIBE AND LEAVE A RATING OR A REVIEW! THANK YOU IN ADVANCE! SUPPORT THE SHOW: ADVERTISE: LEARN MORE: ...
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The Somme, 1916
History Shorts
In the summer of 1916, along a quiet stretch of countryside in northern France, one of the deadliest battles in human history erupted — and forever changed the nature of warfare. In this episode of History Shorts, we dive into the Battle of the Somme, a brutal World War I offensive meant to break the stalemate of trench warfare. DON’T FORGET TO SUBSCRIBE AND LEAVE A RATING OR A REVIEW! THANK YOU IN ADVANCE! SUPPORT THE SHOW: ADVERTISE: LEARN MORE: SPONSORED BY:
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Amazons: Warrior Women of Myth and Legend
History Shorts
In the ancient Greek imagination, there existed a society unlike any other — a nation of fierce, independent women who lived by the sword, rode into battle on horseback, and struck fear into the hearts of even the greatest heroes of myth. In this episode of History Shorts, we explore the legend of the Amazons — warrior women said to live beyond the edges of the known world. From their epic clashes with Hercules and Theseus to their role in the Trojan War, the Amazons stood as both rivals and reflections of Greek society’s deepest fears and fascinations. DON’T FORGET TO SUBSCRIBE...
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22nd Amendment: Putting a Clock on the Presidency
History Shorts
For nearly 150 years, the presidency followed an unwritten rule set by George Washington: two terms, then step aside. But in the chaos of the Great Depression and World War II, that tradition was shattered by one man — Franklin D. Roosevelt — who was elected an unprecedented four times. In this episode of History Shorts, we explore how Roosevelt’s extraordinary presidency led directly to the creation of the 22nd Amendment, permanently limiting future presidents to two terms in office. DON’T FORGET TO SUBSCRIBE AND LEAVE A RATING OR A REVIEW! THANK YOU IN ADVANCE! SUPPORT THE...
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The Monroe Doctrine
History Shorts
In 1823, the United States was still a young, fragile nation — yet President James Monroe issued a bold warning to the great empires of Europe that would permanently change the balance of power in the Western Hemisphere. The Monroe Doctrine declared that the Americas were no longer open to European colonization, and that any attempt to interfere in the New World would be seen as a threat to U.S. security. At the time, America lacked the military strength to enforce such a claim — but the message was clear: a new power was rising. DON’T FORGET TO SUBSCRIBE AND LEAVE A RATING OR A...
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Hussars: History's Most Terrrifying Cavalry
History Shorts
Thunder rolled across Europe’s battlefields — not from the sky, but from hooves. For over two centuries, the Winged Hussars of Poland-Lithuania were the most feared cavalry force in the world. Clad in armor, armed with massive lances, and riding at full gallop with towering feathered wings strapped to their backs, they shattered armies that outnumbered them many times over. DON’T FORGET TO SUBSCRIBE AND LEAVE A RATING OR A REVIEW! THANK YOU IN ADVANCE! SUPPORT THE SHOW: ADVERTISE: LEARN MORE: SPONSORED BY:
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Conversations: Our Man in Tokyo Before Pearl Harbor, w/ Steve Kemper
History Shorts
During World War II, while most Americans were fleeing Axis territory, one man stayed behind in the heart of Imperial Japan. In this special conversation episode of History Shorts, host Peter Zablocki sits down with bestselling author and historian Steve Kemper to discuss his gripping book Our Man in Tokyo — the true story of Otto Tolischus, the American journalist who reported from inside Japan’s wartime capital as it allied with Nazi Germany. DON’T FORGET TO SUBSCRIBE AND LEAVE A RATING OR A REVIEW! THANK YOU IN ADVANCE! SUPPORT THE SHOW: ADVERTISE: LEARN...
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Vatican City: The Smallest Nation
History Shorts
Tucked within the heart of Rome lies the smallest country on Earth — yet for nearly two thousand years, Vatican City has stood at the center of global power, faith, politics, and conflict. DON’T FORGET TO SUBSCRIBE AND LEAVE A RATING OR A REVIEW! THANK YOU IN ADVANCE! SUPPORT THE SHOW: ADVERTISE: LEARN MORE: SPONSORED BY:
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The Cats of History
History Shorts
From ancient temples to royal courts, battlefields to libraries, cats have quietly — and sometimes dramatically — shaped human history. In ancient Egypt, they were worshipped as divine protectors. In medieval Europe, they were feared as omens of witchcraft. On ships, they guarded precious food supplies and boosted sailor morale. And in the halls of power, famous figures from Abraham Lincoln to Winston Churchill relied on feline companions for comfort and companionship. But some cats went far beyond companionship — saving cities from plagues, becoming symbols of empires, surviving wars,...
info_outlinePeter speaks with the Director of Teaching and Learning at the American Historical Association about the organization's newest and largest-ever survey of history education in American secondary schools.
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