Wonders of the World

Wonders of the World: the podcast that visits the great places on Earth to tell the story of our people, our civilization, and our planet.

101 - The Uffizi Gallery of Florence and Cosimo I de' Medici 04/25/2024

101 - The Uffizi Gallery of Florence and Cosimo I de' Medici One of the world's great museums of Renaissance art: the Uffizi. Meaning "the offices," the Uffizi were quite literally built as an office buidling for the growing administration of Cosimo I de' Medici, the first Grand Duke of Tuscany, the leader who brought authoritarian rule, if also stablity, to Florence. Bry Rayburn from the Pontifacts podcast, joins me once again to talk about Cosimo, her historic bae, the great museum, and the rest of his legacy. We also talk about our old friend Giorgio Vasari, author, artist and architect, a true Renaissance man. And of course, ribollita, that classic Tuscan white bean stew! /episode/index/show/wonderspodcast/id/30962018

Bonus - The Total Solar Eclipse of 2024 04/08/2024

Bonus - The Total Solar Eclipse of 2024 A quick bonus episode about how eclipses connect with human history /episode/index/show/wonderspodcast/id/30719748

099 - The Meenakshi Amman Temple of Madurai 03/21/2024

099 - The Meenakshi Amman Temple of Madurai Towering above the city of Madurai, the gopurams or gateways of the Meenakshi Amman Temple are medieval skyscrapers, awash in color, writhing in movement, beautiful and otherworldly at the same time. In this episode we'll discuss the rise of the Mughal Empire, the fall of Vijayanagara, and of course, masala dosa, that most incredible of South Indian streetfoods. /episode/index/show/wonderspodcast/id/30423723

100 - The Wieliczka Salt Mine 09/07/2023

100 - The Wieliczka Salt Mine In the late 1500s Poland and Lithuania joined to create the Commonwealth, a remarkable, if flawed, experiment in constitutional monarchy that would last more than 200 years. Its legacy of religious tolerance and representative republicanism is strangely overlooked in American history books - and I would guess in other histories as well. One of the chief economic engines of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth was the Wielizcka Salt Mine, an amazing wonder delved over 700 years. To visit Wieliczka is to be amazed at the artistry of salt sculptures and impressed by the sheer cheesiness of all the salty dwarves. So many salty dwarves. Or maybe they're gnomes... Finally, let's grab some friends and make pierogis! /episode/index/show/wonderspodcast/id/27946065

098 - The Süleymaniye Mosque of Istanbul 08/15/2023

098 - The Süleymaniye Mosque of Istanbul Suleiman the Magnificent? Suleiman the Lawgiver? Suleiman the Bisexual Poet? No matter how you label him, Suleiman was a fascinating sultan of the Ottoman Empire who strode upon the world stage, and his private life was worthy of a scandalous Netflix show. Among his greatest legacies was commissioning this phenomenal mosque, designed by Mimar Sinan, one of the history's most successul and significant architects. Listener and traveler Emma Browning returns to discuss visiting the mosque and Istanbul and trying to find vegetarian food in a city known for its meat and seafood. Grab some Turkish delight and enjoy! /episode/index/show/wonderspodcast/id/27754182

097 - Machu Picchu 02/09/2023

097 - Machu Picchu The world-famous "lost city of the Inca". It wasn't a city, and it wasn't lost, but yes, it was made by the Inca. The incredibly scenic former estate of kings is a true marvel, as I can personally attest, but this episode is about so much more than the ruins that people come from all over the world to see. Joined by Nick Machinski of the History of the Inca Empire podcast, we talk about the dramatic rise and fall of the Inca Empire, their staunch resistance to Spanish conquest, and the wonders that might have been, like the gold-covered Qoriqancha. Listener and friend of the pod Jesse Oppenheim shares his breathless experience visiting Peru as well. And if you haven't had lomo saltado, you should fix that. Photo by Allard Schmidt /episode/index/show/wonderspodcast/id/25838853

Mental Health Hiatus 12/07/2022

Mental Health Hiatus It's all too much for me to take - the Beatles, 1969 /episode/index/show/wonderspodcast/id/25256427

096 - The Humble Administrator's Garden of Suzhou 08/18/2022

096 - The Humble Administrator's Garden of Suzhou He was from the richest city in Ming China, or one of the richest, and after his checkered political career, he came home and planted a garden. 500 years later, we can still visit his garden and marvel at the humility of Wang Xianchen, the Humble Administrator. This episode is a pleasant diversion beforewe get back to the big stories. And we'll have Suzhou "smoked" fish while we're here! Sources: Clunas, Craig. Fruitful Sites: Garden Culture in Ming Dynasty China Lonely Planet China Photograph CC4.0 by wikicommons user Another Believer /episode/index/show/wonderspodcast/id/24074439

095 - The Migration of the Monarch Butterflies 07/14/2022

095 - The Migration of the Monarch Butterflies Monarch butterflies are tiny, ephemeral creatures, whose audacious color patterns makes them beloved across a continent, yet few realize how remarkable their migration from Canada and the US to their winter ground west of Mexico City really is. Listener Livia Montovani joins us to talk about visiting the mountain reserves where hundreds of millions of butterflies spend their winter. We'll also cover the conquest of Mexico and the personalities involved, from Motecuhzoma of the Mexica to Cortés of Spain to the controversial role of la Malinche, the formerly enslaved woman who translated for the Spainiards. It's a story with no heroes, but it needs to be told. And we'll make carnitas at home with salsa verde! Sources: Baumle, Kylee, The monarch: Saving our Most-Loved Butterfly Dennis, Peter. Tenochtitlan 1519-21: Clash of Civilizations Diáz dl Castillo, Bernal. The True History of the Conquest of New Spain Dykman, Sara. Bicycling with Butterflies: My 10,201-mile Journey Following the Monarch MMigration Fehrenbach, T.R. Fire & Blood: a History of Mexico Keeling, Stephen et al. The Rough Guide to Mexico Levy, Buddy. Conquistador: Hernán Cortés, King Montezuma, and the Last Stand of the Aztecs Sainsbury, Brendan et al. Lonely Planet Mexico Photograph by pendens proditor CC 2.0 /episode/index/show/wonderspodcast/id/23709620

Update and Intelligent Speech 06/12/2022

Update and Intelligent Speech A brief update about the show! /episode/index/show/wonderspodcast/id/23401106

094 - Chambord Chateau 04/28/2022

094 - Chambord Chateau Just a little 440-room hunting lodge built among other chateaux in France's Loire Valley, Chambord is the grand dame of them all. Built for François Ier, it betrays the influence of the Italian Renaissance, specifically of Leonardo da Vinci, François' teacher and mentor. Gary Girod, host of the French History Podcast, joins us to discuss François and his place in French history, while listener Sarah Demetz shares her experience visiting the chateau and the Loire. Plus fish in a lovely white butter sauce! Sources: Horne, Alistair. Seven Ages of Paris Isaacson, Walter. Leonardo da Vinci Nuland, Sherwin B. Leonardo da Vinci Price, Roger. A Concise History of France Rick Steves Loire Valley Vasari, Giorgio. Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects Photograph by Patrick Giraud CC 3.0 /episode/index/show/wonderspodcast/id/22917386

093 - Vatican City 03/31/2022

093 - Vatican City The largest episode on the smallest country. It's the city-state home of the Catholic Church, a neighborhood of Rome, home to some of the greatest art in the western world. In the early 16th century, the Catholic Church began to turn Rome into a capital glorious enough to serve as the capital of Christendom, and in the process, the popes drove Christendom apart. And Michelangelo was there the whole way. Bry Rayburn from the Pontifacts podcast joins us to talk about some of the most epic popes in history, from Alexander VI to Paul IV: the good, the bad, and the ugly. We talk about Michelangelo, the role of the papal patrons, Martin Luther, the Swiss Guard, and so much more! Plus a mysterious pasta recipe from the Vatican cookbook! Sources: Beck, James H. Three Worlds of Michelangelo Buonarroti, Michelangelo. Michelangelo's Notebooks: The Poetry, Letters, and Art of the Great MasterCahill, Thomas. Heretics and Heroes: How Renaissance Artists and Reformation Priests Created Our WorldGarwood, Duncan. Lonely Planet RomeGraham-Dixon, Andrew. Michelangelo and the Sistine ChapelPhillips, Charles. The Illustrated History of the Popes: An Authoritative Guide to the Lives and Works of the Popes of the Catholic Church, with 450 Images Rick Steves Rome 2020Rome, Insights Guides Scotti, R.A. Basilica: The Splendor and the Scandal: Building St. Peter'sThe Pontifical Swiss Guard. The Vatican Cookbook: Presented by the Pontifical Swiss Guard: 500 Years of Classic Recipes, Papal Tributes, & Exclusive ImagesWallace, William E. Michelangelo: The Artist, the Man and His Times /episode/index/show/wonderspodcast/id/22617011

092 - The Hieronymites Monastery of Lisbon 03/10/2022

092 - The Hieronymites Monastery of Lisbon The enormous church on the banks of the Tejo, carved with ropes and knots and anchors as though it were going to sea itself, represents the vast wealth and untold adventure of Portugal's Age of Discovery. Portuguese king Manuel I commissioned the monastery upon learning of the success of Vasco da Gama's first expedition to India, the longest sea voyage undertaken to that time, a voyage that would seal the fate of three continents. For good and ill. Listener Maria Fernandes joins to talk about her home country, and we wax nostalgic on the pleasures of Portugal, a country I very much like, including my favorite dessert of all time: pastéis de Belém. Sources: Clark, Gregor. Lonely Planet: PortugalCliff, Nigel. The Last Crusade: The Epic Voyages of Vasco da GamaPayne, Stanley G. A History of Spain and PortugalTaborda, Joana. Lisbon Photograph by Concierge.2C (CC BY-SA 3.0) /episode/index/show/wonderspodcast/id/22399526

091 - The Great Mosque of Djenné 01/20/2022

091 - The Great Mosque of Djenné The best example of Sahelian mud-brick architecture, the great mosque seems like a sandcastle rising from the Niger Inland Delta in Mali. Originally built in the early days of the Mali Empire, the mosque also connects with the Songhai, Africa's largest and strongest empire, whose collapse came at key moment in world history. We'll follow the fates of two great kings and see how choices made in the early 1500s echo today. And we'll eat tiguedegana, a peanut tomato stew that is just so freaking delicious. Sources: Abd Al-Rahman Al-Sa’di. Tarikh al-sudan Davidson, Basil, et al. A History of West Africa to the Nineteenth Century Dorsey, James Michael. “Mud and infidels: Djenné, Mali” in the San Diego Reader Dubois, Félix. Notre beau Niger… French, Howard W. Born in Blackness: Africa, Africans, and the Making of the Modern World, 1471 to the Second World War. Ibn Mukhtar. Tarikh al-fattash Lonely Planet West Africa Meredith, Martin. The Fortunes of Africa: A 5000-year History of Wealth, Greed, and Endeavour Reader, John. Africa: A Biography of the Continent Wilson, Joe. “In search of Askia Mohammed: The epic of Askia Mohammed as cultural history and Songhay foundational myth” Photograph by Francesco Bandarin CC 3.0 /episode/index/show/wonderspodcast/id/21832100

090 - The Bioluminescent Bay of Puerto Mosquito on Vieques, Puerto Rico 01/06/2022

090 - The Bioluminescent Bay of Puerto Mosquito on Vieques, Puerto Rico Officially, this episode is on the amazing glowing algae living in the waters of three of Puerto Rico's bays, most notably Puerto Mosquito on Vieques, one of Puerto Rico's smaller islands. Listener and boriqueño native Roberto Cancel describes swimming in the bay on a dark night, surrounded by glowing blue waters. But most of the episode is devoted to perhaps the most important event in world history: 1493. Not 1492, but 1493. That's the year when Christopher Columbus returned to the Americas, not as an explorer, but as a conqueror. We discuss (and really only scratch the surface of) the impact of this second voyage. It's only the beginning, because every episode to come will exist in the new world (pun intended) created by this event. And we have shrimp mofongo, a boriqueño specialty that blends European, African, and American in a way that exemplifies the new global world. Sources: Bergreen, Laurence. Columbus: the Four Voyages Diamond, Jared. Germs, Guns, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies Fodor’s Puerto Rico Loewen, James W. Lies My Teacher Told Me: Everything your American History Textbook Got Wrong Mann, Charles C. 1491: New Revelations of the Americas Before Columbus Mann, Charles C. 1493: Uncovering the New World Columbus Created Photograph by Edgar Torres CC 3.0 /episode/index/show/wonderspodcast/id/21672551

089 - The Kremlin of Moscow 12/23/2021

089 - The Kremlin of Moscow The once and future political center of Russia, the brick-walled Kremlin dates from the Middle Ages, but received its boost when a Byzantine refugee princess married an ambitious Muscovite prince, and together they created a fortress that would one day serve a superpower. Dr Charles Ward, professor emeritus of Foreign Languages and Literatue at the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee shares his thoughts of the rise of Moscow under Ivan III and Sofiya Palaeologina and the construction of the Kremlin we see today, while listener Geoff Kozen discusses visiting Moscow, from the Kremlin to the subway stations. Plus borscht! Perfect for a cold winter night when you're craving beets. Sources: Merridale, Catherine. Red Fortress: History and Illusion in the KremlinPlokhy, Serhii . Lost Kingdom: The Quest for Empire and the Making of the Russian Nation, from 1470 to the PresentSixsmith, Martin. Russia: A 1,000-year Chronicle of the Wild EastVoorhees, Mara. Lonely Planet Moscow Photograph cc:4.0 by wikipedia user Ludvig14 /episode/index/show/wonderspodcast/id/21553145

088 - The Tower of London 11/12/2021

088 - The Tower of London Is it the world's most famous prison? Or a magnificent medieval castle steeped in history? The Tower has stood over London since the days of William the Conqueror and still amazes today. Its most famous story is that of the princes: Edward the V and his younger brother, killed in the Tower. But by whom? And how? It's a True Crime! episode. Graham Duke and Ali Hood from the Rex Factor podcast join us to discuss the theories, while listener Kassia Bailey shares insights into visiting both the Tower and the East End. For food, we'll of course discuss pie and mash, liquor and eels, but chances are you'll prefer our recipe for a true British classic: chicken tikka masala. Sources: Benham, William. The Tower of London Caird, Jo. Fodor’s London 2020 Fields, Bertram. Royal Blood: Richard III and the Mystery of the Princes Langley, Philippa and Michale Jones. The King’s Grave: the Discovery of Richard III's Lost Burial Place and the Clues It Holds Skaife, Christopher. The Ravenmaster: My Life With the Ravens at the Tower of London Rick Steves London 2020 Weir, Alison. The Princes in the Tower Weir, Alison. The Wars of the Roses Photograph by Wikipedia user Teseum /episode/index/show/wonderspodcast/id/21138758

Where the Heck Is Caroline? 11/04/2021

Where the Heck Is Caroline? A quick apology for the delay in the next episode /episode/index/show/wonderspodcast/id/21050978

087 - The Topkapi Palace of Istanbul 09/16/2021

087 - The Topkapi Palace of Istanbul The sultans' pleasure palace stands on a promontory jutting into the Bosphorus. Its tiled walls, fountains and pools are sumptuous legacies of the Ottoman Empire. /episode/index/show/wonderspodcast/id/20449775

000 - Introduction 08/26/2021

000 - Introduction Welcome to the Wonders of the World! In this podcast, we'll visit the Earth's great places to tell the story of our people, our civilization, and our planet. From history to travel and even to food, we'll examine what makes us great and what makes us human. This NEWLY REVISED (as of August 2021) introductory episode covers where we'll go, why we'll go there, and what our plan will be. /episode/index/show/wonderspodcast/id/4820538

086 - Shwedagon Pagoda of Yangon 08/19/2021

086 - Shwedagon Pagoda of Yangon Like a giant bell covered in gold, Shwedagon Pagoda lords over Yangon, Myanmar (Burma)'s skyline. Its story is much like Burma's: elusive, mysterious. Shin Sawbu was a princess of the southern kingdom of Hanthawaddy Pegu. Through an exciting life documented by practically nobody, she rose to become queen and then in retirement to bring the gold to the great pagoda. /episode/index/show/wonderspodcast/id/20149007

085 - The Registan of Samarkand 07/22/2021

085 - The Registan of Samarkand Ulugh Beg was the Astronomer King of Samarkand, who built a madrassa and observatory to chart the stars. Wonderful astronomer. Not much of a king. His madrassa though stands on, one of the three grand buildings of the Registan square. /episode/index/show/wonderspodcast/id/19871783

084 - The Duomo of Florence 07/01/2021

084 - The Duomo of Florence The story of the largest masonry dome ever built id the birth of the Renaissance. But the real story is the artists': petty, bickering, intensely human geniuses like Brunelleschi and Ghiberti. /episode/index/show/wonderspodcast/id/19624466

083 - The Karst Islands of Halong Bay 05/28/2021

083 - The Karst Islands of Halong Bay Thousands of limestone pillars rising from the bay, clothed in jungle green. Listener Emma Browning, who was just there, shares her experiences cruising the islands. /episode/index/show/wonderspodcast/id/19263638

082 - The Forbidden City of Beijing 05/13/2021

082 - The Forbidden City of Beijing The Forbidden City, a city within the city, and the Yongle emperor's crowning achievement, is almost too big to comprehend. The Yongle Emperor also sent out Zheng He and the Ming Treasure Fleet to exert China's superpower influence. /episode/index/show/wonderspodcast/id/19086287

Bonus - The Floating Rock Gardens of Ryloth 05/10/2021

Bonus - The Floating Rock Gardens of Ryloth I contributed a mini-episode for the No Redeeming Qualities podcast's annual Star Wars Day special. To spare you from grown men complaining about the sequel trilogy, I offer you this. /episode/index/show/wonderspodcast/id/19052996

081 - The Temple of Heaven of Beijing 04/22/2021

081 - The Temple of Heaven of Beijing A majestic pavilion crowned in blue, the Temple of Heaven stands as one of the architectural triumphs of the Yongle Emperor, a man responsible for three wonders. /episode/index/show/wonderspodcast/id/18781490

080 - Malbork Castle 04/01/2021

080 - Malbork Castle The largest brick castle of its day testifies to the power and prestige of the order of crusading knights who built it. The Teutonic Order, from Marienburg, sought to Christianize and "civilize" the heathens of the Baltic. /episode/index/show/wonderspodcast/id/18554600

Just Like Starting Over 03/15/2021

Just Like Starting Over A bonus episode introducing the new host of Wonders of the World /episode/index/show/wonderspodcast/id/18300812

079 - Kinkaku-ji of Kyoto 03/15/2021

079 - Kinkaku-ji of Kyoto Its gold walls reflected in the pond at its feet, the Temple of the Golden Pavilion, Kinkaku-ji, was first the retirement villa of Ashikaga Yoshimitsu, former shogun and patron of the arts. How Yoshimitsu could be shogun is a story of betrayal, revolutions, and many samurai warriors committing ritual suicide. /episode/index/show/wonderspodcast/id/18300581

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