A fast-moving history of the western world from the ancient world to the present day. Examine how the emergence of the western world as a global dominant power was not something that should ever have been taken for granted. This podcast traces the development of western civilization starting in the…
The Western Civ podcast is a truly remarkable and educational show that delves into the history of Western civilization. Each episode is meticulously researched and provides a comprehensive and in-depth exploration of various events, figures, and eras. The stories told are not only sequential but also have the ability to stand alone, making it easy for listeners to jump in at any point. This podcast has quickly become my go-to show for unwinding while also learning some fascinating history.
One of the best aspects of The Western Civ podcast is its ability to engage and captivate listeners with its storytelling. The information presented is organized and presented in an interesting manner, making it easy to follow along and absorb the knowledge being shared. The delivery by Adam Walsh is exceptional, with his intelligent, articulate, and sometimes humorous approach making each episode enjoyable to listen to for hours on end. It's refreshing to find a history podcast that not only offers valuable information but also presents it in an engaging way.
On the other hand, one downside of this podcast is that at times I wish it would go into more depth on certain topics. However, considering the vast amount of content covered in each episode, it's understandable that there may be limitations on how much can be explored within a given timeframe. Despite this minor limitation, The Western Civ podcast still manages to provide enough interesting points to launch further research for those who want to delve deeper into specific subjects.
In conclusion, The Western Civ podcast is an amazing resource for anyone interested in history. Whether you're a history newbie looking for an educational and entertaining introduction or a history nerd seeking a refresher course, this podcast has something for everyone. From its well-organized information and captivating storytelling to its talented presentation by Adam Walsh, this podcast deserves recognition as one of the top history podcasts available today. I highly recommend giving it a listen and discovering the wonders of Western civilization.
Russia enters our story as a major power player under Peter the Great.Support the Show
I cover a few remaining issues from the year 1700 including the rise of Russian and the formation of Great Britain.Western Civ 2.0 Free Trial
"I am the State." - Louis XIVSupport the show and become a MEMBER.
William of Orange supplants James II, the Stuart line ends, and with it, the English Civil War.Western Civ 2.0
The restored monarchy ends, but not with a bang. Charles II's death, however, thrusts the question of the succession front and center.Western Civ 2.0
We introduce Louis XIV. The French King quickly bribes his way into controlling Charles II.Western Civ 2.0
Enter stage left: the Restoration. Spoiler alert, it won't last long.Western Civ 2.0
Oliver Cromwell dies. His son is NOT a chip off the old block. And Charles II sees the Stuart line restored.Western Civ 2.0
Oliver Cromwell refuses the crown but agrees to become the Lord Protector of the Commonwealth. Western Civ 2.0
Charles II is dead. England has no king. So now what?Western Civ 2.0
Charles II becomes the only king in English history to be executed by the state.Western Civ 2.0
Charles' inability to raise men and capital finally dooms his cause and he surrenders to the Scottish army rather than fall into the hands of Parliament. Western Civ 2.0
The King begins the war with a run of successes. Arguably, Charles squanders them.Western Civ 2.0 Free Trial
For the first time terms Cavalier and Roundhead come into the vernacular. Charles decides the time for negotiation is over. And the English Civil War begins.Join Western Civ 2.0 for More Content!
Charles begins to rule without his key advisor. It doesn't go well...Western Civ 2.0 Free Trial
The first casualty of the English Civil War could be said to be the Earl of Strafford. Western Civ 2.0
The dam finally breaks in Scotland where discontent over Charles' religious policies ends his period of personal rule.Support the Show!
Charles continues his period of personal rule. He successfully demands ship money from England, but unsuccessfully tries to rein in the Scottish church.Western Civ 2.0
After the death of Buckingham, Charles I would begin a period of personal rule that would last just over a decade. Western Civ 2.0
After two more military debacles, the Duke of Buckingham is ingloriously assassinated, leaving Charles alone.Western Civ 2.0 Free Trial
Charles I ascends the English throne and almost immediately things turn south. Support the show!
In what is perhaps one of the most infamous episodes in all of American history, in the winter of 1692 the tiny village of Salem, Massachusettes descends into paranoia and chaos. The cause? Witches...Support the show by joining our Patreon!
Virginia finds itself torn apart by the first rebellion in North America by colonists against their own government. Spoiler alert, it won't be the last. Nathaniel Bacon finds himself leading disgruntled farmers, indentured servants, and Africans (both enslaved and free) against the wealthy planters of the coast. Western Civ 2.0 Free Trial
We finish our coverage of the First Nations of North America (for now) with the Great Lakes and upstate New York. Western Civ 2.0 Free Trial
Today we turn our attention to the tribes of the southeast and southwest United States.Western Civ 20 Free Trial
European farms are not the only kind... In this episode, I explore Native American farming in general and hunting.Western Civ 2.0
Today I begin a short series on pre-Columbian North American Indian history and culture. In this episode, I give a broad overview of several aspects of Native American culture and their use of fire to craft the world around them.Western Civ 2.0
Roger Williams and Anne Hutchinson found Rhode Island.Western Civ Podcast 2.0 Free Trial
In this bonus author interview, I sit down with Colonel Joseph Molyson Jr and discuss the second book in his series on World War Two: Air Battles Before D-Day: How Allied Airmen Crippled the Luftwaffe and German Army in France. In this groundbreaking analysis, retired Air Force Colonel Joseph T. Molyson reveals how a year of strategic bombing and aerial warfare created the conditions necessary for D-Day's success. Drawing on his thirty years of military intelligence experience, Molyson pieces together the complex puzzle of amphibious planning, airborne operations, and inter-Allied coordination that culminated in Operation Overlord. Key revelations include:How the Allied victory in the Battle of the Atlantic enabled the crucial flow of American resourcesThe strategic bombing campaign's dual role in weakening both German industry and Luftwaffe capabilitiesThe intricate coordination between British night raids and American daylight bombing missionsPreviously overlooked connections between air superiority and the success of the D-Day landingsPerfect for military history enthusiasts and World War II scholars alike, this meticulously researched account offers fresh insights into the aerial strategy that changed the course of history.Buy the book HERE.Support the show HERE.
Today I sit down with advocate and author Maria Foscarinis and discuss her latest book: And Housing for All: The fight to End Homelessness in America.In And Housing for All, founder of the National Homelessness Law Center Maria Foscarinis reveals the human impact of the housing crisis by sharing personal stories and examining the flawed policies that have perpetuated it. As millions face rising housing costs and encampments spread nationwide, she uncovers why past efforts have failed and what must change to achieve lasting solutions.Drawing from over 35 years of national advocacy, Foscarinis shares compelling stories of individuals and families impacted by homelessness, highlighting their resilience and growing leadership. Blending personal narratives with policy analysis, she reveals how deliberate decisions have fueled the crisis and how public narratives have sustained it.And Housing for All is essential reading for social justice advocates, policymakers, lawyers, and anyone invested in solving one of America's most pressing challenges.Buy the book HERE.Support the show HERE.
John Winthrop and others found the Massachusetts Bay Company.Western Civ 2.0 Podcast Free Trial
Jamestown was not the only English colony. Enter stage left: the Pilgrims. (Well, really Separatists but you get the point...)Western Civ Podcast 2.0
The English at Jamestown finally find a savior. It just turns out that savior is tobacco...Western Civ Podcast 2.0
Jamestown survives as James Smith guides the colony. Meanwhile, in London, new plans are hatched to turn Jamestown profitable.Western Civ 2.0
A reminder that every other episode of the series on Jamestown will be available only to patrons. To try a free membership for a week or to support the show and get access to all the materials, check out the link below.Western Civ 2.0
Today, I sit down with Tom McMillan and discuss his most recent book: The Year That Made America: From Rebellion to Independence, 1775-1776.This gripping account reveals the precarious path to American independence through a series of pivotal dates that history has nearly forgotten. While July 4th claims the glory, the actual vote for independence came on July 2nd—and even that historic moment almost didn't happen. From January's publication of Common Sense to December's darkest hours of the Revolution, McMillan reconstructs the dramatic months when rebellious colonies transformed into a new nation.Through meticulous research and compelling storytelling, the book reveals:How the pivotal events of May 15, June 7, and July 2 shaped America's destinyWhy Congress's bold January declaration triggered a chain of unstoppable eventsThe behind-the-scenes feud between Adams and Jefferson on their views of government after independence was wonHow the Declaration's influence extended from Lincoln's Gettysburg Address to modern timesThis timely narrative strips away the myths to expose the raw political courage that launched a revolution. From heated Congressional debates to the dangerous aftermath of declaring independence, McMillan delivers a fresh perspective on America's founding that resonates powerfully with today's political challenges.Buy The Book
Today I interview Historian John Bicknell about his newest book: The Pathfinder and the President.In 1856, John C. Frémont—the famed "Pathfinder" of the American West—became the Republican Party's first presidential nominee on an anti-slavery platform. Five years later, now a Union general under President Lincoln, he sparked a national crisis by unilaterally declaring emancipation in Missouri. Drawing from extensive research, author John Bicknell masterfully chronicles the volatile relationship between these two leaders as they grappled with slavery, military strategy, and the future of the nation.From award-winning historian John Bicknell comes an essential new perspective on the Civil War era, acclaimed by scholars as "powerful," "engaging," and "distinctive." Perfect for readers of both Civil War history and political biography, this compelling narrative shows how the clash between Lincoln and Frémont helped determine the course of emancipation and the outcome of the war itself.Buy the Book HERETo support this podcast join our Patreon.
Today we begin an in-depth look at Jamestown - England's first successful colony in North America. I will examine the situation in England and along the Chesapeake leading up to 1607. Then John Smith and the rest of the English arrive and the real fun begins.To listen to Part Two, you will need to be a Patreon member. To become one, click this LINK for a free trial.
I briefly cover the Dutch East and West Indies Companies plus Dutch colonization efforts in the Americas.Western Civ 2.0
France and England finally get into the colonization game.Western Civ 2.0
In this episode, I give a quick refresher on Portuguese colonization. Western Civ 2.0
In this episode I cover Spain's colonial efforts between 1492 and 1600, focusing on the broad economic, political, and social trends.Western Civ 2.0
In recent years, from school board meetings to the halls of Congress, Americans have engaged in fierce debates about how slavery and its legacies ought to be taught, researched, and narrated. But since the earliest days of the Republic, political leaders, abolitionists, judges, scholars, and ordinary citizens have all struggled to explain and understand the peculiar institution. In Making Sense of Slavery, historian Scott Spillman shows that the study of slavery was a vital catalyst for the broader development of American intellectual life and politics. In contexts ranging from the plantation fields to the university classroom, Americans interpreted slavery and its afterlives through many lenses, shaping the trajectory of disciplines from economics to sociology, from psychology to history. Spillman delves deeply into the archives, and into the pathbreaking work of scholars such as W. E. B. Du Bois and Annette Gordon-Reed, to trace how generations of Americans have wrestled with the paradox of slavery in a country founded on principles of liberty and equality. As the debate over the place of slavery in our history rages on, Making Sense of Slavery shows that what is truly central to American history is this very debate itself. BUY THE BOOK
Before turning to the New World, we bring the Old World up to speed, covering Louis XIII and France, Philip's heirs in Spain, the Ottoman Empire, and the Time of Troubles in Russia.Western Civ 2.0
The Thirty Years War comes to an end, leaving Germany devastated and divided.Western Civ 2.0
The Holy Roman Empire wilts under the combined pressure of Sweden and France. Spain exits our stage. And Central Europe lurches toward peace.Western Civ 2.0
Shifting alliances continue to hamper peace efforts in the Thirty Years War.Western Civ 2.0
The Thirty Years War continues to drag on in Germany after the death of Ferdinand II and the ascension of Ferdinand III. Western Civ 2.0
The years after the death of the Swedish King Gustavus Adolphus saw the ever-shifting alliances of the Thirty Years War do maximum damage. Western Civ 2.0
King Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden briefly, but decisively, intervenes in the Thirty Years War.
Christian IV of Denmark intervenes in the Thirty Years War. WebsiteWestern Civ 2.0
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