“You know Martin Luther, as the German monk who challenged the teaching of the Roman Church and sparked the Protestant Reformation. In late 1521, however, Luther was hiding for his life…”

So begins today’s story from Dr. Sky Michael Johnston. 

For further reading:
Martin Luther: Visionary Reformer by Scott H. Hendrix (Yale University Press, 2015)
Reformation Europe, 2nd ed. by Ulinka Rublack (Cambridge University Press, 2017)

“On December 1, 1924, French High Commissioner Maxime Weygand closed Ahliah Girls’ School…”

So begins today’s story from Johanna Peterson.

For further reading:
A World I Loved: The Story of an Arab Woman by Wadad Makdisi Cortas (Nation Books, 2009)
Colonial Citizens: Republican Rights, Paternal Privilege, and Gender in French Syria and Lebanon by Elizabeth Thompson (Columbia University Press, 2000)

“About one hundred and fifty years ago, ‘looking the part’ of being middle class in German lands, involved eating organs…”

So begins today’s story from Dr. Claudia Kreklau.

For further reading:
Beyond Bratwurst: A History of Food in Germany by Ursula Heinzelmann (Reaktion Books, 2014)

“‘‘Organic’ Tools for Social Standing: Oehm’s and Allestein’s Recipes for Brain, Lung, and Udders, 1850-60s” by Claudia Kreklau (H-Net.org)

Hello and welcome to 90 Second Narratives, a new weekly podcast featuring "little stories with BIG historical significance." In each episode, a trained historian shares an engaging true story that includes a brief explanation of the story’s historical importance. New stories are released every Monday.