This week we discuss the evolution of air warfare from World War I into World War II through the work of Malcolm Gladwell in his book The Bomber Mafia. One daring group of Air Force personnel attempted to change the strategy of bombing to be more precise and effective while keeping casualties down, but what ended up happening was quite the opposite. The result was one of the most deadly bombing runs in history as well as the two nuclear bombs dropped in Japan. 

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This week we dive into some of the labor movements in America that paved the way for reform in the workplace during the early 1900s. Many people worked in dangerous conditions for little pay, sometimes even requiring their children to work to help support the family. But there were some brave souls who stood for change and put their lives on the line to create a safer and more accommodating workplace. A few events, such as the Battle of Blair Mountain, prove that sometimes you have to use force to get your point across when nothing else is working.

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We conclude our coverage on the Sengoku Jidai this week by covering the Battle of Sekigahara, which concluded the warring states period and sent Japan into multiple centuries of isolationism. The battle could have gone either way, but Tokugawa Ieyasu eventually comes out on top at the third ruler, following Oda Nobunaga and Toyotomi Hideyoshi. 

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This week begins our coverage on one of the most important time periods in Japanese history, the Sengoku Jidai civil war period. Hundreds of local lords controlled the landscape of Japan until three men came along and put forth the effort to unify the country under a single rule. It is one of the more violent periods in the country's history and we talk about the lead up to the final battle of the Sengoku period and the various key players who make names for themselves during this period. 

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This week is a bit more serious than the past couple weeks, focusing on the unfortunate story of Otto Warmbier and his trip to North Korea. He had his whole life ahead of him, on his way to a successful career in banking. But after being convicted in North Korea for a crime he may or may not have committed, the life he had crumbled. We hope to find as much clarity out of the story as we can to figure out what happened to Otto.

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DISCLAIMER: There is a bit of audio interference on this one, we are still figuring out the new equipment setup. Hopefully it doesn't get in the way of the episode for you as you listen, we tried to edit it out as best as we could!

We go back to the short story format on this episode and tell five fun and comedic stories from history. We touch on a famous scam artist, a stubborn triangle of popes, and much more! There are plenty of preposterous story lines to be had throughout history and we hope you enjoy the few that we grabbed!

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This week we take a look into the circumstances surrounding the Spanish-American War, including the second War for Cuban Independence and the situation in Spain leading into the short conflict. This war only lasted roughly 4 months, but it had quite a large impact in many different world politics. It skyrocketed Teddy Roosevelt to fame, established the first foreign U.S. holdings in Cuba, and dashed Spain's hopes of remaining a relevant imperial power. 

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On our second and final episode on the Spartans we focus more on the battles they fought, particularly the famous battle at the pass of Thermopylae. This battle is one of the main reasons for the Spartans claim to fame and skyrocketed them to historic legends. It is also, perhaps, the reason they were forced to become the military power that they are know propped up to be.

Follow us on Twitter (@gems_history), Instagram (@gems_of_history_podcast), and TikTok (@gemsofhistorypod). Find us on Facebook as well and join the discussion group known as The Agora - Gems of History Discussion!