Throughout history there has only been one woman to rule the Chinese empire. This was Wu Zetian - who rose from the rank of imperial concubine - to that of emperor of China. Her rise to power was a very bloody trip.

Sources

"Empress Wu Zetian: the only woman to rule China, and who would be hated for it" - https://www.historyextra.com/period/medieval/empress-wu-zetian-china-rule-life-reputation/

"Wu Zhao: Ruler of Tang Dynasty China" - https://www.asianstudies.org/publications/eaa/archives/wu-zhao-ruler-of-tang-dynasty-china/"

Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wu_Zetian

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In the mid-1850's a young man named Joshua Glover was a slave in Missouri. He would escape, and settle in Wisconsin - only to be recaptured, freed by an abolitionist mob, and escape again to Canada once and for all. His story caused a clash between federal and state courts, and helped spark the establishment of the Republican Party - who main goal was to end slavery in America.

Sources

"Finding Freedom: The Untold Story of Joshua Glover, Runaway Slave" by Walter T. McDonald, Ruby West JacksonFile:Prison_Break_of_Fugitive_Slave_Joshua_Glover.jpg

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On July 10, 1985, in the harbor of Auckland, New Zealand, a bomb planted on the Greenpeace ship - the Rainbow Warrior - went off - opening a hole in her hull. A few minutes later, another bomb exploded. The ship sank within minutes - and one person was dead. So who was behind the bombing? Extremists of some kind? Political enemies? The answer would shock the world.

Sources

"The Bombing of the Rainbow Warrior" - https://www.greenpeace.org/aotearoa/about/our-history/bombing-of-the-rainbow-warrior/

Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sinking_of_the_Rainbow_Warrior

Image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Schip_Rainbow_Warrior_van_Greenpeace_in_Scheveningen,_Bestanddeelnr_930-2632.jpg

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In 1419, Jan Žižka would help lead the Hussite Revolution. He led armies of peasants against professional knights using amazing tactics, and gunpowder, cementing himself as one of history's greatest military commanders.

Sources

"Warrior of God: Jan Zizka and the Hussite Revolution" by Victor Verney

Image: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jan_%C5%BDi%C5%BEka#/media/File:Zizka_tabor_statue.jpg

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In August, 1945, the Japanese government was on the verge of surrendering to Allied forces - and ending WWII. But on the night of August 14-15, a group of Japanese officers went into action. Their plan was to take the emperor hostage, and scuttle peace talks - and thus continue the war - which would have likely cost the Allies hundreds of thousands of lives - and the Japanese - millions.

Sources

The Kyujo Incident: The Coup that Almost Kept Japan in WWII - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aUM2ccfQJMc

Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kyūjō_incident

Image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Major_Kenji_Hatanaka.jpg

The Explorers Podcast is part of the Airwave Media Network: www.airwavemedia.com

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From the 1950s through the 1970s, a David and Goliath story would play out across the North Atlantic. The United Kingdom and Iceland engaged in a viscous dispute over fishing rights. And the winner may surprise you. This is the story of the Cod Wars.

Sources

"How Iceland Beat the British in the Four Cod Wars" - https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/what-were-cod-wars

"The Cod Wars explained: The conflict between Iceland and Britain" - https://www.iwm.org.uk/history/the-cod-wars-explained-the-conflict-between-iceland-and-britain

"Cod wars and how to lose them" by Andrew Gilchrist

Image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Scylla-Odinn.jpg

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On an April morning in Boston in 1966, despite being told she was physically incapable of running 20+ miles, Bobbi Gibb slipped into the crowd of 500 runners. Three hours and 21 minutes later, she became the first woman to ever run the fabled Boston Marathon.

Sources

Bobbi Gibb Marathon Pioneer: https://www.sportsmuseum.org/curators-corner/bobbi-gibb-marathon-pioneer/

Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bobbi_Gibb

"A Run of One's Own" by Roberta 'Bobbi' Gibb: http://www.runningpast.com/gibb_story.htm

The Explorers Podcast is part of the Airwave Media Network: www.airwavemedia.com

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In 1917, Germany was desperate to keep the United States out of World War I - even as they prepared to launch unrestricted submarine warfare on all shipping in the European theater. To that end, German officials sent a telegram to the Mexican government, proposing they declare war of the United States - tying up American resources. The only problem was the message was intercepted and the plot exposed - causing the plan to completely backfire.

Sources

"Documents that changed the way we live" by Joseph Janes

Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zimmermann_telegram

Image: File:Zimmermann_Telegram_as_Received_by_the_German_Ambassador_to_Mexico_-_NARA_-_302025.jpg

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In 1855, an American newspaperman, lawyer and doctor, William Walker, led a small, private army to Central America, and within a year, was recognized as the President of Nicaragua. Walker’s actions would unite people from five nations to rise up against him. This is the story of the Filibuster War.

Sources

"William Walker's Wars" by Scott Martelle

Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Walker_(filibuster)

Image - Library of Congress: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:William_Walker_by_Brady.jpg

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Over 4,000 years ago, the high priestess Enheduanna put pen to clay and wrote the Exaltation of Inanna, making her the earliest known named author in world history.

Sources

"Documents that changed the way we live" by Joseph Janes

Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enheduanna

Image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Disk_of_Enheduanna.JPG

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