History Loves Company

At its height, it was believed to be the sixth largest city in the world at the time. But it might surprise you that the place in question wasn't in Europe, Africa, or even Asia, but the proverbial New World. From humble beginnings, Teotihuacán quickly rose to become THE powerhouse in Mesoamerica, whose influences extended from its home base in the heart of Mexico down to the jungles of Guatemala and Honduras. But after its meteoric rise, it all came crumbling down, never to recover ever again. The 'History Loves Company' podcast is back this week with a fascinating and comprehensive look at the greatest city in Mesoamerica, bar none. Tune in to listen now!

Most Americans are familiar with the story BEHIND the Thanksgiving holiday, but fewer know how it came to BE an enduring national tradition in the first place. The process involved several decades of early American bureaucracy, two of the nation's greatest presidents and even the intervention of a magazine editor. But how did all these disparate elements figure into the establishment of the holiday we know and love today? Tune in to this special Thanksgiving episode to find out!

Few military units in American history are as celebrated and revered as the Rough Riders. Formed by then Assistant Secretary of the Navy, Theodore Roosevelt, it was a ragtag band of men from various walks of life willing to prove their might and skill in battle against the Spanish in the Spanish-American War. Tune in to this special Veteran's Day episode to find out how they beat the odds!

Typically, societal collapses occur gradually, with years of slow decline before the inevitable end takes place. But in the subject of today's episode, the first societal collapse in history, the opposite was true, in which the fall came rather swiftly. But what caused so many civilizations in and around the Mediterranean to meet such a rapid demise? A nefarious band of brigands and vagabonds known rather vaguely as the Sea Peoples may very well be the culprit. Tune in to the 'History Loves Company' podcast this week to learn all about it.

When the Roman Empire fell in the late 5th Century, much ancient knowledge was lost. It would take three centuries for any semblance of the old order to return to Western Europe and it would come from a seemingly unlikely source: Charlemagne, the King of the Franks. What caused him to turn to the past? What reforms and changes did he bring about for his kingdom? And how did said changes shape the Western Europe we know today? Find out in this all new episode!

The Nazca Lines are a series of large images (or geoglyphs) etched into the desert floor of the Nazca Desert in Southern Peru. Depicting plants, animals and geometric patterns, archaeologists and historians have long posited the purpose of these strange manmade formations. Join me as we attempt to decipher for ourselves the meaning of these truly awesome monuments, today on the 'History Loves Podcast.'

It was the event that almost single-handedly started a war, and not just any war, but one of the fiercest struggles for independence the world has ever seen. Famously dubbed "the Shot 'Heard Round the World" nearly a century later by the famed American poet, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, it was the defining moment that would ultimately lead to the American Revolution. Join me as we pay the Massachusetts towns of Lexington and Concord a visit and see what took place on that fateful day, right here on the 'History Loves Company' podcast.

There was a period, spanning the late 19th and early 20th Centuries, in which study, research and exploration of Antarctica became prevalent. Now known by the awesome(if somewhat romantic) moniker of the Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration, it was a time of great scientific achievement and discovery. Of the many events that shaped this important period, however, perhaps none was as influential (to say nothing of epic) as the Norwegian explorer, Roald Amundsen's, attempt at locating the South Pole. Find out all about it in today's thrilling installment!

While there have been many political assassinations throughout history, few have led to full scale conflicts. Of these rare instances, perhaps none is as famous as the topic of today's episode, which lit the fuse of a Europe on the brink of war. Who was Gavrilo Princip and how did his name become synonymous with one of the biggest plots of the 20th Century? Tune in to find out.

The concepts of rights and liberties are still relatively new. For the longest time, the common people and even nobles enjoyed limited or restricted freedoms while a king or monarch maintained absolute power. But a little over eight centuries ago, the first attempt at limiting the monarchy's power was made in England when one of the most important documents was drafted and signed. Tune in to the season three premiere of the 'History Loves Company' podcast to learn all about the Magna Carta!