History Loves Company

As we all know, the rulers of Ancient Egypt were known as pharaohs, great kings (and, therefore, men) who reigned over their empire with an iron fist. But did you know that, in its 3000-year history, a handful of women assumed the role of pharaoh? The most famous of these is none other than Hatshepsut who, following the death of her husband, went on to assume command of the throne and obtain the full powers of pharaoh. Who was this mysterious woman? What did her reign look like? And how has her legacy endured to the present day? Tune in to the 'History Loves Company' podcast this week to find out!

Though the Han Chinese are in the majority, the People's Republic of China is actually quite diverse with hundreds of languages spoken within its borders and up to fifty-five officially recognized ethnic groups. One of the largest and most well-known of these are the Uyghurs, a Turkic people who have called the Northwest province of Xinjiang home for centuries. Despite their rich and lengthy history in China, however, they have endured continued persecution up to the present day and are now even being systematically wiped out because of who they are. Join me as we take a look at the vast yet complex history of the Uyghurs and the uncertain future they face in China.

Despite what we're led to believe, humanity is more similar than it is different. At the end of the day, we all more or less strive for the same things. Perhaps this explains how countless cultures throughout history shared similar cultural practices and beliefs without making contact with one another prior to our global age. This can best be exemplified in two codes of conduct from Medieval Europe and Feudal Japan respectively. Known as chivalry and bushido, they're more similar than they are different. Join me as we explore the two in this week's all new episode!

Following Hitler's invasion of Poland on September 6th, 1939, the official start of World War Two, an eerie eight-month period of little to no fighting ensued. But whispers of the Nazi invasion of other countries was too critical to ignore. As such, Allied British, French and Belgian troops rushed to defend Western Europe from the Nazi menace and became stranded on the beaches of Northwest France as a result. The ensuing rescue operation, which took place over nine days in the late spring of 1940, was later dubbed "a miracle of deliverance" by none other than Prime Minister Winston Churchill. Tune in to the 'History Loves Company' podcast this week to learn all about the Dunkirk Evacuation and what it meant to the greater conflict.

Throughout much of its history, the Jewish homeland (known in antiquity as Judea) was occupied and incorporated into other empires. But the longest period of its occupation occurred, not surprisingly, under Roman rule. First annexed in 63 BC following the Siege of Jerusalem, by the start of the 2nd Century AD, tensions between the Jews and their Roman oppressors had reached a boiling point. Then, in AD 132, one man rose from among the Jewish people to lead them in their fight to oust the Romans for good. His name was Shimon Bar-Kokhba and he and the rebellion he led are the subjects of this week's episode. Tune in to learn more about them!

Haile Selassie has become a renowned and beloved figure the world over. The last reigning monarch of Ethiopia, he's venerated as a prophet in the Rastafarian religion and is seen as a symbol of African liberation. But, despite this reputation, there are those who speak ill of him, calling him a tyrant and no better than any other monarch in history. Regardless of one's opinion of him, there's no denying the legacy he left behind on the annals of history. Join me as we explore this most elusive and fascinating figure.

Located right on the cusp between big city and dense jungle, Angkor Wat is considered the largest religious site in the world. Built in the 12th Century by King Suryavarman II of the Khmer Empire of Cambodia, it was originally meant to be the state temple as well as serve as the downtown section of the-then capital. While the capital eventually moved following his death and the originally Hindu temple was converted into a Buddhist one, the complex at Angkor Wat became, in the centuries following its completion, the undisputed symbol of Cambodian national identity. Join me as we take an extensive tour of the grounds and study the history of this most fascinating and beautiful monuments!

Today, most people know the name Hannibal from the book and film 'Silence of the Lambs' but, long before the deliciously wicked Doctor Hannibal Lecter leapt off the page and onto the screen, the name was both feared and revered as being one of the greatest military strategists and tacticians of all time. Tune in to the 'History Loves Company' podcast this week as we explore the wondrous life and exploits of the Carthaginian general, Hannibal Barca.

The world of sports has seen its fair share of scandals and controversies, but perhaps none has left as lasting an impression as that of the 1919 World Series between the Chicago White Sox and the Cincinnati Reds. Driven by greed and spite, eight White Sox players vowed to rig the Series in order to line their pockets with even more money. But, as to be expected, it blew up disastrously in their faces and ruined their reputations for the rest of their lives. What caused these eight players to fix the World Series? Who were the people involved? And what became of them and their careers after the scandal? Tune in to an all-new episode of the 'History Loves Company' podcast to find out!

Most of us are familiar with the legends of Robin Hood. Much like 'The Odyssey' or Grimm's Fairy Tales, they've become cornerstones of Western literature and have entered the popular imagination. But was there ever such a real person? It appears there very well could have been. William of Cassingham was a skilled 13th Century archer who was deemed an outlaw by his fellow Englishmen following his heroic deeds fending off the French during the Second Barons' War. Could he have inspired the tales? Tune in to this week's episode to find out!