History Loves Company

By 1943, the tide of the conflict was changing. With Italy's resources nearly spent and her armies both physically and spiritually spent, the nation was on the verge of collapse. Public opinion had greatly shifted on Mussolini's leadership and the people had had enough. With a major rift in the country following Il Duce's deposition, Italy was plunged into the throes of chaos and civil war, with Fascist sympathizers and their Nazi allies clashing with Resistance fighters. Join me for the exciting conclusion of this two-part episode on the Italian Civil War, only on the "History Loves Company" podcast.

In 1943, at the height of World War Two and fighting on multiple fronts, Italy was rocked by a civil war. Waged between fascist sympathizers and a rising Italian Resistance, it rocked the country to its very core, near well splitting it in two. But what led up to this violent skirmish? What was the political climate that created it? Tune in to part one of this two-part episode on the Italian Civil War to discover the foundations rooted in this lesser-known battle on the Italian home front.

For years, it was believed that Chinese civilization was born solely on and around the Yellow River in Northeastern China in the 3rd and 2nd Millennia BC. But with the discovery of the Sanxingdui (lit. "three star mound") site in Southwest China in 1927 as well as subsequent excavations up to the present day, this notion is being challenged and rewritten. The treasures unearthed reveal a complex and sophisticated society that's as old as those that popped up along the Yellow River at the exact same time. Who were the mysterious people who left such stunning bronze and jade artifacts behind, which are culturally and artistically distinct from those of the Yellow River Chinese? What was their society like? Come with me as we take a look at this forgotten kingdom and what its discovery means for Chinese history.

While music often unites us, it can just as easily divide us, sometimes rather violently. Several punk shows in the 1970s ended in such a manner and a famous incident at a Rolling Stones concert in 1969 resulted in the stabbing death of an attendee. But perhaps the most famous riot in modern music history took place on the night of May 29th, 1913. The subject of such violence? A ballet. Join me as we take a comprehensive look at one of the most important (albeit controversial) pieces of music of the 20th Century and how it polarized the public.

The Four Corners region of the United States, located where the states of Utah, Colorado, Arizona and New Mexico meet, is a place of dramatic landscapes and natural beauty. It epitomizes the Wild West but was also once home to one of the most fascinating indigenous cultures in North America. The Ancestral Puebloans left behind some of the most sophisticated and impressive settlements on Earth with whole communities and settlements tucked away in the cliffs of canyon walls. But these feats of engineering didn't happen overnight. Join me as we travel to Mesa Verde in Southwestern Colorado and explore these magnificent communities and the people who built them!

Most people today recognize Benjamin Franklin as the face on the American one hundred dollar bill, but there was much more to him than a portrait on currency. Born in Boston in 1706, he rose from humble beginnings to become one of the preeminent politicians, revolutionary figures as well as minds of his day. What did he do before his foray into early American politics? What contributions did he make to the various arts and sciences? And how did the things he championed and created continue to affect us? Tune in to this week's episode to learn more!

Egypt, Greece, Rome. Each of the names of these ancient civilizations conjures up images of grandeur and rightfully so. The massive monuments they left behind are testaments of their greatness and have cemented their reputation in the annals of history. But it's important to note that they were by no means the first of their kind. In a fertile region between two rivers in what's now Iraq, the first cities and complex societies arose centuries before the Pyramids, the Acropolis and the Colosseum were even concepts. Known as Mesopotamia (from a Greek word meaning "between the rivers"), they spawned several achievements and innovations the like of which are still utilized today. Join me as we take an extensive tour of this most fascinating location, which truly is the cradle of civilization itself!

Bands like the Beach Boys and films like "Endless Summer" have immortalized surfing in popular culture and the collective consciousness. Who can say that they aren't at least somewhat familiar with the sport as a result? But its origins go back much farther than the 1960s. Join me as we explore the history of this most popular and exciting watersport.

Located some distance off the coast of Chile, Easter Island is a remote island paradise of rolling green hills, dramatic coastline and some nine hundred mysterious stone heads. Known as moai, they have kept a close watch on the island and its inhabitants for centuries. Yet, to this day, little is actually known about them, though speculation and debate abound. Who built these megalithic monuments? What purpose did they serve? And what do they reveal about the culture behind their construction? Join me as I seek to answer these questions in today's all-new episode!

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When Armenia fell to Ottoman rule in the 15th Century, the tiny country in the Caucasus was absorbed into the Turks' mighty empire. Over the next five hundred years, the Armenians would make a name for themselves as Ottoman subjects but, in that time, suspicions on behalf of the ruling class began to emerge. A Christian minority in a Muslim majority country, Armenians were seen as outsiders and infidels and, therefore, not to be trusted. These suspicions and hatred reached a fever pitch by the early 20th Century when, during World War One, the Ottoman government carried out a mass genocide against its Armenian population. Now, over a century later, the descendants of its victims continue to feel its effects as the Turkish government to this day refuses to neither accept culpability nor acknowledge that it ever happened. Join me as we take a look at this oft-overlooked crime against humanity and shine some much-needed light on the tragedy.