There were several cradles of civilization throughout the world. The Nile in Egypt, the Tigris and Euphrates in Mesopotamia, the Yellow River in China...the list goes on and on. But in Mesoamerica, one noteworthy cradle of civilization was born on what's now Mexico's Caribbean Coast and would go on to influence future civilizations throughout the region. These were the mighty Olmec and for 1200 years, they would reign supreme. Find out how in this week's episode!

Oxford University is considered one of the most prestigious institutions for higher learning in the world, but did you know that it was also the first university in England? Founded, in some form or other, in 1096, just thirty years after the famed Battle of Hastings, it has since blossomed into a world-class university with a rocky, tumultuous history. Tune in this week to find out all about it!

The 19th Century was a tremendously exciting time for Japan. By then, the island country had been isolated from the rest of the world for some three centuries. But now, having been forced to open its doors by the Americans, Japan was exposed to both the wider world as a whole as well as Western ideals. But not everyone welcomed such changes. One who was perhaps the most resistant to such changes was Saigo Takamori, better known to history as Saigo-san, and he'd ultimately lead a rebellion against the Japanese government. But how did this conflict come about? Who was Saigo-san exactly? And how did he and his cause become an enduring symbol of opposition to government tyranny? Find out in the first episode of the new year!

Wreaths, gift-giving, elaborate feasting...these are just some of the traditional practices associated with Christmas. But it might surprise you to learn that the Christian holiday was by no means the first to incorporate such practices. That's because they were borrowed from an earlier, pagan holiday celebrated each year by the Romans: Saturnalia. How exactly did this ancient holiday come about? What were some of its traditions and characteristics? And how did it ultimately disappear? Find out in this brief winter solstice and Christmas special!

For the better part of a millennium, the city of Paris was more or less the same. A crowded, Medieval city of narrow, twisting streets and people living virtually on top of one another, it was, by the 19th Century, mired in rampant crime and disease and was in desperate need of an overhaul. But who would rise up to accept such a monumental task? Find out in this week's episode!

Today, the 18th Amendment, better known to history as Prohibition, is seen as one of greatest (to say nothing of disastrous) social experiments in American history. In that volatile thirteen-year period, the production and sale of alcohol was banned, at least on paper, in the United States. Initially, crime syndicates, especially the mob, turned to Canada and Mexico for help, smuggling whiskey, beer, and other potent potables into the country. But what happened when the Canadians and Mexicans were taken out of the equation? The answer will almost certainly surprise you!

For centuries, Africa was known to Europeans as "the Dark Continent," not so much for the complexion of many of its native inhabitants inasmuch as for the fact that its interior remained largely unexplored. With the Age of Exploration came the full exploration of the interior of Africa, though little, if any, of the Europeans who mapped it likely knew that they weren't the first outsiders to do so. Long before such European countries were even concepts, a group of hearty and intrepid seafarers originally from the Middle East set off from their base of operations in what's now Tunisia to do just that. Tune in to find out how they did it in this week's enthralling episode!

In the autumn of 1620, a rickety old ship made landfall just off the coast of what's now Massachusetts. Having been blown way off course on the journey over and as well as losing nearly half its crew on the voyage, the survivors now found themselves far removed from civilization and deeply afraid of the uncertain fate that awaited them. Half the survivors were talking of venturing out on their own, which would prove disastrous as the crew simply needed to stick together if they were going to survive in this rugged and potentially hostile new environment. Find out what they did next in this week's special Thanksgiving episode!

Strategically located in the northwest and northeast corners of Italian Peninsula respectively, Genoa (or Genova) and Venice were, historically, two independent republics who grew rich through maritime trade. But as their wealth and power continued to grow, they soon each other as a threat to their dominance, which quickly escalated into war. But unlike other conflicts, this series of skirmishes would stretch well over a century. Find out how exactly they came about, and how they ultimately ended, this week on the 'History Loves Company' podcast!

What do 17th Century England, the Devil, aliens and unusual weather patterns all have in common? They're linked to the mysterious and unusual phenomenon we now know as crop circles. What are some of the events from history regarding these most curious and, oftentimes, unsettling monumental creations? What causes them? And of these causes, are any of them definitive? You'll have to listen to find out in this, the final installment on our month-long series on the spooky and mysterious, this week on the 'History Loves Company' podcast!