In this episode of History Squirt, we explore the Great Pigeon Race Disaster of 1997 — when sixty thousand racing pigeons were released… and almost none of them came back. Weather? Confusion? Secret pigeon uprising? It’s competitive bird sports, national panic, and one extremely awkward results day. Let’s squirt!

Also, a word from our advertisers at Angst Bank.

Topics: Great Pigeon Race Disaster 1997, pigeon racing history, animal sporting events, mass animal disappearance, 1990s events, strange sports history, British pigeon racing, History Squirt

Shout out to the Pixabay creators who provided sound effects for the episode:

• freesound_community

In this episode of History Squirt, we explore Antonie van Leeuwenhoek — the Dutch linen merchant who accidentally founded microbiology by staring at pond water really, really hard. He discovered bacteria, sperm cells, and entire invisible ecosystems, then enthusiastically wrote letters about it to anyone who would listen. The man simply would not stop looking. Let’s squirt!

Also, a word from our advertisers at Tears of the Devine.

Topics: Antonie van Leeuwenhoek, father of microbiology, history of microscopes, bacteria discovery, early modern science, Dutch Golden Age, scientific revolution, history of biology, History Squirt

Shout out to the Pixabay creators who provided sound effects for the episode:

• freesound_community

Liecio

In this episode of History Squirt, we explore the Hanging Gardens of Babylon — one of the Seven Ancient Wonders that may not have existed, might have been somewhere else, or could just be ancient PR. Lush terraces in the desert, engineering wizardry, and historians still arguing about whether the whole thing was basically Mesopotamian fan fiction. Let’s squirt!

Also, a word from our advertisers at Minty Bits.

Topics: Hanging Gardens of Babylon, Seven Ancient Wonders, Babylon history, Mesopotamia, ancient engineering, Nebuchadnezzar II, Assyrian vs Babylon debate, ancient myth vs history, History Squirt
Shout out to the Pixabay creators who provided sound effects for the episode:

• Universfield
  

In this episode of History Squirt, we explore the Isle of Sark — a tiny island that held onto feudalism until 2008, banned cars, and managed to be both medieval and modern at the same time. It’s microstate vibes, constitutional drama, and one very stubborn island refusing to update its software. Let’s squirt!

Topics: Isle of Sark, modern feudalism, Channel Islands history, microstate politics, constitutional reform, European island history, small nation governance, History Squirt

Shout out to the Pixabay creators who provided sound effects for the episode:

kamhunt

In this episode of History Squirt, we explore Halley’s Comet — the space rock that swings by every 76 years and sends humanity into mild existential panic. From medieval omens to 1910 gas-mask hysteria, this comet has terrified peasants, emperors, and newspaper editors alike. Let’s squirt!

Topics: Halley’s Comet, comet history, astronomical events, medieval omens, 1910 comet panic, space history, early astronomy, historical superstition, History Squirt

In this episode of History Squirt, we remade The Monkey Song - a Victorian music hall anthem about a monkey who steals, fights, and causes social instability. It’s theatrical chaos, 19th century entertainment, and proof that humans have always found animal misbehaviour deeply relatable. Let’s squirt!

Topics: The Monkey Song, Victorian music hall, 19th century entertainment, British theatre history, comedic songs history, popular culture 1800s, weird historical music, History Squirt

In this episode of History Squirt, we explore the Statue of Zeus at Olympia — a 40-foot-tall gold-and-ivory god seated on a throne so extravagant it made other temples feel insecure. One of the Seven Ancient Wonders, built to impress, worshipped for centuries, and then… gone. Let’s squirt!

Also, a word from our advertisers at Womb2Work.

Topics: Statue of Zeus at Olympia, Seven Ancient Wonders, ancient Greece, Olympia history, Greek sculpture, Phidias, classical world monuments, ancient religion, History Squirt

In this episode of History Squirt, we explore the Cadaver Synod — the time in 897 AD when Pope Stephen VI dug up the corpse of his predecessor, put it on trial, and yelled at it in front of a horrified audience. It’s medieval Catholic politics, revenge theatre, and one extremely dead defendant who still lost the case. Let’s squirt!

Topics: Cadaver Synod, Pope Stephen VI, medieval papacy, Vatican scandals, bizarre church history, medieval Rome, papal politics, 9th century Europe, History Squirt

In this episode of History Squirt, we explore the Nika Riot — when chariot racing fans in Constantinople got so angry they nearly burned the Byzantine Empire to the ground. What started as sports rivalry turned into full-scale urban chaos, political rebellion, and Emperor Justinian wondering if maybe he should just leave. Let’s squirt!

Topics: Nika Riot, Byzantine Empire, Constantinople history, Emperor Justinian, chariot racing factions, ancient sports riots, 6th century rebellion, Eastern Roman Empire, History Squirt

In this episode of History Squirt, Nobunaga is unstoppable, until he very much isn’t. Part 2 is betrayal at Honnō-ji, political fallout, gunpowder warfare, and how one of Japan’s most powerful warlords was undone by his own inner circle. Also: tea ceremonies, because balance. Let’s squirt!

Also, a word from... a company.

Topics: Oda Nobunaga, Honnō-ji Incident, Sengoku Japan, samurai betrayal, Japanese civil war era, feudal Japanese politics, Azuchi-Momoyama period, military history Japan, History Squirt