The History Files

In this week’s “History Bites” edition we take a look at international military interventions. For decades the bossiest nation on the planet seemed to be Britain, but by the end of the 19th century the baton had been passed to the United States of America. From Japan to South America to Hawaii, we’ve poked our fingers into as many pies as we could… with mixed results.

Show notes and links:

* Tracey Curtis-Taylor finishes UK to Australia biplane flight (bbc.com)

* United Fruit Company

* Shimonoseki Campaign (1863)

* US Expedition to Korea (1871)

* Banana Wars

* Panama Canal

* Who first found the Panama palindrome?” (fun-with-words.com)

* Spanish–American War (1898)

* United States occupation of Haiti (1915)

* Overthrow of the Kingdom of Hawaii (1893)

* Hawaiian sovereignty movement

* First Sino-Japanese War (1894-1895)

* Hermit kingdom

* Boxer Rebellion (1900)

* Capture of Guam (1898)

* History of American Samoa (1900)

* United States occupation of Veracruz (1914)

* Pancho Villa Expedition (1916-1917)

* Ambrose Bierce

...

2015 shall go down in history as the year we started The History Files: yay! What happened in all those other ’15 years? How about a whirlwind tour of the highlights of almost every year ending in “15”? Of course the episode wouldn’t be complete without a visit to Gordon’s Gun Closet, either, so we talk a bit about the iconic Winchester Model 1907 “.350 SLR”.

Show notes and links:

* 15 AD, Destruction of Alexandria (en.wikipedia.org)

* 615 AD, Muhammad emigrates to Ethiopia (a small colony there under the protection of the Christian Ethiopian emperor Așhama ibn Abjar)

* 815 AD, Hrafna-Flóki Vilgerðarson discovers Iceland.

* 1015, August: Cnut’s invasion of England (historyextra.com)

* Berserkers outlawed in Norway (1015)

* Olaf II of Norway (1015)

* 1115, Battle of Sarmin (Crusaders rout the Seljuk Turks)

* 1215, the First Baron’s War (King John)

* Great Famine of 1315–17

* Battle of Agincourt (1415)

* Francis I of France (1515: France and Switzerland decide to get along with each other)

* Champlain’s Account of the Battle of 1615 from Voyages to New France

* Jacobite rising of 1715, Scotland

* Battle of Waterloo (1815)

* History of the Great War (1915)

* Dan Snow’s HISTORY HIT (historyhitpodcast.com)

* Winchester Model 1907 (.351 SLR)

* Semi-automatic firearms

* Carbines

* Ribeyrolle 1918 automati...

In this shorter “History Bite” episode, we look at the real Saint Nicholas and try to trace the winding path from stalwart early church bishop to jolly secular rewarder of goodness. We might also sneak in a segment about Khyber Pass firearm copies too, because when our listeners ask, we deliver. Oh, and Merry Christmas, everyone!

Show notes and links:

* Khyber Pass Copy (en.wikipedia.org)

* Khyber Pass Rifles (oldbritishguns.com)

* Khyber Pass Martini Pistol at RIA (Video) (forgottenweapons.com)

* Christmas Traditions (khouse.org)

Scroll down for some good St. Nicholas info.

* St. Nicholas Center : Origin of Santa (stnicholascenter.org)

* Patara, Lycia (en.wikipedia.org)

* First Council of Nicaea (en.wikipedia.org)

* The Age of Pilgrimage: The Medieval Journey to God, by Jonathan Sumption 

* Thomas Nast (en.wikipedia.org)

Creator of the first iconic “Santa” image

This week we take a look at the origins of Christmas. Was Jesus really born on December 25th, or was that just a convenient calendar slot in a year increasingly full of saint’s feast days? We’re also premiering a new show segment: Gordon’s Gun Closet! Podcasters, like writers, should play to their strengths, and Gordon loves his historical firearms. In honor of the release of Star Wars: The Force Awakens, we’re here to talk about the BlasTech DL-44 Heavy Blaster (a.k.a. “broomhandle” Mauser pistol), because Han shot first but Greedo was totally about to ice him so it was justified. Also included: History Headlines and a festive pile of gaily-wrapped Christmas movies and books… at no extra charge!

Show notes and links:

* Oliver Cromwell becomes lord protector of England (1653)

* Boston Tea Party (Dec. 16, 1773)

* Bill of Rights take effect (Dec. 15, 1791) (billofrightsinstitute.org)

* Louisiana Territory purchase (Dec. 20, 1803)

* A Christmas Carol published (Dec. 19, 1843)

* A Christmas Carol (1951), full movie (youtube.com)

* The Wright Brothers  first flight! (Dec. 17, 1903)

* Project Blue Book ends (Dec. 17, 1969)

* Nazi gold train: ‘No evidence’ of discovery in Poland (bbc.com)

* A Christmas Story (1983) (imdb.com)

* White Christmas (1954) (imdb.com)

* THE LITTLE PRINCESS: Shirley Temple, Walter Lang (amazon.com)

* Santa Claus (1959) full movie (youtube.com)

* Santa Claus (riffed by Mystery Science Theater 3000)

* Mauser C96 (imfdb.org)

* Borchardt C-93 (en.wikipedia.org)

* Churchill in the Sudan (historynet.com)

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Christmas is a time of goodwill, joy, and cozy family gatherings… unless you’re a very naughty child, in which case you’ll be lucky if all you get is a lump of coal in your stocking come Christmas morning. Beware the Krampus! Is he a minion of St. Nicholas, an imp of Satan, or just your average child-abusing, girl-chasing goat man? Who knows?

We sure don’t, but we’ll chat about him anyway.

Show notes and links:

* “Krampus Is Coming to Town” by The Plastic Bastards; today’s special music.

* Greetings from Krampus , Some Krampus greeting cards.

* Santa’s Horned Helper: The Fearsome Legend of Krampus, Christmas Punisher | Ancient Origins (ancient-origins.net)

* The Origin of Krampus, Europe’s Evil Twist on Santa (smithsonianmag.com)

* Krampuslauf Graz 2010, A typical Austrian Krampusnacht parade (youtube.com)

* Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale (2010):  (amazon.com) Darkly wonderful Finnish film.

* Half in the Bag Episode 99: Krampus , Red Letter Media’s review of the 2015 film.

* @history_files (twitter.com)

* CSICONauts Chat

In this episode of The History Files we take a look at “war fever” and what drives world leaders to take up arms against each other. Sometimes it’s justified, as in defense, but sometimes it doesn’t seem very legitimate, as in the case of imperialist expansion. Then there’s the whole problem of dealing with the conundrum of wishing for victory, the harsh reality being that one is of course wishing death and destruction on the losing side.

War: What is it good for?

Show notes and links:

* Evacuation Day (Nove. 25, 1783) (en.wikipedia.org)

* Amistad revolt (1841) (law.cornell.edu)

* Gold Rush: 1848–1860: “I Saw the Elephant” 

* John Brown (abolitionist) hanged (1859) (en.wikipedia.org)

* UN grants a Homeland for the Jewish people (1947) (en.wikipedia.org)

* Jack Ruby shoots Lee Harvey Oswald (1963) (en.wikipedia.org)

* Amistad (1997) (imdb.com)

* Amazon.com: The Man In The High Castle (amazon.com)

* Just and Unjust Wars: A Moral Argument with Historical Illustrations , by Michael Walzer (amazon.com)

* Tales of Tinfoil: Stories of Paranoia and Conspiracy , various authors (amazon.com)

* Zaporozhian Cossacks , an awesome painting. Seriously, go look at it. (en.wikipedia.org)

* Greek War of Independence (1827) (en.wikipedia.org)

* Crimean War (1850s) (en.wikipedia.org)

* Russo-Turkish War (1877–78) (en.wikipedia.org)

* Hermann Goering on what drives a people to war.

* HL Mencken on practical politics (izquotes.com)

* The War Prayer, by Mark Twain , complete text.

In this, the first episode of History Bites (the bi-weekly, abbreviated version of The History Files), we take a look at the founders of modern musical theater, and all-around creative geniusses (genii?), Gilbert & Sullivan. (Don’t worry, we’ll have Gordon again next time.)

Show notes and links:

* I, Robot (en.wikipedia.org)

* The Baader-Meinhof Phenomenon

* Charitots of Fire (The Mikado)

* Gilbert and Sullivan in Raiders of the Lost Ark (Salah sings!)

* The Pirates of Penzance , The 1981 Joe Papp revival.

* Oh, Better Far to Live and Die Kevin Kline sings “Oh, better, far, to live and die…”

* Topsy-Turvy (1999) (imdb.com)

* The History Files | CSICON (csicon.net)

* @history_files (twitter.com)

* The History Files Show (at facebook.com)

* CSICONauts Chat (csicon.net)

This week we look at the woefully brief history of the Pony Express (1860-61), America’s wild and woolly rapid postal system.

Show notes and links:

* Gunpowder Plot and Guy Fawkes. “Remember, remember the 5th of November…”

* Mayflower Compact

* Henry Morton Stanley , African explorer.

* Armistice of 11 November 1918, ending the 1st World War.

* Howard Carter , discoverer of King Tutankhamen’s tomb.

* Laika, the first animal in space.

* Space Doggity (jonathancoulton.com).

* Space Shuttle Columbia

* Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries (TV Series 2012– ) (imdb.com).

* Fleming (TV Mini-Series 2014) (imdb.com).

* Amazon.com: Generations: The History of America’s Future, 1584 to 2069.  Neil Howe, William Strauss

* Pony Express

* William Hepburn Russell

* Johnny Fry, the first official Westbound rider of the Pony Express.

* Pony Express Mochila

* Coffee With Jeff  (episodes 60-62 re. Ed Wood)

* History Files on Twitter

* CSICONauts Chat

* Goodreads History Files group. (goodreads.com).

This week we look at the Battle of Antietam, one of the bloodiest of the American Civil War; General Lee’s attempt to bring the fight to the North.

Show notes and links:

* French Quebec surrenders to the British after Battle of the Plains of Abraham (1759).

* John Paul Jones declares, “I have not yet begun to fight!” (1779).

* List of amendments to the United States Constitution (1789).

* French National Convention abolishes the monarchy (1792).

* Assassination of William McKinley (1901).

* Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (1996).

* Death Comes to Pemberley (TV Mini-Series 2013) (imdb.com).

* Crisis At The Antietam, by Bruce Catton (full text).

* Second Battle of Bull Run

* Robert E. Lee

* Henry “Lighthorse Harry” Lee III

* George B. McClellan

* Battle of Antietam

* Hope Paintings (nps.gov).

* Emancipation Proclamation

* Third Battle of Nanking (the 1862 action in China with enormous casualties that we couldn’t remember the name of).

* @history_files (twitter.com).

* CSICONauts Chat 

* The History Files at Goodreads (goodreads.com).

This week we take a look at the War of 1812 in North America.. The one without the awesome Tchaikovsky theme music. Still; plenty to talk about, including the birth of the US Navy. Anchors away!

Show notes and links:

* Henry Hudson and the exploration of the Hudson River (1609).

* The Second Continental Congress (1776).

* “We Have Met The Enemy, and they are Ours” , Oliver Perry, after the Battle of Lake Erie (1812).

* Star Trek: The Original Series (1966).

* Scottish devolution referendum, 1997

* September 11 attacks

* Methodical Illusion (interesting investigation of the 9-11 attacks).

* Horatio Hornblower , by C.S. Forester.

* Hornblower (TV series)

* Amazon.com: Damn the Defiant!: Alec Guinness, Dirk Bogarde (1962)

* The Assassination of the Prime Minister: John Bellingham and the Murder of Spencer Perceval, David C. Hanrahan

* The Assassination of the Prime Minister, Spencer Perceval | The Public Domain Review

* USS Constitution  “Old Ironsides”

* Chesapeake–Leopard Affair

* Fort Detroit

* Fort Michilimackinac

* Original six frigates of the United States Navy (the War of the Frigates).

* John Rodgers (1772–1838)

* Commerce raiding (“guerre de course...