The battles that made us -- a detailed, entertaining, and tangent-free program about history's greatest battles. In this program, we embark on a journey through the constancy of human conflict, where the fates of nations and the course of history have been decided on the battlefield. This program delves into our world-history's most significant and seminal battles, exploring not just the events themselves but their profound impact on the world timeline we live in today. Each episode is metic ...
…
continue reading
The podcasting of a life, by Matt Smith. “Whether I shall turn out to be the hero of my own life, or whether that station will be held by anybody else, these pages must show.” - Charles Dickens.
…
continue reading
The Ottoman defeat at Vienna marked the zenith of their European ambitions, the point where their imperial tide reached its furthest limit. From that moment, the empire’s grip on power began a slow, irreversible decline, foreshadowing centuries of retreat and decay. Vienna. 27th September - 14th October, 1529. Austrian Forces: 16,000 soldiers and 7…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
The Battle of Poltava, 1709, Russia Destroys Sweden Becoming Europe's Dominant North-Eastern Power Player
25:52
The crushing defeat of Sweden signaled the twilight of its imperial dominance, marking the irreversible decline of a once-great northern kingdom. In its place, Russia ascended—no longer a distant, peripheral force, but a burgeoning empire whose power now demanded the full attention of Europe. Peter’s victory at Poltava had reshaped the balance of t…
…
continue reading
This was the last great clash of the revolution in South America. It shattered the chains of Spanish colonial rule, sealing the fate of an empire that had once ruled unchallenged. With a final, earth-shaking battle, centuries of oppression crumbled, and the continent was forever free from the grasp of its conquerors. Ayacucho. 9th of December, 1824…
…
continue reading
The American victory shattered the Mexican government, triggering its collapse and bringing a definitive end to the war. The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, signed in 1848, cemented the terms of surrender. Through this treaty, the United States seized control of northern Mexico, gaining not just vast territories but also securing its dominance in the …
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
The Battle of Tel El Kebir, 1882, British Seizure of the Suez Canal and Egypt as a "Protectorate"
25:04
With their decisive victory, Britain didn’t just seize control of Egypt—they claimed the lifeline of empire, the Suez Canal, placing a stranglehold on the heart of global trade. From this powerful perch, British influence rippled across the Middle East like an unstoppable force, bending the region to its will for nearly a century. Only in 1956, wit…
…
continue reading
Manila Bay, the final grand naval clash of the 19th century, marked the dawn of a new era as steel warships thundered across the seas for the first time. The efficacy of American naval firepower not only secured control over the Philippines for the next fifty years but also forged America’s destiny as a dominant force in the heart of Asia, forever …
…
continue reading
France’s triumph shattered Germany’s dreams of a lightning-fast victory, plunging both nations into the unrelenting nightmare of four agonizing years of trench warfare, where every inch of muddy ground was paid for with rivers of blood. Had the Germans been victorious, it is unlikely that the German nation would have had much interest in Hitler's r…
…
continue reading
The crushing defeat of the Red Army in Poland did more than just carve out Poland’s post-World War I borders and halt the crimson tide of communism in its tracks; it also unfurled a bloody canvas of tactics that appears to have captivated the minds of German military planners. Those same brutal, fast-moving maneuvers would be perfected and unleashe…
…
continue reading
The thunderous victory at Trafalgar immortalized Britain as the unrivaled master of the seas, her naval dominance stretching far into the next century. Napoleon’s dream of a British Isle invasion was shattered like his fleet against the rocks, his ambitions to bring England to its knees buried beneath the waves forever. Trafalgar, Coast of Spain. 2…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
The Battle of Bouvines, 1216 AD, French Victory, English Magna Carta, Germanic Political Splintering for Six Centuries
21:48
Philip’s triumph at Bouvines laid the cornerstone of the French nation, transforming a patchwork of feudal territories into a unified kingdom under a powerful monarchy. In stark contrast, Otto’s crushing defeat shattered the Holy Roman Empire’s cohesion, plunging Germany into a quagmire of discord and internal strife that would fester for centuries…
…
continue reading
The Mamluk victory decisively shattered the Mongol ambition to dominate the Middle East, safeguarding the heartlands of Islam. This triumph not only preserved the faith from being relegated back to a marginal existence in the arid deserts but also ensured its continued prosperity and influence across a vast and culturally rich region. Ain Jalut, 3r…
…
continue reading
The downfall of French power sounded the death knell for their imperial hold over Southeast Asia, unraveling an empire and sowing the seeds of American intervention. This defeat not only closed one chapter of colonial dominion but ignited the fuse that would draw the United States into a web of conflict and alliances, forever altering the course of…
…
continue reading
The Battle of Rivoli, a decisive turning point in Napoleon’s initial Italian campaign against Austria, blazed like a firebrand through the annals of warfare. Here, Napoleon’s tactical brilliance unfolded with the precision of a master chess player, each maneuver an exquisite stroke of genius that stunned his adversaries. Rivoli not only cemented hi…
…
continue reading
With this resounding victory over the Brits, American forces tightened their grip on the indispensable Hudson River Valley, the lifeblood of the colonies’ strategic defense. This decisive moment did more than just secure territory; it echoed across the Atlantic, compelling France to embrace the American cause and forge a mutual defense pact, a dari…
…
continue reading
The obliteration of the Mongol fleets (by the "divine wind," the "kamikaze") ensured Japan's sovereignty, safeguarding the island nation from foreign conquest. However, this triumph over the external threat did not bring peace. Instead, it ignited a fierce internal power struggle within the military government, ultimately shifting the balance of po…
…
continue reading
Though Islam had cast its shadow over India for centuries, it was in the wake of this monumental battle that the Islamic crescent truly ascended, establishing Muslim dominion over the land—especially in the north—where it would reign unchallenged until the twilight of the Mughal dynasty in 1857. Taraori, 1192 A.D. Muslim Afghan Forces: ~ 120,000 Hi…
…
continue reading
Octavianus’ victory over Antonius (Mark Antony) was a historically cataclysmic moment that shattered the very foundations of the ancient Republic. With his enemies vanquished, Octavianus claimed unrivaled dominion over the Roman government, casting aside the old order and erecting in its place the towering behemoth of the Roman Empire — a new era, …
…
continue reading
With his resounding triumph, William the Conqueror secured the English crown as a foreign sovereign, ushering in the dawn of a new era. No longer would the island be shaped by Scandinavian influences; instead, it was now bound to the sophisticated currents of European civilization. This watershed moment in history marked the last time England would…
…
continue reading
The unimaginable loss of life, a gruesome testament to the unyielding carnage on the Western Front during World War I, left a deep, festering wound in the French psyche, one that bled into their military and political decisions for years to come. This haunting trauma became an inescapable force, driving a fearful and defensive stance that would cri…
…
continue reading
The crushing Mexican defeat at San Jacinto paved the way for Texas's hard-won independence, but it also sowed the seeds of future conflict, culminating in the U.S. Mexican War two decades later. The annexation of Texas by the United States marked the first official expansion into the vast and untamed lands of western North America. Territory that w…
…
continue reading
The crushing defeat of the Magyars marked the end of over 90 years of terror that had haunted Western Europe. The survivors, their dreams of conquest shattered and their ferocity tamed, abandoned their nomadic ways. In the ashes of their once-feared horde, they forged a new destiny, planting the seeds that would grow into the nation of Hungary. Lec…
…
continue reading
Mohammed’s battle at Badr stands as one of those rare battles where the number of men who fought was small, but the consequences were nothing short of world changing. His triumph at Badr did more than simply confirm his leadership — it forged his destiny as the unchallenged beacon of Islam. The sight of his small, victorious force, defeating overwh…
…
continue reading
Prophetstown stands as the historic backdrop for the final grand effort of a fading dream —the last, valiant stand where the scattered tribes of the American Indians sought to forge a united front against the unstoppable tide of white expansion, a final rallying cry before the storm of history swept them aside. Tecumseh and his Red Stick Confederac…
…
continue reading
The Battle of Pydna sounded the death knell for Alexander the Great's once-mighty empire, shattering its last vestiges and paving the way for the unstoppable rise of Roman supremacy and dominion across the Near East. Pydna. 22nd June, 168 B.C. Roman Forces: 25,000 infantry, unknown calvary, one contingent of war elephants. Macedonian Forces: ~ 40,0…
…
continue reading
The Prussian victory in the Franco-Prussian War (as a direct result of the Battle of Sedan) not only shattered the French army but also set the stage for a seismic shift in European power. The once-disparate Germanic states, emboldened by their triumph, coalesced into a formidable empire under a unified banner. Yet, this victory was a double-edged …
…
continue reading
Japan's victory at Mukden, forged on a winter battlefield requiring relentless sacrifice, shattered the old world order, compelling the great powers to the negotiating table. The end of the Russo-Japanese War was not just a cessation of hostilities—it was the birth of Japan as a military titan, a force that the world could no longer dare to ignore.…
…
continue reading
Washington's victory ignited a blazing resurgence of fervor in the hearts of the colonial people—a fervor so fierce that, without it, the flame of the American Revolution might have been extinguished forever; as this victory came on the back of three consecutive defeats for the revolutionary army. Trenton; 26 December, 1776. American Revolutionary …
…
continue reading
In a sweeping conquest, Cyrus the Great wrested control of Lydia's vast treasures, stripping Babylon of a crucial ally. His military genius is birthed in this battle. His resounding victory paved the way for Cyrus to boldly challenge and ultimately seize the Neo-Babylonian throne, heralding the dawn of the mighty Persian Empire. Thymbra. 546 B.C. P…
…
continue reading
[REMASTERED AND RE-RECORDED] The decisive Persian defeat not only halted a significant incursion into Europe but also solidified the reputation of the Greek military as a formidable entity in the annals of warfare. This confrontation laid the groundwork for the subsequent Persian attempt to conquer Greece, which would ultimately culminate in their …
…
continue reading
With his last desperate stand at an end, Ned Kelly will be tried and executed for his crimes in 1880, at the age of 25. His name and notoriety would only grow, and a surprisingly mixed reputation as a larrikin bushranger would develop. Many Australians would come to admire the legend and the myth, without necessarily understanding the man. Guest: D…
…
continue reading
The Kelly gang they are broke and on the run, having ambushed and killed policeman and conducted bank heists. Their next plan is their most daring, or perhaps reckless, centring around the victorian town of Glenrowan. Guest: Dr Doug Morrissey (Historian and author of Ned Kelly: A Lawless Life)Dr Doug Morrissey
…
continue reading
Ned Kelly came through a troubled upbringing and started a career as a horse thief, but is now on the run after shooting a policeman. With the authorities after him, he would only become more desperate and ruthless. Guest: Dr Doug Morrissey (Historian and author of Ned Kelly: A Lawless Life)Dr Doug Morrissey
…
continue reading
Ned Kelly is a legendary figure in Australian history. A bushranger, an outlaw, a convicted police murderer, and controversial figure. Despite his rap sheet, to some he was a rascal and a hero. Guest: Dr Doug Morrissey (Historian and author of Ned Kelly: A Lawless Life)Dr Doug Morrissey
…
continue reading
When British India collapses, India embraces it’s state of free rule, but it isn’t the outcome Gandhi had campaigned for. Religious rivalries and disagreements lead to a split between Muslim and Hindi, dividing the territory in two. Guest: Dr Thomas Weber (Politics and Philosophy, La Trobe University)…
…
continue reading
The salt march is the most iconic event from Gandhi's campaign of non-violent resistance. In 1930 Gandhi and his followers began a month-long march to the coast where he made salt, defiantly breaking a British law related to the taxation of salt production. Explaining his choice, Gandhi said that "Next to air and water, salt is perhaps the greatest…
…
continue reading
Gandhi is a figure who is known across the world as the father of the nation, the man who achieved independence in the Indian subcontinent through non-violent resistance. He was also a thinker and a philosopher, and the name he was given, ‘Mahatma’, means great soul, and reflects the reverence with which he was seen. Guest: Dr Thomas Weber (Politic…
…
continue reading
Gandhi is a figure who is known across the world as the father of the nation, the man who achieved independence in the Indian subcontinent through non-violent resistance. He was also a thinker and a philosopher, and the name he was given, ‘Mahatma’, means great soul, and reflects the reverence with which he was seen. Guest: Dr Thomas Weber (Politic…
…
continue reading
With his victory at Salamis, Themistocles is now the hero of the Hellenic world. he's recognised and lauded across the lands, but with this power comes jealousy and competition. The hero of Athens will have to turn to its greatest enemy for sanctuary. Guest: Professor Christopher Mackie (Ancient Mediterranean Studies, La Trobe University)…
…
continue reading
Themistocles has established himself as a respected politician within ancient Athens, but he isn't without rivalry. He has political enemies from within who hope to bring him down, and there's always the threat of Persia, readying itself to take on the Hellenic states. Guest: Professor Christopher Mackie (Ancient Mediterranean Studies, La Trobe Uni…
…
continue reading
Themistocles lived during a time of change and progress in Athens. The monarchy was coming to an end, the republic was on the rise, and a self-made man from modest beginnings can make crucial contributions to an entire civilisation. Guest: Professor Christopher Mackie (Ancient Mediterranean Studies, La Trobe University)…
…
continue reading
Ely S. Parker was born to a prominent Seneca family on an Indian reservation near New York, and to many was considered a man between two worlds. Working first as a tribal diplomat, and later forming a close friendship with Ulysses S. Grant during the civil war, he came to be the first Native American to hold the position of Head of the Bureau of In…
…
continue reading
Frida attains fame within her lifetime, and her relationship with Diego Rivera remains passionate and explosive. Since she died her fame has attained new heights, as people see the part of Frida they want to see - she now belongs to the world. Guest: Emeritus Professor Barry Carr (History, La Trobe University).…
…
continue reading
Frida Kahlo is considered one of Mexico's greatest artists but spent most of her career working in the shadow of her husband, the larger than life artist and muralist Diego Rivera. After a bus accident left her injured for life she took up painting, and became known for her surreal artwork and self-portraits which show a conflicted artist. Guest: E…
…
continue reading
Douglas Mawson expedition across the ice has been met with tragedy. One of his men has fallen down a crevice and died, and with him the majority of the food stores and the good sleigh dogs. He and Mertz have little option but to turn back and try to make their way to the base. But the weather is against them, and they don't have enough food to make…
…
continue reading
Douglas Mawson has returned from the Shackleton Expedition in Antarctica, but he soon gets the urge to go back to the ice. He journeys to England to raise money for his own Antarctic mission - a scientific endeavour with the primary aim to discover new territory. Guest: Dr David Day (Historian and Emeritus of La Trobe University). Books: Flaws in t…
…
continue reading
Douglas Mawson is one of the great explorers of Antarctica, and regarded as a hero in Australia. His first journey to the frozen continent was as a member of the Shackleton expedition, and he was given the task of finding the magnetic south pole. Guest: Dr David Day (Historian and Emeritus of La Trobe University). Books: Flaws in the Ice: In search…
…
continue reading
After his death, the teachings that are attributed to Confucius take on a life on their own. We now look at the philosophy of Confucius, the trouble with interpreting his teachings, and what Confucianism means in today's world. Guest: Professor John Makeham (Director, China Studies Research Centre, La Trobe University).…
…
continue reading
A philosopher, teacher, and political thinker, Confucius lived 2500 years ago, in the Spring and Autumn period of Chinese history. While his teachings and thinking has travelled worldwide, it is a hard task to separate the man from the myth. Guest: Professor John Makeham (Director, China Studies Research Centre, La Trobe University).…
…
continue reading
By the end of her reign there was little doubt that Catherine had earned the 'Great' which was attached to her name. But what did Russia make of the empire she had built, and why is she most notably remembered for her sexual promiscuity? Guest: Associate Professor Adrian Jones (History, La Trobe University)…
…
continue reading
Catherine the Great took control of Russia, tried to make it a better place, and made sure the rest of the world couldn't ignore it's greatness. Guest: Associate Professor Adrian Jones (History, La Trobe University)Assoc. Professor Adrian Jones
…
continue reading