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Tiberius - a good emperor, a broken man Jan 15, 2025

Show notes

In this episode Professor Ed Watts and I look at the brilliant career and sad life of the Emperor Tiberius. We try to understand how this most capable and intelligent man came to be seen by history as one of the most monstrous of the Roman emperors.
In researching for the podcast I came across a really stirring defence of Tiberius in the shape of a monograph by Norman Douglas. On looking into who Norman Douglas was I discovered that he was a great literary figure of the first half of the 20th century. He was also an open paedophile and quite possibly child rapist. In short some of the crimes Tiberius himself was accused of. Here is an article about the man by Rachel Hope Cleves which I found interesting and unsettling in equal measure.
Regardless, I think Ed makes a good case for considering Tiberius to have been a good emperor but broken by age, family tragedy and an impossibly demanding stepfather.

Christ's Samurai with Jonathan Clements - part 2 Dec 27, 2024

Show notes

This is part 2 of my podcast with Jonathan Clements on Japan's Christian century. In this episode we get on to the rebellion itself. Sensitive listeners may want to brace themselves!

Christ's Samurai with Jonathan Clements - part 1 Dec 19, 2024

Show notes

A two part podcast on Japan's Christian century. Jonathan Clements wrote a brilliant book called Christ's Samurai about the Shimabara rebellion of 1638. We cover the story in two parts - this is part 1 and tells of the early successes and later disasters of the efforts to bring christianity to Japan. Part 2 will cover the story of the rebellion itself.

In the Kingdom of Ice - with Hampton Sides Dec 02, 2024

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Hampton Sides loves to tell stories of people fighting against impossible odds.
The story of the Jeannette's voyage is right in that vein. His book is called In the Kingdom of Ice and the subtitle sums it up - the Grand and Terrible Polar Voyage of the USS Jeannette.
Look forward to hearing about US naval officer George de Long's polar expedition of 1879, including:

a rich and eccentric newspaper owner
a syphilitic navigator
a mentally unbalanced German cartographer
a wonderful love story

and courage and endurance beyond all belief.

Spring Heeled Jack - with Mike Dash Nov 09, 2024

Show notes

Spring Heeled Jack was an uncatchable villain from Victorian times. His speciality was attacking young women, raking their faces and clothes with metal claws and sometimes breathing fire in their faces. We have good evidence for his existence with newspaper reports and police and courts involved. But the more historian Mike Dash peels away the layers the harder it becomes to be sure of anything. A proper historical investigation into a proper mystery!

Giles Milton on Nathaniel’s Nutmeg Oct 07, 2024

Show notes

The 'spice wars' between the Dutch and the English in the 1600's were quite something. Giles Milton told the story in his remarkable book Nathaniel's Nutmeg. What I hadn't realised until reading this was how feeble and disorganised the English were compared to their competitors. And the Dutch in particular were as ruthless as they were capable.
Visits to the court of Ivan the Terrible, a knight of the realm imprisoned in a cupboard under the stairs, horrific torture, courage and persistence beyond belief - and much much more. Giles, as ever, tells the story just brilliantly.

Rebel Island - Jonathan Clements on the history of Taiwan - part 2 Sep 12, 2024

Show notes

We are back with Jonathan Clements for part 2 of our podcast on the history of Taiwan. In this episode we start with the remarkable story of Taiwan's 50 years as a colony of Japan. And Jonathan then takes the story through the White Terror up to the current day.
And to remind you:
Rebel Island
Jonathan's blog

Rebel Island - Jonathan Clements on the history of Taiwan - part 1 Sep 10, 2024

Show notes

Jonathan Clements has written a number of histories of East Asia. His latest, Rebel Island, is a history of Taiwan from the earliest times up to today. If you have any interest in the history of the region this book is an absolute must read. And while it is a serious and meticulously researched history it is also genuinely gripping with 'Blimey! I didn't know that!' moments on every other page. Really terrific stuff.
We ran rather long so I split it into two parts. Part 1 takes us all the way up to the eve of the arrival of the Japanese who established it as a colony in 1895. Jonathan was a hugely entertaining and enthusiastic guest and the depth of his learning really shines through.
And do check out Jonathan's blog, the eccentrically named Schoolgirl Milky Crisis. Full of fascinating history and, indeed, reviews of Finnish cinema!

The 4th Crusade and the final fall of the Roman Empire - with Ed Watts Aug 23, 2024

Show notes

Delighted to have Professor Ed Watts back on the show. This time he is talking about the 4th Crusade which turned into one of history's great catastrophes. People give many possible dates for the fall of the Roman Empire and Ed argues persuasively for 1204 when the crusade reaches its heartbreaking climax.

In Sulla's shadow - Ed Watts reappraises Caesar Jul 24, 2024

Show notes

Professor Ed Watts is a reliably brilliant guest on the show. In this episode he looks at Sulla's career and the blight the cast on the Roman Republic. Ed argues that it is impossible to understand any the great characters - Caesar, Cicero, Cato, Pompey and so on - without understanding the scarring effect of Sulla's rule. In Ed's view Caesar emerges from all this as a man with terrible ambition and many faults but ultimately redeemed by his refusal to follow Sulla's example. Refreshingly revisionist stuff.
You can read more about the issues we talk about in Ed's book Mortal Republic. It is extremely entertaining and fast paced without sacrificing scholarship. Highly recommended.

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