Wonders of the World

Latest Episodes:

101 - The Uffizi Gallery of Florence and Cosimo I de' Medici Apr 25, 2024

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One of the world's great museums of Renaissance art: the Uffizi. Meaning "the offices," the Uffizi were quite literally built as an office buidling for the growing administration of Cosimo I de' Medici, the first Grand Duke of Tuscany, the leader who brought authoritarian rule, if also stablity, to Florence.

Bry Rayburn from the Pontifacts podcast, joins me once again to talk about Cosimo, her historic bae, the great museum, and the rest of his legacy. We also talk about our old friend Giorgio Vasari, author, artist and architect, a true Renaissance man.

And of course, ribollita, that classic Tuscan white bean stew!

Bonus - The Total Solar Eclipse of 2024 Apr 08, 2024

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A quick bonus episode about how eclipses connect with human history

099 - The Meenakshi Amman Temple of Madurai and the Fall of Vijayanagar Mar 21, 2024

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Towering above the city of Madurai, the gopurams or gateways of the Meenakshi Amman Temple are medieval skyscrapers, awash in color, writhing in movement, beautiful and otherworldly at the same time.

In this episode we'll discuss the rise of the Mughal Empire, the fall of Vijayanagara, and of course, masala dosa, that most incredible of South Indian streetfoods.

100 - The Wieliczka Salt Mine and the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth Sep 07, 2023

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In the late 1500s Poland and Lithuania joined to create the Commonwealth, a remarkable, if flawed, experiment in constitutional monarchy that would last more than 200 years. Its legacy of religious tolerance and representative republicanism is strangely overlooked in American history books - and I would guess in other histories as well.

One of the chief economic engines of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth was the Wielizcka Salt Mine, an amazing wonder delved over 700 years. To visit Wieliczka is to be amazed at the artistry of salt sculptures and impressed by the sheer cheesiness of all the salty dwarves. So many salty dwarves. Or maybe they're gnomes...

Finally, let's grab some friends and make pierogis!

098 - The Süleymaniye Mosque of Istanbul and Suleiman the Magnificent Aug 15, 2023

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Suleiman the Magnificent? Suleiman the Lawgiver? Suleiman the Bisexual Poet? No matter how you label him, Suleiman was a fascinating sultan of the Ottoman Empire who strode upon the world stage, and his private life was worthy of a scandalous Netflix show. Among his greatest legacies was commissioning this phenomenal mosque, designed by Mimar Sinan, one of the history's most successul and significant architects.

Listener and traveler Emma Browning returns to discuss visiting the mosque and Istanbul and trying to find vegetarian food in a city known for its meat and seafood. Grab some Turkish delight and enjoy!

097 - Machu Picchu and the Rise and Fall of the Inca Feb 09, 2023

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The world-famous "lost city of the Inca". It wasn't a city, and it wasn't lost, but yes, it was made by the Inca. The incredibly scenic former estate of kings is a true marvel, as I can personally attest, but this episode is about so much more than the ruins that people come from all over the world to see.

Joined by Nick Machinski of the History of the Inca Empire podcast, we talk about the dramatic rise and fall of the Inca Empire, their staunch resistance to Spanish conquest, and the wonders that might have been, like the gold-covered Qoriqancha. Listener and friend of the pod Jesse Oppenheim shares his breathless experience visiting Peru as well. And if you haven't had lomo saltado, you should fix that.

Photo by Allard Schmidt

Mental Health Hiatus Dec 07, 2022

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It's all too much for me to take - the Beatles, 1969

096 - The Humble Administrator's Garden of Suzhou Aug 18, 2022

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He was from the richest city in Ming China, or one of the richest, and after his checkered political career, he came home and planted a garden. 500 years later, we can still visit his garden and marvel at the humility of Wang Xianchen, the Humble Administrator. This episode is a pleasant diversion beforewe get back to the big stories.

And we'll have Suzhou "smoked" fish while we're here!

Sources: Clunas, Craig. Fruitful Sites: Garden Culture in Ming Dynasty China Lonely Planet China Photograph CC4.0 by wikicommons user Another Believer

095 - The Migration of the Monarch Butterflies and the Conquest of Mexico Jul 14, 2022

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Monarch butterflies are tiny, ephemeral creatures, whose audacious color patterns makes them beloved across a continent, yet few realize how remarkable their migration from Canada and the US to their winter ground west of Mexico City really is. Listener Livia Montovani joins us to talk about visiting the mountain reserves where hundreds of millions of butterflies spend their winter.

We'll also cover the conquest of Mexico and the personalities involved, from Motecuhzoma of the Mexica to Cortés of Spain to the controversial role of la Malinche, the formerly enslaved woman who translated for the Spainiards. It's a story with no heroes, but it needs to be told.

And we'll make carnitas at home with salsa verde!

Sources:

Baumle, Kylee, The monarch: Saving our Most-Loved Butterfly Dennis, Peter. Tenochtitlan 1519-21: Clash of Civilizations Diáz dl Castillo, Bernal. The True History of the Conquest of New Spain Dykman, Sara. Bicycling with Butterflies: My 10,201-mile Journey Following the Monarch MMigration Fehrenbach, T.R. Fire & Blood: a History of Mexico Keeling, Stephen et al. The Rough Guide to Mexico Levy, Buddy. Conquistador: Hernán Cortés, King Montezuma, and the Last Stand of the Aztecs Sainsbury, Brendan et al. Lonely Planet Mexico

Photograph by pendens proditor CC 2.0

Update and Intelligent Speech Jun 12, 2022

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A brief update about the show!

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