Wonders of the World

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078 - The Monasteries of Meteora and John V Palaeologos Feb 20, 2021

Show notes

Stunning medieval monasteries perched on infinitely steep precipices, the monasteries of Meteora are sanctuaries in the sky. But what happened in Byzantium to convince monks to seek solitude in such forbidding locales?

Stories of the collapse of Constantinople typically focus on the end, in 1453, but the fall really begins much earlier than that, fueled in many ways by the sheer incompetence of John V Palaeologos, the second longest serving Roman emperor, whose reign was a constant barrage of humiliations. He managed to be put in prison on four different occasions!

While we explore this fascinating loser, listener Roberto describes his trip to see the great monasteries in north central Greece, and we discuss dolmades, stuffed grape leaves.

Sources:

Fodor's Essential Greece Gibbons, Herbert Adams. The Foundation of the Ottoman Empire: a History of the Osmanlis up the the Death of Bayezid I (1300-1403) Herrin, Judith. Byzantium: The Surprising Life of A Medieval Empire Luttrell, Anthony. "John V's Daughters: A Palaiologan Puzzle." Dumbarton Oaks Papers Norwich, John Julius. Byzantium: The Decline and Fall Treadgold, Warren. A Concise History of Byzantium

Photograph by LucT

077 - The Alhambra of Granada and the Reign of Muhammad V Jan 28, 2021

Show notes

Nestled in the mountains of southwestern Andalucia, Granada's magnificent Alhambra palace represents the last hurrah of Moorish architecture in Spain, but what a last hurrah! Delicate and intricate, the Alhambra feels like something from a dream.

This episode, I talk about Muhammad V, who survived a coup, exile, murderous intrigue and cruel allies to inspire and create the most splendid part of the Alhambra. Fun with assassinations!

And I'll talk about my favorite food on earth: jamón ibérico. And tortilla española for the vegetarians. The Alhambra is my favorite place on the list, and I hope my enthusiasm comes through.

Sources:

Fernández-Puertas, Antonio. "The Three Great Sultans of Al-Dawla Al-Ismā'īliyya Al-Naṣriyya Who Built the Fourteenth-Century Alhambra: Ismā'īl I, Yūsuf I, Muḥammad V (713-793/1314-1391)." Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society, vol. 7, no. 1, 1997, pp. 1–25. Irving, Washington. The Alhambra Lowney, Chris. A Vanished World: Medieval Spain's Golden Age of Enlightenment Menocal, Maria Rosa. The Ornament of the World: How Muslims, Jews, and Christians Created A Culture of Tolerance in Medieval Spain Noble, Isabella. Lonely Planet Andalucía

Photograph by Oscarmu90

076 - Cologne Cathedral and the Black Death Jan 14, 2021

Show notes

It was the world's tallest building, 632 years after work started: an exercise in persistence. Cologne Cathedral is a Gothic masterpiece.

Cologne itself is a good place to tell the story of the 13th century's great disaster: the Black Death, and the social upheaval it brought, including the pogroms that swept through the Rhineland.

Willem Fromm of the History of Cologne podcast brings a local perspective to his home city, its magnificent cathedral and its 2000 years of history. And beer! And potato soup!

Sources:

Di Duca, Marc. Lonely Planet Germany Kelly, John. The Great Mortality: An Intimate History of the Black Death, the Most Devastating Plague of All Time Orent, Wendy. Plague: The Mysterious Past and Terrifying Future of the World's Most Dangerous Disease Ozment, Steven E. A Mighty Fortress: A New History of the German People Rick Steves Germany Photo by Nikolai Karaneschev

075 - Bali and the Majapahit Empire Dec 24, 2020

Show notes

A Hindu island in the world's largest majority Muslim country, Bali is world-renowned for its natural and cultural beauty. But underneath the surfing and partying and rituals is the last bastion of an empire that once ruled all of Indonesia.

Gajah Mada was the prime minister for Queen Gitarja of the Majapahit dynasty, and together, they united the islands. That is, until a wedding massacre sent it all spiraling.

Tracy deLuca of the Results May Vary podcast describes her experience in Bali, where she got married! And we talk food, including sucking pig and fried rice.

Sources:

Coedès, George. The Indianized States of Southeast Asia. DK Eyewitness. Bali and Lombok Lonely Planet Bali, Lombok and Nusa Tenggara The Nagarakretagama Odorico, da Pordenone. Cathay and the way thither: being a collection of medieval notices of China (Translated by Sir Henry Yule and Henri Cordier) The Pararaton

Photograph by chensiyuan

074 - The Madrassas of Timbuktu and Mansa Musa Nov 26, 2020

Show notes

Some call him the richest person in human history. Whether that's true, Mansa Musa of Mali shook up the world with his gold-laden hajj through Cairo and his university in Timbuktu.

That city at the edge of the Sahara might seem like the furthest place on earth, but it was a remarkable center of learning, home to as many as 700,000 manuscripts.

Cody Michaels from the History Unwritten podcast comes by to talk about Musa, his gold, and his famous journey to Mecca, as well as how African history is so much more than what we're commonly taught. Plus poulet yassa!

Sources:

Baxter, Joan. "Africa's 'greatest explorer'" in BBC News

Bell, Nawal Morcos. "The Age of Mansa Musa of Mali: Problems in Succession and Chronology" in The International Journal of African Historical Studies

Coleman de Graft-Johnson, John. "Mūsā I of Mali" in Encyclopaedia Britannica

Hamidullah, Mohammed. "Echos of What Lies Behind the 'Ocean of Fogs'" in Muslim Historical Narratives

Levtzion, N. "The Thirteenth- and Fourteenth-Century Kings of Mali" in The Journal of African History

Mohamud, Naima. "Is Mansa Musa the richest man who ever lived?" in BBC Africa

Sogoba, Mia. "Mansa Musa: the Rejected Ruler of the Mali Empire?" in Culture of West Africa

Photograph by Francesco Bandarin

020 - The Staircases of Persepolis and the Rise of the Achaemenids Nov 15, 2020

Show notes

East vs West? Maybe. We're off to Iran to greet the rise of the Persian Achaemenid Empire, the world's greatest by this point in history. Between Cyrus and Darius, we'll deal with two Great rulers, but we've also got medieval Iranian love poetry, unappetizing royal banquets, Croesus making bad decisions, and kebabs! `

Even better, Yentl from theQueerClassicist.com comes by to bring her knowledge of Achaemenid Persia, as we climb the magnificent staircases of Persepolis.

073 - The Canals and Belfries of Bruges and the Battle of the Golden Spurs Nov 07, 2020

Show notes

Note: This episode contains a bit of profanity. The swampy county of Flanders was the richest part of Europe in the 14th century, fueled by the international cloth trade, and Bruges was the center of that trade, spinning English wool into Flemish cloth. The trade brought power to the craft guilds, and that power brought those guilds into conflict with the aristocracy, and ultimately, the king of France.

In this episode, Manuel Van den Eycke of the Random History of Belgium Podcast joins us to examine the Bruges Matins, a worker-led uprising, and the subsequent Battle of the Golden Spurs. That victory, which nationalists have given connotations well beyond the intent of the participants.

We also talk about Belgian food (the best), including chocolate, fries, beer, and waffles, with a recipe for Liege-style waffles that will bring a smile to your face.

Belgium means so much to me, and I hope my enthusiasm shines through in this episode.

Sources: Brown, Elizabeth, A.R. "Philip IV, King of France" in Encyclopedia Britannica "Enchanted Bruges" New York Times 2006 "The Rise and Fall of the Medieval Flemish Cloth Industry" DiscoveringBelgium.com Rick Steves Belgium: Bruges, Brussels, Antwerp & Ghent Thomson, Emma. Northern Belgium: Flanders With Brussels, Bruges, Ghent & Antwerp

Photo by Hans Hillewaert

072 - The Great Wall of China and Khubilai Khan Oct 22, 2020

Show notes

It's a great wall. A really great wall. It also never really did its job.

Among those who so easily moved past the Great Wall were the Mongols, and Khubilai Khan, Mongol conqueror of China and founder of the Yuan dynasty, is perhaps the best known Chinese emperor, even though he's maybe the least Chinese of them all. Thanks, Marco Polo.

Joined by the phenomenal Chris Stewart of the History of China Podcast, we explore the wall, the Mongols, the Song Dynasty they vanquished, and Khubilai himself as he sat in his pleasure palace we know now as Xanadu.

There's hot pot, Olivia Newton-John references, two different typhoons, and more fun than you can shake a bottle of fermented mare's milk at.

Sources: Coleridge, Samuel Taylor. "Kubla Khan, or, a vision in a dream. A Fragment." de Rachewiltz, Igor. tr. The Secret History of the Mongols: A Mongolian Epic Chronicle of the Thirteenth Century Keay, John. China: a History

Photograph by Severin.stalder

071 - The Cathedral of Our Lady of Chartres and Blanche of Castile Sep 24, 2020

Show notes

Chartres Cathedral and its magnificent stained glass represent perhaps the greatest achievement of the High Gothic. Its story is linked to that of Blanche of Castile, one of France's most powerful queens, and her son Louis IX, later Saint Louis.

In this episode, we talk architecture, stained glass, and the use of color with listener and medieval studies scholar Chris Shanley. You'll also hear about how Blanche set Louis up for success, which he kinda sorta achieved.

And because we all need some comfort food, let's cook up a croque madame.

Sources:

Ball, Philip. Universe of Stone: Chartres Cathedral and the Invention of the Gothic Branner, Robert ed. Chartres Cathedral Horne, Alistair. Seven Ages of Paris Scott, Robert A. The Gothic Enterprise: A Guide to Understanding the Medieval Cathedral Rick Steves France Williams, Nicola. Lonely Planet France Wilson, Christopher. The Gothic Cathedral: The Architecture of the Great Church, 1130-1530

Photograph by Wikipedia user PtrQs

070 - The Rock-Hewn Churches of Lalibela and Medieval Ethiopia Aug 27, 2020

Show notes

When you think of Ethiopia, you might think of famine in the 1980s. You might not think of a millenia-old culture, one of the powers of the ancient world. The ancient capital of Aksum, possible home of the Lost Ark, sits below mighty obelisks, testaments to the wealth still hidden below the city.

In the middle ages, under the auspices of king Lalibela and with the alleged help of angels, workers carved remarkable churches by digging down directly into the rock. These rock-hewn churches still host Orthodox services, providing a powerful sense of faith.

Listener Callum Barnes appears to discuss his travels in Ethiopia, from trying to see the Ark to being offered raw beef at a wedding in Addis Ababa. Plus making injera, the famous spongy bread that centers Ethiopia's wonderful cuisine.

Sources: Carillet, Jean-Bernard and Anthony Ham. Lonely Planet Ethiopia & DjiboutiHenze, Paul B. Layers of Time: a History of EthiopiaThe Kebra Negast

Photograph by Chuck Moravec

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