Western Civ Adam Walsh
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- Society & Culture
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A fast-moving history of the western world from the ancient world to the present day. Examine how the emergence of the western world as a global dominant power was not something that should ever have been taken for granted. This podcast traces the development of western civilization starting in the ancient Near East, through Greece and Rome, past the collapse of the Western Roman Empire into the Dark Ages, and then follows European and, ultimately, American history as the western world moved into a dominant world position.
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Episode 299: The "Rightful" Queen of England
Elizabeth deals with the continued fallout from the death of Amy Dudley while word from France arrives that Mary, Queen of Scots, believes she has a better claim to the English throne.
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Western Civ 2.0: The First Punic War
This is a bonus sneak-peak of what I do over on the paid feed: Western Civ 2.0. (The actual paid feed does not have ads.)
In this episode, I cover the First Punic War. Rome came consistently close to losing this war to Carthage and it is fascinating to think how different the outcome would have been had that happened.
The First Punic War (264-241 BC) marked a pivotal moment in ancient Mediterranean history, pitting two formidable powers, Rome and Carthage, against each other in a struggle for supremacy. The conflict was primarily fought over control of Sicily, a strategically significant island rich in resources. Initially, Rome had little naval experience, while Carthage boasted a formidable navy. However, Rome rapidly adapted, constructing a fleet from scratch and employing a innovative tactic of boarding enemy ships to turn naval battles into land-based engagements, thus neutralizing Carthage's naval superiority.The war witnessed several key battles, including the Battle of Mylae and the Battle of Cape Ecnomus, where Rome secured significant victories. Despite these successes, the war dragged on for over two decades, characterized by a grueling war of attrition and fluctuating fortunes for both sides. The conflict exacted a heavy toll on both Rome and Carthage, with substantial loss of life and resources.Ultimately, it was Rome's perseverance and adaptability that proved decisive. The Roman victory in the Battle of the Aegates Islands in 241 BC forced Carthage to sue for peace. The resulting Treaty of Lutatius effectively ended the war, with Carthage ceding Sicily to Rome and paying a hefty indemnity. This victory established Rome as the dominant power in the Western Mediterranean and laid the foundation for its eventual expansion into a formidable empire, while also setting the stage for future conflicts between Rome and Carthage.
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Episode 298: Francis II - The Shadow King of France
The death of Henry II thrusts his fifteen-year-old son Francis into the throne. From the word go Francis II is uninterested in running his kingdom. Nor will his sickly frame allow him to. Francis' brief reign is dominated by his mother, Catherine d'Medici, and the powerful Guise family. More than anything else, his reign features the beginning of a difficult period for the French Kingdom, which quickly finds itself torn apart by religious strife.
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Episode 297: King Robert Dudley?
In this episode, we break down the changes that Robert Dudley might become the next King of England. Spoiler alert, he doesn't. While Elizabeth I might have truly loved her favorite, the reality was she could not marry him. Marrying Robert would have isolated England even further as we will see. Then, when Robert's wife dies under mysterious circumstances, the door closes forever on the idea of Robert Dudley, King of England.
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Episode 296: The Virgin Queen
Elizabeth is often known in history books as the "Virgin Queen". As we will see in this episode, to remain unwed was a conscious choice she cultivated from the very beginning of her reign. It gave her independence. And it allowed her to chart England's religious course, very much a compromise, without foreign interference.
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Episode 295: The Unknown Queen
Today we begin Queen Elizabeth I, one of the most important British monarchs in history. Elizabeth takes over for the deceased Mary with England in absolute turmoil. She appoints William Cecil her Secretary of State and together they begin the process of righting England's ship.
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Customer Reviews
Awesome
Fantastic user-friendly review of Western Civ!
Love this show
Just finished the episode about Gregory the great. Truly fantastic and in depth story of western civilizations. The stories are all sequential BUT they have the ability to stand alone. My go to show now to unwind and learn some interesting history.
Outstanding content and presentation.
Western Civ quickly became one of my favorite podcasts because it has it all. The information is organized, the storytelling is interesting and the delivery is so well done and enjoyable to listen to.
I listen to so many podcasts that are packed with useful information done by experts in their fields (God bless them all) but so many lack a talented presentation and a voice to make listening enjoyable for hours.
Western Civ has it all and should be ranked in the top 5 history podcasts minimum. Thank you for the hard work.