Curious about how ancient empires controlled their people? In this episode, we explore "Creating an Empire of Informers" by Poppy Tushingham, which takes us back to 672 BC when Assyrian King Esarhaddon imposed a shocking system of surveillance. Imagine an empire where everyone, from neighbors...
In this episode, we explore "Broken Narrative: The Politics of Contemporary Art in Albania" by Marco Mazzi and Armando Lulaj, a thought-provoking look at how art and politics intertwine in Albania’s turbulent recent history. Through an in-depth interview with artist Armando Lulaj, we trace the...
In this engaging episode, we delve into Sebastian Coxon's "Beards and Texts," which explores the significant role of beards in medieval German literature from the mid-twelfth to the early sixteenth centuries. Coxon reveals how beards symbolize masculinity and serve as important motifs in discussions of...
Join us for an engaging episode as we explore "Barbarian Europe" by Karol Modzelewski, a fascinating examination of the profound yet often overlooked influence of early Germanic and Slavic societies on European culture. While the legacies of the Christian Church and classical antiquity are well-documented,...
In this episode, we explore "Armies and Ecosystems in Premodern Europe" by Sander Govaerts, a thought-provoking examination of the intricate ties between military forces and their environments in historical Europe. Focusing on the Meuse Region, a significant battleground between France and Germany, Govaerts reveals how...
In this episode, we explore the fascinating world of medieval Western Scandinavia and how people understood their own identities between 800 and 1500. "Approaches to the Medieval Self," edited by Stefka G. Eriksen, Karen Langsholt Holmqvist, and Bjørn Bandlien, uncovers intriguing insights from archaeology, art,...
In this episode, we explore "Animism, Materiality, and Museums" by Glenn Peers, where he flips the script on how we view sacred art. Instead of seeing Byzantine icons as mere windows to the divine, Peers invites us to consider their materiality as something vibrant and...
In this episode, we explore Zen Culture by Thomas Hoover, a fascinating journey through the history and cultural impact of Zen Buddhism in Japan. From its roots in Buddhism’s arrival and blending with Shinto beliefs, to its profound influence on Japanese art, architecture, gardens, theatre,...
In this episode, we explore Across the Oceans: Development of the Overseas Business Information Transmission by Seija-Riitta Laakso, tracing the 19th-century revolution in global communication. From letters carried by ships and horses to the game-changing innovations of steamships, railways, and the telegraph, we’ll uncover how...
In this episode, we explore the compelling themes of "Wine and Otherness", edited by Augustin Voegele, Thomas Nicklas, Frédérique Toudoire-Surlapierre, Michel Faure, and Sonia Goldblum. This insightful collection reveals wine as more than just a drink; it embodies the essence of terroir, landscape, and cultural...