The History of the Twentieth Century

Mark Painter

A chronicle of the history of the twentieth century, including art, music, popular culture, science, religion, and, of course, politics and war.

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457 episodes
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Episodes457

Newest first

Jan 3, 2016 · 42 min
015 Taels I Win
Reinforcements from the Western nations turn the tide in the fight against the Boxers. But will they get to Beijing in time?
Dec 20, 2015 · 41 min
014 The Righteous and Harmonious Fists
A grassroots uprising against foreigners develops in China in 1900, a result of outrage over Chinese territorial concessions and foreign missionary activity.
Dec 13, 2015 · 35 min
013 The Christian Century
At the beginning of the 20th century, a fault line develops in Protestantism, especially in the USA, over the role of ancient Scriptures in a modern church.
Dec 6, 2015 · 39 min
012 The Empire Strikes Back
Frustrated on all fronts, the British mobilize the enormous resources of their Empire in a bid to defeat the Boers once and for all.
Nov 22, 2015 · 39 min
011 Moving Like the Wind
The British get the war they want with the Boer republics in South Africa, but the Boers turn out to be more than the British can handle. At first.
Nov 15, 2015 · 39 min
010 Lest We Forget
Britain is still very much a class-bound society at home and a military power abroad. A look at the state of the Empire in the late 19th century, with a special emphasis on Ireland and South Africa.
Nov 8, 2015 · 37 min
009 Dark Clouds
What are cathode rays? X-rays? Radioactivity? How old is the Earth? Inquiring minds want to know. Also, in an age when only men can vote, the greatest scientist of the time is a woman. And Polish. Take that, haters!
Nov 1, 2015 · 48 min
008 J'Accuse...!
France at the turn of the century was rocked by the Dreyfus Affair, where an innocent soldier was convicted of treason, and the Army went to incredible lengths in its refusal to acknowledge what became increasingly obvious.
Oct 25, 2015 · 45 min
007 La Belle Époque
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times...
Oct 18, 2015 · 26 min
006 White Man's Burden
As relations between the Americans and the Filipinos degenerate into open combat, the war to liberate Cuba becomes a war to subjugate the Philippines.
Oct 15, 2015 · 6 min
005s Documents
...and imbued with firm confidence in Divine Providence, we hereby mutually bind ourselves to support this Declaration with our lives, our fortunes, and with our most sacred possession, our Honor....
Oct 11, 2015 · 26 min
005 Islands or Canned Goods
So, are the US and the Filipino rebels allies or not? When the US and Spain start doing deals, there are no Filipinos at the table.
Oct 7, 2015 · 21 min
004s Documents
Three documents referenced in this week's podcast on the Spanish-American War: The letter from the Spanish ambassador, McKinley's message to Congress, Joint Congressional Resolution.
Oct 4, 2015 · 40 min
004 Hot Time in the Old Town Tonight
The United States intervenes in the Cuban revolt against Spain. But what does this mean for the Philippines?
Sep 27, 2015 · 34 min
003 Touch Me Not
This episode looks at the history of the Philippines through the start of the Spanish-American War.
Sep 20, 2015 · 36 min
002 A Place in the Sun
Germany is pretty much a world leader in everything at the beginning of the 20th century. 13 Nobel Prizes in 10 years. Top that, everyone else!
Sep 13, 2015 · 42 min
001 Age of Empires
We take a brief look at the world as it is on 1 January 1901--the birthday of the twentieth century.

The History of the Twentieth Century

015 Taels I Win

014 The Righteous and Harmonious Fists

013 The Christian Century

012 The Empire Strikes Back

011 Moving Like the Wind

010 Lest We Forget

009 Dark Clouds

008 J'Accuse...!

007 La Belle Époque

006 White Man's Burden

005s Documents

005 Islands or Canned Goods

004s Documents

004 Hot Time in the Old Town Tonight

003 Touch Me Not

002 A Place in the Sun

001 Age of Empires