Episode #198 – Was The Spanish Armada a Big Deal? (Part I)

In 1588 King Phillip II of Spain constructed the largest fleet ever seen on the Atlantic in attempt to invade England. This attempt famously flopped. At the time this was celebrated as an English triumph in the face of impossible odds, and over the centuries English historians echoed this Elizabethan propaganda. This led to some in the Victorian era declaring that the defeat of the Armada had been one of the most pivotal moments in the history of the world. However, more recently the scholarly view of this event has changed. Has the reputation of the Spanish Armada been grossly inflated by patriotic myths? Continue reading “Episode #198 – Was The Spanish Armada a Big Deal? (Part I)”

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Episode #197- How Bad Was Caligula? (Part III)

The reign of the Emperor Caligula has been presented as a cavalcade of bizarre and violent behavior. From declaring war on the ocean to building a five kilometer floating bridge so he could ride his horse over the sea, many of the most infamous stories about the emperor emphasize his mania. However, many of the most upsetting stories about Caligula likely are not true. One of the only eye-witness accounts of the emperor in action present him as arrogant, but hardly insane. If the worst stories about Caligula are fabrications, then why was he so hated? (more…)

Episode #196- How Bad Was Caligula? (Part II)

When the Emperor Gaius, better known as Caligula, was first elevated to the role of Princeps things seemed promising. He sought to repair the relationship with the Senate damaged by his predecessor, Tiberius. He ended the former emperor’s much abused treason trials. He invested in building projects, public infrastructure, and large entertaining spectacles. It seemed like he was trying to follow the model set by the first emperor Augustus. But, then at some point in his reign things changed. Before long Caligula would find himself at war with the men of the Senate. What caused this sudden shift in Caligula’s temperament? (more…)

Episode #195 – How Bad Was Caligula? (Part I)

The Roman Emperor Gaius, better known by his childhood nickname Caligula, is often counted among the worst rulers in the history of the world. According to some ancient sources his tumultuous four year reign was defined by wonton cruelty, sadistic sexual excess, and unchecked bloodlust. However, the ancient writers that tell us these tales are among the most untrustworthy sources from the Roman period. Was Caligula truly a monster, or has an unsuccessful emperor been transformed into an historically evil character by scandal obsessed historians? (more…)

Episode #194- Who Killed Mozart? (Part III)

In 1791 Wolfgang Mozart was one the verge of a comeback. After being the toast of Vienna for half a decade, his music was starting to be considered passé by the late 1780’s. A turbulent war between Austria and Turkey and an economic depression only made matters worse. But in 1791 Mozart scored a huge hit with his opera The Magic Flute. Sadly the composer barely got a chance to savor his renewed acclaim, as only three months after the opera’s premiere Mozart died in his Vienna apartment. Was Mozart the victim of foul play? Was there something in the Magic Flute that had angered the wrong people? (more…)

Episode #193- Who Killed Mozart? (Part II)

Wolfgang Mozart made the transition from child prodigy to adult artist fairly seamlessly, but that does not mean there weren’t road bumps. Many musicians were skeptical of the boy from Salzburg. Was he more than just a musical freak of nature? Did he really have something to say musically? Many modern Mozart fans tend to either remember Mozart’s art as the universally beloved apotheosis of 18th century classical music, or as criminally misunderstood works of genius that only future generations would fully appreciate. Is either assessment really accurate? (more…)

Episode #192 – Who Killed Mozart? (Part I)

There are few artists who are praised with the same level of hyperbole as Wolfgang Mozart. The German poet Franz Alexander von Kleist once said “Mozart’s music is so beautiful as to entice angels down to earth.” The famous Russian composer Tchaikovsky declared that Mozart was no less than a “musical Christ.” With praise that grandiose it can be hard to believe that Mozart was a flesh and blood human being. The stories of Mozart’s dazzling genius begin when he was only a small child. He was writing his first compositions at age of five and had written his first symphony by the age of eight. There is no denying Mozart’s great talent, but how much stock should we put in the tales of childhood brilliance. (more…)

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