Explaining History

As the ongoing genocide in Gaza now spreads to war with Hezbollah in Lebanon and the mass bombing of Lebanese citizens, this podcast is the first of a series of regular Friday features that examines current events to give them meaningful historical context. In this episode we explore the history of Israel's sense of national identity from 1948 onwards. As Yishuv and Diaspora Jews (the later having survived genocide in Europe) encountered one another in the late 1940s and early 1950s deep seated anxieties and prejudices towards the new arrivals often surfaced, along with fears about what their presence meant for the future of Israel and its identity.This podcast draws from The Fear and the Freedom by Keith Lowe, which you can buy hereHelp the podcast to continue bringing you history each weekIf you enjoy the Explaining History podcast and its many years of content and would like to help the show continue, please consider supporting it in the following ways:If you want to go ad-free, you can take out a membership hereOrYou can support the podcast via Patreon hereOr you can just say some nice things about it here

The German General Staff in 1914 was widely thought to be the best organised institution for waging war that the western world has ever produced. Its ability to plan, prepare and achieve its strategic goals was a key part of Germany's successes and strengths during the war. This podcast episode explores the qualities of the General Staff and the officer, NCO, professional soldier and conscript ranks at the start of the conflict. Help the podcast to continue bringing you history each weekIf you enjoy the Explaining History podcast and its many years of content and would like to help the show continue, please consider supporting it in the following ways:If you want to go ad-free, you can take out a membership hereOrYou can support the podcast via Patreon hereOr you can just say some nice things about it here

This episode is for all students of A Level Russian history, and it follows the AQA syllabus. In this episode we will explore the context to Russia on the eve of revolution and the influence that the country's geography, class system and autocracy had, along with the impact of the war.Subscribe for weekly updatesHelp the podcast to continue bringing you history each weekIf you enjoy the Explaining History podcast and its many years of content and would like to help the show continue, please consider supporting it in the following ways:If you want to go ad-free, you can take out a membership hereOrYou can support the podcast via Patreon hereOr you can just say some nice things about it here

During the 1930s Franklin Roosevelt stabilised American capitalism using state power, regulation, the empowerment of organised labour and the regulation of finance in the New Deal. This compact lasted for the middle decades of the 20th Century and was finally destroyed by Ronald Reagan and his successors. This podcast explores the beginnings of the New Deal era and the power that this leant to the Democratic Party from the 1930s to the 1960s. Help the podcast to continue bringing you history each weekIf you enjoy the Explaining History podcast and its many years of content and would like to help the show continue, please consider supporting it in the following ways:If you want to go ad-free, you can take out a membership hereOrYou can support the podcast via Patreon hereOr you can just say some nice things about it here

This week we hear from the eminent rock music author and biographer Patrick Humphries whose new book With The Beatles is a complete history of the group from childhood to the breaking up of the band in 1970. Patrick's personal encounters with three of the band (George, Paul, Ringo) and his extensive research about their career and the long and often litigious after life of the group gives a new an unique perspective.If you would like to order a signed copy of the With The Beatles, you can purchase it through this link direct from the publisher. Help the podcast to continue bringing you history each weekIf you enjoy the Explaining History podcast and its many years of content and would like to help the show continue, please consider supporting it in the following ways:If you want to go ad-free, you can take out a membership hereOrYou can support the podcast via Patreon hereOr you can just say some nice things about it here

In 1973 the democratically elected socialist government of President Salvador Allende was overthrown in a violent US backed military coup led by general Augusto Pinochet. Following this seizure of power, tens of thousands of political dissidents were arrested, tortured and executed and economic shock therapy was administered to the country on a massive scale, mass privatisations, slashing of welfare programmes and carte blanche handed to multinational corporations to extract wealth from Chile. Help the podcast to continue bringing you history each weekIf you enjoy the Explaining History podcast and its many years of content and would like to help the show continue, please consider supporting it in the following ways:If you want to go ad-free, you can take out a membership hereOr You can support the podcast via Patreon hereOr you can just say some nice things about it here

Hi everyone and welcome back after the Explaining History summer recess. In this extended episode I interview LBC presenter and author Iain Dale whose new anthology of essays, Dictators launches today. In this wide ranging conversation about the nature of dictatorial leaders from ancient times to modern we examine the relationship the democratic world has with them and how democratic, open societies can slide into tyrannies. Please join us for this fascinating journey.You can grab your copy of The Dictators here

In this fascinating conversation with writer Luke Turner, we explore the emotional and intimate lives of men who fought in the Second World War. Luke's new book, Men at War 1939-45 is an exploration of the motivations, beliefs and personal and sexual histories of British soldiers in the Second World War. Join us to hear more about the book and the ideas behind it.

In this wide ranging conversation with historian and podcaster Paul Cooper, we explore the themes in his new book The Fall of Civilisations. Paul has examined numerous ancient and medieval civilisations from the Assyrians to the peoples of Easter Island to understand the factors and tipping points that lead to the end of civilisations. We explore how empires divide, how civil conflicts begin, the role of food insecurity and other stress factors and how likely our civilisation will reach its own existential crisis.Note: There were a couple of audio issues in this podcast, but stick with it, it's well worth it.You can hear Paul's podcast here, and Paul's book Fall of Civilisations is available here