Modern History Episodes

Who was Ahmad Shah Durrani? Ahmad Shah Durrani was an Afghan chieftain who rose to power leading Persian armies in the 18th century. After his Persian overlord was murdered he threw off the yoke of oppression and declared an independent Afghan state for his people. But could one man unite …

In this special episode I sit down with three other history podcasters and discuss the 2012 Movie '11 September 1683, Day of the Siege'. This is a historical movie, that tells the story of the Ottoman Siege of Vienna in the 17th century. The movie is unkind to Islam, unkind to history and mos…

While Admiral Yi Sun-sin languishes in a filthy prison cell, the once invincible Korean navy he had built lay in ruins at the bottom of the harbour. Outmaneuvered and outplayed by his rival, the War Hero had been stripped of all his command and convicted of treason. But with the coast now def…

Yi Sun-sin was a Korean soldier in the 16th century. Throughout his career he had built up a reputation as an exemplary leader with a brilliant eye for military decisions. Despite this, he had received few promotions and had made fewer friends within the military due to his 'no nonsense' stan…

Pemulwuy was a member of the Bidjigal people, one of the Aboriginal tribes who lived on the east coast of Australia. When the British arrived to colonise his people's ancestral land he fought back. Over 12 years, Pemulwuy led and unending war against the new colony and united multiple Aboriginal…

The Life of Lapulapu, The Filipino National Hero

After a heroic final stand, Fort St Elmo has finally fallen. With the Ottoman navy now streaming into the harbour, the Knights prepare for an assault on three fronts as both sides are pushed past their breaking point. Meanwhile, Valette receives the soul-crushing news that reinforcements fro…

The enormous Ottoman fleet has just been sighted on the horizon of Malta, 'The Greatest Siege Of All Time' has begun! As Dragut, 'The Drawn Sword Of Islam' wrestles command from his underlings, the isolated Fort St Elmo endures one of the largest artillery barrages in history. But once the Ot…

"Nothing is more well known than the siege of Malta" - Voltaire In the year 1565 an enormous Ottoman fleet departed Constantinople heading for the tiny Mediterranean island of Malta. With around 40,000 troops onboard, the army was tasked with the eradication of a handful of Christian knights, …

Ram Mohan Roy was a Bengali man from the 19th century. After watching a widow burnt alive as part of a Hindu funeral ceremony, he dedicated his life to improving women's rights and restoring pride in Indian identity. He faced steep opposition from both the Hindu and Christian elite, but remain…

Elliot tells the story of the destruction of the indigenous Mayan peoples of Guatemala and their leader, Tecun Uman. He shares first hand accounts of The Spanish conquest of The Kʼicheʼ kingdom and the brutal treatment of the Native Americans at the hands of Conquistador Pedro de Alvarado. …

Tituba was a slave in the highly religious town of Salem, Massachusetts. After being wrongly convicted of witchcraft she ensured her survival by involving other townsfolk in her story of rituals, spells and The Devil.

Eugene was a French aristocrat born in the 17th century. After being snubbed by the French King for his ugly face and frail body, he rose through the ranks of the Austrian military and bought the Arrogant French King and his army to its knees.

Blackbeard was a pirate from the 18th century. He delighted in terrorising pirates and civilians alike as his iconic Jolly Roger flag spread fear across the high seas. Encouraging stories of his own depravity, Blackbeard earned a fierce reputation as an almost demonically cruel man who was prone…

The March of Barcelona was created as a buffer zone by Charlemagne in the 8th century. Over the course of years, all counties except Andorra were absorbed by Spain or France. Listen in for the bizarre history of why Andorra exists as an independent country to this day.

Zumbi was a descendant of Angolan royalty who was enslaved and sent to Brazil. He led a guerrilla war against the Portuguese, and built a city deep within the Amazon rainforest for runaway slaves. Under his brilliant leadership, he turned a timid group of slaves into a genuine threat against the…

We hear the story of one of Australia's most infamous outlaws - Ned Kelly. We learn about his early life, and how he became involved in crime. We hear about the rise of the Kelly Gang, and their notorious crimes. We also hear about the final showdown between the Kelly Gang and the police at Gle…

A stranger in a strange land, John "Black" Caesar was a convict sentenced to 7 years of hard labour in the brand new British colony of Australia in the late 1700s. Despite his obscurity, he was one of the first 'settlers' of Australia; and even came into conflict with legendary Aboriginal resist…