Explaining History

Episode Summary:
In this episode of Explaining History, Nick delves into the cataclysmic events of 1912-1913 that shattered the Ottoman Empire and set the stage for the First World War.
Following the humiliating loss of Libya to Italy, the Balkan states—Serbia, Greece, Montenegro, and Bulgaria—sensed weakness and struck. We explore how this coalition of former subjects mobilized a massive army of over 700,000 men to drive the Ottomans out of Europe.
Drawing on Eugene Rogan's The Fall of the Ottomans, Nick examines the internal chaos of the empire, from the violent coup led by Enver Pasha at the Sublime Porte to the desperate siege of Edirne. Why did the "Sick Man of Europe" fight so poorly in the Balkans but so fiercely later at Gallipoli? And how did the loss of its European heartland radicalize the Young Turk regime?
Plus: Important announcements about our upcoming live masterclasses for history students in February, March, and April!
Key Topics:
The First Balkan War: How a coalition of small states defeated an empire.
The Raid on the Sublime Porte: Enver Pasha’s violent seizure of power.
The Loss of Europe: The economic and psychological blow of losing Macedonia, Albania, and Thrace.
Schrödinger's Empire: The paradox of Ottoman weakness in 1912 vs. resilience in 1915.

Explaining History helps you understand the 20th Century through critical conversations and expert interviews. We connect the past to the present. If you enjoy the show, please subscribe and share.
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Episode Summary:
In this episode of Explaining History, Nick continues his exploration of Eric Hobsbawm’s seminal work, The Age of Extremes.
We focus on the first part of Hobsbawm's "historical triptych"—the Age of Catastrophe (1914–1945). Nick argues that this period was essentially a European Civil War, where the violent techniques of imperialism—gas, machine guns, and racial extermination—boomeranged back onto the continent itself.
From the collapse of the liberal order in 1914 to the rise of totalitarian regimes in the 1930s, we examine how the certainties of the 19th century were shattered. We also critique Hobsbawm’s Eurocentric view, asking: Was the post-war "Golden Age" truly golden for the colonized peoples of Vietnam, Kenya, or Algeria? Or was the Second World War merely the moment when the violence of empire finally came home?
Plus: A final call for history students! Our Russian Revolution Masterclass is on Sunday, January 25th. Book your spot now for a deep dive into essay technique and historical argument.
Key Topics:
The European Civil War: Viewing 1914-1945 as a single, devastating conflict.
The Imperial Boomerang: How colonial violence returned to Europe.
The Collapse of Liberalism: Why democracy nearly vanished from the map between the wars.
Hobsbawm’s Blind Spot: Critiquing the Eurocentric view of the "Golden Age."
Books Mentioned:
The Age of Extremes by Eric Hobsbawm
Blood and Ruins by Richard Overy
The Origins of Totalitarianism by Hannah Arendt (referenced via the "boomerang" thesis)

Explaining History helps you understand the 20th Century through critical conversations and expert interviews. We connect the past to the present. If you enjoy the show, please subscribe and share.
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In this episode of Explaining History, Nick continues his exploration of the Chinese Cultural Revolution through the lens of Tania Branigan's Red Memory. We examine Mao Zedong's complex relationship with the youth of China—how he mobilized them as revolutionary shock troops, only to discard them when they became a threat to order.
We delve into the "Down to the Countryside" movement, where 17 million urban teenagers were sent to remote villages to "learn from the peasants." Nick explores the ideological motivations behind this mass displacement: Mao's belief that the younger generation was being softened by "sugar-coated bullets" of bourgeois comfort and needed to be re-forged through hard labour.
From the boredom that followed the initial revolutionary fervour to the lasting trauma (and surprising nostalgia) of the "sent-down youth," this episode unpacks the human cost of Mao's permanent revolution.
Plus: A recap of our first masterclass and details on the upcoming session on Post-War America (1945-74) on February 15th!

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Key Topics:
The Red Guards: From revolutionary zeal to boredom and disillusionment.
Down to the Countryside: Why Mao sent 17 million teenagers to live with peasants.
Ideological purity: The fear of "revisionism" and the need for constant struggle.
Memory and Trauma: How the "lost generation" reconciles their past with modern China.

Explaining History helps you understand the 20th Century through critical conversations and expert interviews. We connect the past to the present. If you enjoy the show, please subscribe and share.
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Facebook Group: facebook.com/groups/ExplainingHistoryPodcast
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Website: explaininghistory.org

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While the history of the Civil Rights movement is often told through the lens of the Deep South—Selma, Birmingham, and the marches of Dr. King—a different kind of struggle was brewing in the West. In this episode, we dive into the origins and systemic causes of the 1965 Watts Riots in Los Angeles.

Drawing from Mike Davis and Jon Wiener’s Set the Night on Fire, we explore the "economic flytrap" that snared Black youth in Southern California. We discuss the transition from the legal victories of the early 60s to the harsh realities of "hidden segregation," aggressive LAPD policing, and the political gridlock that denied vital resources to the community. Join us as we contextualize the explosive rage of 1965 not as a random outburst, but as the inevitable result of structural injustice and economic exclusion.

Join our US history masterclass on Sunday 15th February here
Explaining History helps you understand the 20th Century through critical conversations and expert interviews. We connect the past to the present. If you enjoy the show, please subscribe and share.
▸ Support the Show & Get Exclusive Content
Become a Patron: patreon.com/explaininghistory
▸ Join the Community & Continue the Conversation
Facebook Group: facebook.com/groups/ExplainingHistoryPodcast
Substack: theexplaininghistorypodcast.substack.com
▸ Read Articles & Go Deeper
Website: explaininghistory.org

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Episode Summary:
In this episode of Explaining History, Nick talks to cultural historian Alwyn Turner about his latest book, Shellshock Nation: Britain Between the Wars.
We often remember the 1930s as W.H. Auden's "low, dishonest decade"—a time of mass unemployment, hunger marches, and the looming shadow of fascism. But was it really all doom and gloom? Alwyn argues that for many in Britain, the interwar years were a period of vibrant creativity, rising living standards, and the birth of modern consumer culture.
From the explosion of paperback books and the popularity of greyhound racing to the abdication crisis and the fear of aerial bombardment, we explore the complexities of a society caught between the trauma of the First World War and the terror of the Second. Was the British Union of Fascists really a threat? Why did the public cling to appeasement? And how did a nation that prided itself on being "non-political" navigate the age of extremes?
Key Topics:
The Devil's Decade: Reassessing the 1930s beyond the Depression.
The Abdication Crisis: Why the public accepted the departure of the "Playboy Prince."
The Paperback Revolution: How Penguin Books democratized reading.
The Shadow of the Bomber: How the fear of air war changed British psychology.
Books Mentioned:
Shellshock Nation by Alwyn Turner
The Morbid Age by Richard Overy
The Intellectual Life of the British Working Classes by Jonathan Rose

Explaining History helps you understand the 20th Century through critical conversations and expert interviews. We connect the past to the present. If you enjoy the show, please subscribe and share.
▸ Support the Show & Get Exclusive Content
Become a Patron: patreon.com/explaininghistory
▸ Join the Community & Continue the Conversation
Facebook Group: facebook.com/groups/ExplainingHistoryPodcast
Substack: theexplaininghistorypodcast.substack.com
▸ Read Articles & Go Deeper
Website: explaininghistory.org

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.