World History Encyclopedia

In this episode, we explore the complex causes behind the outbreak of World War II. Listeners will learn how the harsh terms of the Treaty of Versailles, economic turmoil during the Great Depression, and the rise of fascist leaders like Adolf Hitler set the stage for global conflict. We break down the policies and political decisions—including appeasement by Britain and France, the failure of the League of Nations, and alliances between Germany, Italy, Japan, and the USSR—that allowed aggression to go unchecked. The episode covers key moments such as Germany’s rearmament, the Nazi-Soviet Pact, and the invasion of Poland that triggered the war. By the end, you’ll understand why WWII became inevitable and how the world’s major powers responded—often too late—to one of history’s most devastating conflicts. Written by Mark Cartwright and narrated by Scarlett Hart. #history #wwii #worldwar #whe

Explore the pivotal role of agriculture in shaping human history in our latest episode. Journey back to the ancient Near East, where the Fertile Crescent is celebrated as the birthplace of agriculture. Discover how the domestication of plants and animals in regions like Mesopotamia and the Levant led to the first large-scale cities and empires. This cradle of civilization, enriched by fertile soil and rivers like the Euphrates and Tigris, witnessed innovations such as artificial irrigation, crop rotation, and the use of plows, which transformed semi-nomadic groups into permanent agricultural societies. Delve into how agriculture's surplus production was essential for the emergence of urban centers and complex societies. In Mesopotamia, cereal grains became a cornerstone for taxation, supporting centralized governments and enabling trade and urbanization. The podcast underscores how agriculture not only sustained growing populations but also laid the foundation for specialized trades and empires, ultimately fueling human progress and civilization's advancement across the globe. Written and read by Jan van der Crabben. Original article: https://www.worldhistory.org/article/9/agriculture-in-the-fertile-crescent--mesopotamia/

The Hundred Years' War was fought intermittently between England and France from 1337 to 1453 CE and the conflict had many consequences, both immediate and long-lasting. Besides the obvious death and destruction that many of the battles visited upon soldiers and civilians alike, the war made England virtually bankrupt and left the victorious French Crown in total control of all of France except Calais.

Joan of Arc (Jeanne D'Arc, l. c. 1412-1431 CE) was a medieval peasant who, claiming to receive visions from God, turned the tide of the Hundred Years' Warin favor of a French victory. She was famously martyrd for standing by her claim of divine inspiration and later canonized as a saint.

The consequences of the British Industrial Revolution (1760-1840) were many, varied, and long-lasting. Working life in rural and urban settings was changed forever by the inventions of new machines, the spread of factories, and the decline of traditional occupations. Developments in transportation and communications meant life in the post-industrial world was more exciting and faster, with people more connected than ever before. Consumer goods became more affordable to more people, and there were more jobs for a booming population. The price to pay for progress was often a working life that was noisy, repetitive, and dangerous, while cities grew to become overcrowded, polluted, and crime-ridden.

The age of antibiotics began in September 1928, with the discovery of penicillin by Alexander Fleming (1881-1955), then a professor of bacteriology at St. Mary's Hospital in London. Previously there were no effective treatments against a range of bacterial infections from pneumonia to sepsis.

The youth of George Washington (1732-1799), the first President of the United States, remains the least understood chapter of his life, shrouded in folklore and myths. Yet the experiences of his youth, and the bond he felt toward his older half-brother Lawrence, shaped the man he was to become and helped put him on the path toward revolution and the presidency.

Spartan women had more rights and enjoyed greater autonomy than women in any other Greek city-state of the Classical Period (5th-4th centuries BCE). Women could inherit property, own land, make business transactions, and were better educated than women in ancient Greece in general. Unlike Athens, where women were considered second-class citizens, Spartan women were said to rule their men.

The Normandy landings in France, which began on D-Day, 6 June 1944, involved the largest troop movement in history, but in this article, we focus on the view from civilians directly involved in that momentous day when the Allies sought to liberate Western Europe from occupation by Nazi Germany and end the Second World War (1939-45).

Catherine de' Medici (l. 1519-1589) was the queen of France, mother of three kings and two queens and, between 1559 and c. 1576, the most powerful woman in France and, possibly, all of Europe. She was the strength behind the French throne for almost 20 years, maintaining the monarchy through the chaos of the French Wars of Religion and political intrigue

The Scientific Revolution (1500-1700), which occurred first in Europe before spreading worldwide, witnessed a new approach to knowledge gathering – the scientific method – which utilised new technologies like the telescope to observe, measure, and test things never seen before. Thanks to the development of dedicated institutions, scientists conducted yet more experiments and shared their knowledge, making it ever more accurate. By the end of this 'revolution', science had replaced philosophy as the dominant method of acquiring new knowledge and improving the human condition.

Nathanael Greene (1742-1786) was a general of the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War (1775-1783). One of George Washington's most trusted subordinates, Greene served capably as Quartermaster General before leading the southern American army during the final years of the war. He is often considered the second-best American Revolutionary general, behind only Washington himself.

The origins of the Second World War (1939-45) may be traced back to the harsh peace settlement of the First World War (1914-18) and the economic crisis of the 1930s, while more immediate causes were the aggressive invasions of their neighbours by Germany, Italy, and Japan. A weak and divided Europe, an isolationist USA, and an opportunistic USSR were all intent on peace, but the policy of appeasement only delivered what everyone most feared: another long and terrible world war.

The Indus Valley Civilization was a cultural and political entity which flourished in the northern region of the Indian subcontinent between c. 7000 - c. 600 BCE. Its modern name derives from its location in the valley of the Indus River, but it is also commonly referred to as the Indus-SarasvatiCivilization and the Harrapan Civilization. These latter designations come from the Sarasvati River mentioned in Vedic sources, which flowed adjacent to the Indus River, and the ancient city of Harappa in the region, the first one found in the modern era. None of these names derive from any ancient texts because, although scholars generally believe the people of this civilization developed a writing system (known as Indus Script or Harappan Script) it has not yet been deciphered. Article written by JoshuaJ Mark and narrated by Lianne Walker

The Electrical Telegraph was invented in 1837 by William Fothergill Cook (1806-1879) and Charles Wheatstone (1802-1875) in England with parallel innovations being made by Samuel Morse (1791-1872) in the United States. The telegraph, once wires and undersea cables had connected countries and continents, transformed communications so that messages could be sent and received anywhere in just minutes. Article written by Mark Cartwright and read by Lianne Walker. Support us on Patreon: https://www.worldhistory.org/patreon/

It was all very well pocketing other people’s valuables and roistering at rum parties, but life on a pirate ship involved a surprising amount of hard work. Pirates were first and foremost sailors and in the Golden Age of Piracy (1690-1730), a pirate ship required a great deal of skill to operate and constant maintenance to keep afloat. Indeed, pirates had to be remarkably good seamen if they were to ever catch fleeing merchant vessels and escape the unwanted attentions of heavily-armed naval vessels. From captain to rigger, each crew member played their part in the complex performance of tasks that kept a 17/18th-century sailing ship in trim. Article written by Mark Cartwright and read by Lianne Walker. Support us on Patreon: https://www.worldhistory.org/patreon/

The outbreak of plague in Europe between 1347-1352 – known as the Black Death – completely changed the world of medieval Europe. Severe depopulation upset the socio-economic feudal system of the time but the experience of the plague itself affected every aspect of people's lives. Disease on an epidemic scale was simply part of life in the Middle Ages but a pandemic of the severity of the Black Death had never been experienced before and, afterwards, there was no way for the people to resume life as they had previously known it. Article written by Mark Cartwright and read by Lianne Walker. Support our work on Patreon: https://www.worldhistory.org/patreon/

The widespread use of paper and printing were features of ancient China which distinguished it from other ancient cultures. Traditionally, paper was invented in the early 2nd century CE, but there is evidence it was much earlier. As a cheaper and more convenient material than bamboo, wood, or silk, paper helped spread literature and literacy but it was used for many other purposes from hats to packaging. The material was made finer over the centuries, was traded across Asia and was used in the first paper money from the early 12th century CE. Article written by Mark Cartwright and read by Lianne Walker. Support our work on Patreon: https://www.worldhistory.org/patreon/

India is a country in South Asia whose name comes from the Indus River. The name 'Bharata' is used as a designation for the country in their constitution referencing the ancient mythological emperor, Bharata, whose story is told, in part, in the Indian epic Mahabharata. If you want to support our non-profit organization, visit our Patreon page: https://www.worldhistory.org/patreon/ Article written by Joshua J. Mark and narrated by Lianne Walker.

Feudalism was the system in 10th-13th century European medieval societies where a social hierarchy was established based on local administrative control and the distribution of land into units (fiefs). A landowner (lord) gave a fief, along with a promise of military and legal protection, in return for a payment of some kind from the person who received it (vassal). If you want to support our non-profit organization, visit our Patreon page: https://www.worldhistory.org/patreon/ Article written by Mark Cartwright and narrated by Lianne Walker.