For more than a decade, the Explaining History Podcast has helped listeners around the world make sense of modern history. What began in 2012 as a simple experiment—short, accessible episodes explaining major historical events—has grown into a long-running library of carefully researched, thoughtful explorations of the 20th and 21st centuries.
This page introduces new listeners to the podcast, explains what makes it different from other history shows, and offers curated paths into more than a thousand episodes.
If you’re searching for a history podcast that goes deeper than anecdotes or trivia, this is where to begin.
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The Philippines’ colonial shift from Spanish to American rule ignited a cultural revolution in the 1920s and 1930s, as Filipino intellectuals, inspired by Rizal, creatively engaged with a new colonial language and ideology. Through literature and art, they challenged and transformed American imperialism, crafting a modern Filipino identity that was both cosmopolitan and uniquely resilient.
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India’s diaspora transcends borders, wielding economic might and cultural influence. As a superpower of soft power and global capital, this vibrant community reshapes societies worldwide.
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From steamship holds to digital visas, the evolution of global migration reshapes borders and governance. Discover how technology and ambition redefine the journey of today’s world travelers.
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The evolution of the ‘évolué’ and ‘assimilado’ was a calculated colonial strategy to quell resistance, promising European citizenship in exchange for cultural surrender.
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Image by: George R. Fry, Los Angeles Times from https://digital.library.ucla.edu/catalog/ark:/21198/zz0002twdp I’ve spent a lot of time recently reflecting on how we teach and learn the history of the Civil Rights movement. In the UK, and indeed in much of the US, the narrative is often sanitized into a series of Southern milestones: the bus boycotts […]
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In 1932, Cyril Lionel Robert James embarked on a transformative journey from Trinidad to London, fueled by a passion for abolition and cricket writing. His departure marked the beginning of a broader intellectual movement across the Caribbean and Africa, challenging colonial constraints and forging a global anti-colonial network.
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In 1923, Huda Shaarawi’s bold act of removing her veil became a symbol of Egyptian women’s modern awakening and their pivotal role in Egypt’s struggle for independence. This revolutionary gesture marked the start of a new era for women’s rights intertwined with nationalist movements.
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France and Portugal’s assimilation schemes promised citizenship but concealed racial divides, fueling identity crises and revolutionary movements.
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In the turbulent interwar Middle East, Atatürk and Reza Shah Pahlavi launched ambitious modernization campaigns, aiming to transform their societies into secular republics. Their top-down reforms sparked a cultural crisis as they clashed with existential doubts and traditional identities.
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In the vibrant interwar cities of Bombay, Shanghai, and Cairo, modernity exploded with a unique twist. These cosmopolitan metropolises weren’t just imitators of Western ideals; they thrived as dynamic hubs where global influences collided. From art deco cinemas to jazz-filled nightclubs, these cities forged a modern urban culture that challenged colonial dominance and reshaped local traditions.
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Paris during the interwar period became a crucible for change, where colonial subjects from Africa and the Caribbean catalyzed a cultural revolution known as Négritude. This intellectual movement, spearheaded by Aimé Césaire, Léopold Sédar Senghor, and Léon-Gontran Damas, was not just a literary trend but a bold challenge to French colonialism, reclaiming Black identity and critiquing the empire’s foundations.
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The 20th century redefined global labour migration with the rise of temporary guest workers, transforming economies through transient yet crucial labor cycles. Discover how these programs shaped modern capitalism’s heart.
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The decline of the Ottoman Empire was not a single event but a slow, agonizing process of attrition. Throughout the 19th century, the “Sick Man of Europe” lost territory piece by piece—Algeria to France, Egypt to Britain. But the final act began in 1911, not in the Balkans or the Caucasus, but on the sands […]
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The British withdrawal in 1947-48 triggered simultaneous national traumas, laying the foundation for massive displacement and identity crises.
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The BBC Empire Service emerged as Britain’s audacious attempt to unify its vast empire via radio waves. This technological marvel aimed to create an imperial consciousness, but reality was far more complex.
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Explore the transformative power of refugee testimonies. From the Armenian Genocide to the Syrian Civil War, witness how personal stories preserve memory and forge empathy in a fractured world
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In today’s world, propaganda is more than just chaotic noise; it’s a strategic masterpiece engineered to shape public perception. From WWI’s aftermath to today’s media landscapes, states have mastered the art of influencing minds. Discover how modern propaganda builds consensus and reshapes reality.
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Key History Topics
Global History: Key Topics
- The Rise and Fall of Neoliberalism
- The Partition of India
- The Great Depression and the Collapse of Global Trade
- The Cultural Revolution in China
- The Mexican Revolution
- The Creation of the United Nations
- The Iranian Revolution
- The Marshall Plan and the Reconstruction of Europe
- The First Indochina War
- The Global Anti Apartheid Movement
- The Holocaust: Bureacracy and Genocide
- Korea: War, Division, Development
- Operation Condor
- The Bandung Conference
- The Rwandan Genocide
- Stalin and the transformation of the USSR 1924-41
- Pakistan from Independence to Belt and Road
- The Civil Rights Movement
- The 1911 Revolution and the fall of the Qing dynasty
- Watergate and Nixon’s Legacy
- The Arab-Israeli War of 1948 and Its Aftermath
- Ghana’s Independence and the ‘Year of Africa’
- The West German Republic: From Ruins to Reunification
- The Space Race and the Cold War
- Bangladesh war of Liberation
- The Sykes Picot Agreement and the conquest of the Middle East
- The Collapse of Yugoslavia
- Deng Xiaoping and the transformation of China
- The Fall of France, 1940
- The Spanish Civil War: A Global Struggle