Episodes
Monday Sep 13, 2021
Monday Sep 13, 2021
The September 11th Attacks sent shockwaves across the world. It brought about a mix of horror, sorrow and anger still felt twenty years on. As the watershed moment of its generation, the consequences of the tragedy continue to cast a shadow to this day. In fact, it is still hard to find the right words to convey the impact it has caused.
Join Lyndsay and Jonah as they discuss the timeline leading up to the attacks, the subsequent invasion, and the consequences of the September 11th Attacks and the War in Afghanistan.
Music
Summit by Johnny Easton
Clips
9/11, the Naudet Brothers
Barack Obama Announces the death of Osama bin Ladin
Sunday Feb 28, 2021
Sunday Feb 28, 2021
A lone figure fled across the Syrian desert in a bid to escape his potential fate. Days earlier, he attempted to assassinate the President of Iraq, the man who stood in the way of the Ba'athist Movement from taking power for themselves. Despite inflicting some damage on him, they failed to kill him. Now, the would-be assassin was en route to the safety of Egypt. The harsh environment burned him during the day, and blew harsh cold at night.
While his current situation seemed hopeless, this man is the future dictator of Iraq. Saddam Hussein would become a household name worldwide. To some, he would become the face of Arab unity and anti-imperialism. To others, he was a tyrant and murdered. Despite improving Iraq's infrastructure and welfare, he wasn't afraid to order the use of military force and even chemical weapons against any domestic dissent.
His notoriety would place him directly in the sights of the United States. Their excuse to intervene against him came in August 1990, when Saddam ordered the invasion of the small country of Kuwait to the south. The storm brewing over the desert for decades finally reached its peak.
Music:
Desert Combat Loading Theme
Clips:
H. W. Bush on Policing the World: Opposing Iraqi Aggression by The American Experience
"This Aggression will not stand, man!" The Big Lebowski
Margaret Thatcher on the Gulf War, Aspen, 1990
Monday May 04, 2020
The Hammer Falls: The End of the Soviet Union
Monday May 04, 2020
Monday May 04, 2020
Throughout history, humanity has witnessed the rise and fall of countless empires. Typically, internal unrest either weakened these states into collapse, or vulnerability to invading forces. The Soviet Union was like an empire, one meant to be the beacon of workers around the world. Instead, it ended up ruled by the same elites it aimed to destroy. By the time Gorbachev came along, the cracks had already expanded clear across the country, and it was too late to repair. Gorbachev still tried, with Glasnost and Perestroika aiming to improve both domestic issues and diplomacy with the west.
The various Soviet Republics saw this as an opportunity to to seek self determination instead, bringing the union to its denouement. The 80s ended with civil unrest, ethnic tensions, and even civil war across the land, and only the die hards felt anything could be savaged. On a hot August day in 1991, those die hards attempted to seize control, and save the union. To their shock, the people were beyond done with the old Soviet ways, rallying instead to the reformers Gorbachev and Boris Yeltsin, unafraid of the soldiers and tanks surrounding them. Before the year's end, the world's first communist state came to an end.
Music
Frank Sinatra, My Way
CornFlakes Strategy, Soviet Anthem - Slow Piano - instrumental 2000 subs special
Wednesday Apr 01, 2020
Podcasting in the Time of Covid (Other Nonsense)
Wednesday Apr 01, 2020
Wednesday Apr 01, 2020
It has been a while since Lyndsay and Jonah have been around. Due to the outbreak of Coronavirus shutting much of the world down, they decided to take a small break from teaching history and discuss their thoughts on the situation, as well as update you all as to what's happening with Pan Historia in the near future.
Stay safe!
Music:
Billy Joel – You Might Be Right
Elton John – I'm Still Standing
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Tuesday Feb 18, 2020
The Bear Trap: The Soviet-Afghan War
Tuesday Feb 18, 2020
Tuesday Feb 18, 2020
Afghanistan is a country no empire could successfully invade. Even the British Empire, the largest Earth has ever seen, couldn't bring it fully into its fold despite three attempts. Despite its position sandwiched between British India and the Russian Empire (later Soviet Union), Afghanistan remained isolated, even well into the 20th century. Albeit an ethnically diverse, the Afghan people were united under their shared Islamic faith, and desire to form their own national identity, free from interference, and free from colonial chains.
Fate hasn't been kind to Afghanistan, and following a violent coup, found itself a communist state under the watchful eye of the Soviet Union. The people, once again bonded by their national identity, banded together to oppose the ruthless regime and reclaim their sovereignty. On the request of the Afghan government, Soviet troops poured into the country to quell the unrest. Little did they know they stepped right into the bear trap, creating a quagmire Afghanistan continues to suffer the aftershocks of today. Furthermore, from the conflict would arise people who would go on to commit great atrocities. This includes a man who would order an attack which engulfed Manhattan in ash.
Music
Ay Jan / Alap Robab / Srang Srang Srang (Traditional Afghan Music), Anello Capuano and Bruno Assenmacher
Hill 3234, Sabaton
Monday Jan 27, 2020
Red Steppes: The Mongolian People's Republic
Monday Jan 27, 2020
Monday Jan 27, 2020
Mongolia once held the largest contiguous empire in world history, and was the second largest empire overall (behind the British Empire). It was the home of the great warrior Genghis Khan, who was instrumental in creating the Mongol Empire, and constructing the Silk Road. However, the empire fell into disarray, splintering into smaller states. From there, Mongolia became a part of the Chinese Qing Dynasty. Throughout the beginning of the 20th Century, Mongolia worked to reform its independence.
First, it became a Theocratic state under a Buddhist spiritual leader. However, the international community failed to recognize its independence, with the exception of Tibet. After several instances of turmoil, war, and suppression, a group of men inspired by the successful Bolshevik Revolution put in motion their plans to create the Mongolian People's Republic, the second communist state ever to exist.
We at Pan Historia would like to apologize in advance to the people of Mongolia for butchering the pronunciation of your names. In particular, Jonah wishes to offer sincere apologies to Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj for multiple mispronunciations. We love you, Mongolia.
Music:
Môngôl Ûlsiin toriin dûûlal, Mongolian National Anthem
Outro: Chingges Khaanii Magtaal (In Praise of Genghis Khan)