Modern Europe
From Louis XIV to Brexit, the history of Europe is long and complicated. We’re here to help you understand it.
Episodes listed in reverse chronological order.
Italian Fascism. Mussolini at War. S1 E32.
This episodes examines the history of the Italian military under Benito Mussolini, shedding light on its oft-ignored contributions to the Axis war machine. Among other things, it highlights Italian resistance to Hitler before 1935, Italian colonialism, the 1935 invasion of Ethiopia, the Italian role in World War II, and concludes with an observation about the dissonance between the rhetoric and reality of fascist power.
Italian Fascism. Building the Dictatorship. S1 E31.
After being named Prime Minister in Oct 1922, Mussolini and the PNF’s political prospects were bright. But they had not yet built a dictatorship. This episode examines how Mussolini dismantled Italian democracy once in power, highlighting some of the key cultural straetgies the PNF used to amass power.
Fascism. Rise of Mussolini. S1 E30.
Fascism. The name has long been understood as the antithesis of democratic society. In this episode we examine the rise of fascism in Italy in the early 1920s. Topics covered include defining “Fascism,” Italian Nation-building, Italy in World War I and the Peace Conference, Gabriele D’Annunzio, Benito Mussolini and the March on Rome.
Modernism’s Lab: Sexuality and Identity. S1 E29.
Before 1900, few Europeans associated sexual desire with identity. One engaged in a variety of sexual acts, but the idea of being “homo” or “heterosexual” did not yet exist. How and why sexual preferences evolved into identities is the subject of this episode. Among other things, topics discussed include the politicization of sex and the body in the late 19th century, the German Eulenberg Affair, Magnus Hirschfeld, and postwar reactions to the new public face of homosexuality.
Modernism’s Lab: the New Woman. S1 E28.
This episode focuses on the evolution of gender expectations across the beginning of the Twentieth Century. Unlike her Victorian counterpart, the “New Woman” behaved in more masculine ways: slender and athletic, she was openly sexual and lived for her own pleasure rather than the needs of her family. Topics covered include Coco Chanel, Victorian ideals of gender, the first feminists, woman as consumer, and changes to sex and marriage.
The First Cars: the Triumph of Technology II. S1 E27.
In the previous episode we discussed how new inventions like the airplane restored Europeans’ faith in the power of science, rationality and more broadly European civilization after World War I. In this second episode we explore the invention of the automobile, the founding of early car companies like Ford, and the invention of the radio.
History of Early Airplanes: the Triumph of Technology I. S1 E26.
This episode charts the invention of the airplane, a device that not only reconfigured time and space, but also was proof in an age of cynicism of the power of science and rationality. Topics covered include the first flight across the Atlantic, Charles Lindbergh, Amelia Earhart, and the rise of commercial air travel (45:21).
Modernism’s Lab: the Metropolis. S1 E25.
This episode focuses on the rise mass society in the modern city. For some, this was thrilling, as individuals enjoyed the glitz and glamour made possible by modern life. For others, it provoked deep anxieties about the future, as the individual disappeared into a sea of humanity. Topics covered include the invention of skyscrapers, department stores, dance halls and mass transit. We also discuss several Fritz Lang films, including “M” and “Metropolis.”
Modernism’s Lab: Art and the Making of New Worlds. S1 E24.
In our last two episodes we looked at how waves of political violence swept over post-World War I Europe. But not all revolutions are political. In this episode, we investigate revolutions in art, architecture, film and music. Topics covered include Josephine Baker, Dada, Surrealism and Dali, Marc Chagall, James Joyce and more!
The Woilsonian Moment: Infinity War (1919-1923). S1 E23.
The foundation of European society after World War I was supposed peace, enabled by a new focus on national self-determination. And yet, as this episode demonstrates, the years after World War I were filled with more war and violence. Topics covered include the problem of measuring nationality, the Polish-Ukrainian War of 1918-19, the Irish War of Independence, the early Weimar Republic, Hungary and Bela Kun and the Spanish Flu.
The Wilsonian Moment: a New Hope (1919). S1 E22.
This episode examines the American President Woodrow Wilson’s post-war vision for peace and the Paris Peace Conference of 1919, noting both its achievements and failures.
Stalin’s Soviet Union: Dreams and Aspirations. S1 E21.
In our second episode Stalinism, we examine everyday life under Soviet Communism and see why people came to accept its repressive nature. In particular, we discuss rapid Soviet industrialization, the Moscow Metro, the Five Year Plans, Alexei Stakhanov, Magnitogorsk, and the (Soviet) civilizing mission.
Stalin’s Soviet Union: the Nightmare. S1 E20.
Born as Ioseb Jughashvili, this son of a cobbler would strike fear in the hearts of millions as the Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin. In this episode learn how Stalin built perhaps history’s most ruthless dictatorship. Among other topics, the episode discusses the leadership battle to succeed Lenin, the Great Purges, GULAGs, Collectivization and the Holodomor.
Lenin’s Soviet Experiment. S1 E19.
In the winter of 1917, Lenin and the Bolsheviks set out on a bold project: the construction of the world’s first socialist society. This episode highlights the centrality of violence to this project, while also showing why ordinary Russians found Soviet governance appealing. Topics covered include the Checka, the New Economic Policy (NEP), Soviet policy towards farmers, the rise of the Red Army, and experimentation in the arts.
The Russian Revolution, Part II: Red October. S1 E18.
In this episode we explore the breakdown of Russian democracy, while highlighting the ways Lenin and his fellow conspirators consolidated power and seized control of the world’s largest country. This is the story of the October revolution.
The Russian Revolution, Part I: Fall of the Tsar (Feb 1917). S1 E17.
In this episode we explore the failures of the Romanov monarchy and its democratic successor. Topics covered include the role of World War I, Rasputin, Nicholas II, Alexander Kerensky,the Provisional Government and more. Perhaps most importantly, we’ll highlight how idealistic views of democratic ideals and a lack of understanding of mass politics led to the failure of the first democratic experiment in Russian history.
World War I: the Homefront. S1 E16.
In the second part of our examination of World War I, we focus on the experiences of ordinary people. The episode begins with a discussion of the life of soldiers, exploring their major challenges were. The second half focuses on the war behind the lines showing how ordinary Europeans dealt with the hardships and consequences caused by the conflict.
World War I: an Overview. S1 E15.
While the Second World War tends to get more attention, World War I was probably more historically significant. Simply put, it exhausted the nations of Europe, thoroughly discrediting traditional authorities, values and institutions. This episode provides a general overview of the war itself, from its causes to its conclusion to the new weapons and great battles that made it so devastating.
Joy and Discontent at the Fin-de-Siecle. S1 E14.
Ever wonder what it would be like to reach the future? For many Europeans, life in this period felt that way. Massive technological changes led to the conquest of hunger, violence and disease. Yet as we transcend existing norms and boundaries, the future can also be a scary place. This episode explores the pleasures and perils of modernity, discussing things like cabaret, Einstein and Freud, the ballpoint pen, Picasso and the building of the Eiffel Tower.
German Unification: Blood and Iron. S1 E13.
The story of how Germany was created is well known. But to paraphrase Massimo d’Azeglio, having made Germany, how did one make Germans? This episode covers the story of unification from liberal dream to everyday reality, showing the challenges Germans had to overcome along the way. Topic covered include not only Otto von Bismarck, but also the various institutions, monuments and cultural phenomena that helped create the modern German nation.
Darwin, Race and Evolution. S1 E12.
In this episode we’ll explore the evolution of the theory of evolution, discussing where it came from and why it was so appealing and controversial. Topics covered include early discovery of fossils, Charles Lyell, Darwin’s life, and the role his successors played in tying it to notions of human politics and society.
Nationalism: from Peasants to Frenchmen. S1 E11.
We live today in a world primarily defined by national belonging. But how did this idea become so powerful? This episode discusses the resistance to nation and how this opposition was overcome. Topic include the French emperor Napoleon III, Thanksgiving, kilts and the role modern school play in teaching people their national identity.
Origins of Socialism. S1 E10.
Socialism. Love it or hate it, the term evokes powerful emotions even to this day. But why did socialism start in the first place? This episode charts the rise of class consciousness at the start of the 19th century, covering major figures such as Karl Marx, Friedrich Engels, Mikhail Bakunin and the German Social Democratic Party (SPD). We’ll also discuss working class culture, May Day and more.
Rise of the Modern City. S1 E9.
As Europe industrialized, millions of young people migrated from the countryside to the cities. Find out in this episode what their lives were like and how the physical environment of the city effected their identities. Along the way, we’ll learn about challenges presented by food adulteration, the lack of modern sanitation systems, and diseases like Cholera. We’ll also discuss the Ripper murders and how they symbolized everything wrong with the modern city.
Industrialization, Railroads and the Birth of Modernity. S1 E8.
Perhaps no event had a more dramatic impact on modern history than “industrialization.” But what does this word actually mean? In this episode we document the key economic and technological changes that encompassed this revolution, focusing on inventions like the cotton gin and the railroad. We’ll see how industrialization essentially annihilated space and time, redefining people’s notions of space and ultimately their very identities.
Romanticism and the Tyranny of Reason. S1 E7a.
The Enlightenment envisioned a future where reason would eliminate the imperfections of human society. But can reason go too far? This episode examines Romanticism – an artistic reaction to the big E. Topics discussed include Frankenstein, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Notre Dame, French fashion, Jacques-Louis David and Caspar David Friedrich.
Napoleon Bonaparte: Hero or Tyrant? S1 E7.
From an unremarkable family in Corsica to master of Europe, Napoleon Bonaparte’s meteoric career is one of the most dramatic stories in European history. In this episode we’ll examine the secrets to his success, and see why he was viewed as both devil and tyrant during the course of his rule.
The French Revolution. S1 E6.
Perhaps the most seismic political event in European history. Learn why the Revolution began – and more importantly why it was so difficult to stop the cycle of violence as it accelerated. We’ll also see what efforts the French undertook to replace the authority of the monarchy, including the invention of modern political culture.
The Enlightenment. S1 E5.
This episode examines the radical intellectual project known as the Enlightenment, which tried to remake society using the power of reason. In addition to learning about the usual suspects, we’ll see how coffee, encyclopedias and Freemasons all played a key role in this project.
Louis XIV, Absolutism and the Search for Order. S1 E4.
While we tend to think of absolutism as just a really strong king, this episode shows how the concept of the centralized state was developed in response to the 17th century crisis of order. In particular, we look at French King Louis XIV and his magnificent palace of Versailles, showing how Louis turned his life into a performance in order to gain power over his nobles.
The Scientific Revolution. S1 E3a.
How do we gain new knowledge? How can we trust it? This episode looks at the dramatic shift in the way Europeans answered these questions from 1500-1700, laying the groundwork for modern scientific practice. Among other things, the episode discusses the contributions of major historical figures such as Copernicus, Galileo and Newton, as well as showing why mathematics became the primary language for understanding both God and the cosmos.
A Portrait of Europe in 1600: the Princes. S1 E3.
Mel Brooks once remarked “It’s good to be the King.” But what was it actually like to be a king in Early Modern Europe? This episode examines ideals and values of the great monarchs of Europe, showing the limitations that led to a breakdown of order by the 17th century.
A Portrait of Europe in 1600: the People. S1 E2.
This episode examines what daily life was like for ordinary people in Early Modern Europe, highlighting some core differences with our own era such as the sense of geographic isolation and legal privileges of the nobility.
Europe c. 1600: a World of Tradition, a World of Change. S1 E1.
In this introductory episode, we consider the ways the Europe of 1600 was both similar and different to the Medieval society that existed before it. Highlights include a discussion of the revolutionary tomato, effects of the printing press and the invention of modern science.