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Episode 19: Johan de Witt, the Dutch Prime Minister who was “eaten” to death (1625 to 1672)
The story of the time when the Dutch “ate” their “Prime Minister”. Why it happened, who did it and what effect did it have on the Dutch Republic?Episode Icon: Adriaen Hanneman, Johan de Witt, 1652, Wikimedia Commons, Public Domain. Recommended further reading…DeSanto, Ingrid Frederika, ‘Righteous Citizens: The Lynching of Johan and Cornelis DeWitt, The Hague, Collective Violence, and the Myth of Tolerance in the Dutch Golden Age, 1650-1672’, University of California, Los Angeles, 2018.Israel, Jonathan I. ’The Dutch Republic, Its Rise, Greatness and Fall, 1477-1806’, (Oxford, UK, 1998).Rowen, Herbert H. ‘John de Witt True Freedom: Statesman of the "True Freedom” ’, (Cambridge, UK, 1986).Schama, Simon, ’The Embarrassment of Riches: An Interpretation of Dutch Culture in the Golden Age’, (New York City, 1997). History House Newsletter Sign Up Form: https://2fi43x.share-eu1.hsforms.com/2ra1UsFX7SXuZqtGTVUKXNg Break audio: 'A Stormy Spirit by Tiny Music from PremiumBeat.com (Purchased with Standard License on the 29/11/2025). Ending and closing theme, 'Classical Orchestral Dvorak Serenade Waltz Strings Music, provided by mrgwertz on https://www.pond5.com (Purchased with license on the 01/06/2024).
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Episode 18: Day of the Dead, Mexico's Most Famous Festival (Live from Mexico City)
The traditions, history and celebrations of Day of the Dead, (Dia de Los Muertos).Episode Icon: 1. Posada's La Calavera Catrina, Wikimedia Commons, Public Domain.Recommended Further Reading...Brandes, Stanley H. ‘Iconography in Mexico's Day of the Dead: Origins and Meaning’, Ethnohistory, Volume 45 No. 2, (Spring, 1998), pp. 181-218. ‘Is There a Mexican View of Death?’, Ethos, Vol. 31, No. 1 (Mar., 2003), pp. 127-144. ‘Skulls to the Living, Bread to the Dead: The Day of the Dead in Mexico and Beyond’, (Hoboken, New Jersey, 2007).Miliotes, Diana, ‘José Guadalupe Posada and the Mexican Broadside’, (New Haven and London, 2006).History House Newsletter Sign Up Form: https://2fi43x.share-eu1.hsforms.com/2ra1UsFX7SXuZqtGTVUKXNg Beginning and closing theme 'Classical Orchestral Dvorak Serenade Waltz Strings Music, provided by mrgwertz on https://www.pond5.com (Purchased with license on the01/06/2024).
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Episode 17: Wartime Leader and Peacemaker: Venizelos, Greece’s Most Consequential Prime Minister
The story of the "Ethnarch", Eleftherios Venizelos, (1864-1936). His arrival into Greek Politics, his various departures, returns and his final fall from power, along his often forgotten rapprochement with Turkey.Episode Icon: Autochrome: "La Haye , Pays-Bas Monsieur Venizelos”, 1929, Public Domain, Wikimedia Commons.Links to photos associated with the episode...Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/historyhouse1.bsky.social/post/3lzwdarup6k22Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1EcaQxptoA/?mibextid=wwXIfr Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/DPKQIuEjJGI/?igsh=YnRwbmUxMXgzdmlp Recommended further reading…Beaton, Roderick, ‘Greece, Biography of a Modern Nation’, (London, 2019).Llewellyn-Smith, Michael, ‘Ionian Vision, Greece in Asia Minor 1919-1922’, (London, 2022 Edition).Llewellyn-Smith, Michael, ‘Venizelos, The Making of a Greek Statesman, 1864-1914’, (London, 2021).Article by host about the Treaty of Lausanne and the Irish Free State: https://muse.jhu.edu/article/956692 History House Newsletter Sign Up Form: https://2fi43x.share-eu1.hsforms.com/2ra1UsFX7SXuZqtGTVUKXNg Break audio: 'Prime Minister of Greece--outtakes', 1929, from the University of South Carolina University Libraries Digital Collections, (permission for use granted on the first of September 2025)Ending and closing theme, 'Classical Orchestral Dvorak Serenade Waltz Strings Music, provided by mrgwertz on https://www.pond5.com (Purchased with license on the 01/06/2024)
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Episode 16: Theodora, The Actress who Became an Empress, the Empress who Became a Saint
Warning: This episode discusses themes of a Sexual Nature including Prostitution.The extraordinary story of one of History's most remarkable women. Episode Icon: Depiction of the Empress Theodora from a contemporary portrait mosaic in the Basilica of San Vitale, Ravenna, 6th Century, Host’s own photo.Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/historyhouse1.bsky.social/post/3lxarl2osd22s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1EuqMC7Jqf/?mibextid=wwXIfr Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/DNyivuk2Iu_/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== Recommended further reading...Allan Evans, James, ‘The Empress Theodora: Partner of Justinian’, (Austin, 2003).Herrin, Judith, ‘Ravenna: Capital of Empire, Crucible of Europe’, (London, 2021).Hughes, Bettany, ‘Istanbul: A Tale of Three Cities’, (London, 2017).Potter, David, ‘Theodora: Actress, Empress, Saint’, (Oxford, 2017).Procopius, Sarris, Peter (ed. and translator), Williamson, G.A. (Translator), ‘The Secret History’, (London, 2007).Sarris, Peter, ‘Justinian: Emperor, Soldier, Saint’, (New York, 2024).Break Music: Byzantine Memories provided by SonicArt on https://www.pond5.com (Purchased with license on the 24/08/2025)Ending and closing theme, 'Classical Orchestral Dvorak Serenade Waltz Strings Music, provided by mrqwertz on https://www.pond5.com (Purchased with license on the 01/06/2024)
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Episode 15: Mayerling 1889, The Scandal that Shook the Austro-Hungarian Empire
Warning: This episode talks about difficult topics including Murder and Suicide.The story of the Mayerling Incident of 1889, which was not only a tragedy for the Habsburg Dynasty of Austria-Hungary but had unexpected implications for European History. Episode Icon: Crown Prince Rudolf and Mary Freiin von Vetsera, Wikimedia Commons, Public Domain.Links to photos associated with the episode…Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/historyhouse1.bsky.social/post/3luy4uterjs2t Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/19GPrTaTiM/?mibextid=wwXIfrInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DMoH6BQoWQF/?igsh=bmtmbW9qenFlbWR1 Recommended further reading...Coatman, Lucy, 'Love is Dead, Newly discovered letters get us closer to understanding the tragic truth of royal murder-suicide at Mayerling', in History Today, Volume 72, Issue 2 (February 2022), pp. 16-18- For a study on Rudolf and Mary's letters.Hamann, Brigitte, 'The Reluctant Empress, A biography of Empress Elisabeth of Austria, (Berlin, 2018 Edition)- For a biography on the mother of Crown Prince Rudolf, Empress Elisabeth "Sisi". Judson, Peter M. 'The Habsburg Empire – A New History', (Cambridge, Massachusetts, 2018)- For an in-depth survey of the Austro-Hungarian State.King, Greg, Wilson, Penny, 'Twilight of Empire, The Tragedy of Mayerling and the End of the Habsburgs', (New York, 2017)- For a comprehensive survey of the Mayerling Incident.Rady, Martyn, 'The Habsburgs: The Rise and Fall of a World Power', (London, 2022)- For a detailed overview of the Habsburg Dynasty.Vocelka, Karl, Mutschlechner (eds.), Franz Joseph, 1830-1916, (Vienna, 2016)- For a comprehensive survey of the life and reign of Emperor Franz Joseph. Additionally, Lucy Coatman is working on the first English Language biography of Mary Vetsera, which should shed new light on her for a wider audience beyond German- speaking countries in Europe and Hungary. Break Music: 'Brahms - Hungarian Dance No. 5 in F# Minor by Wilfred Symphony Orchestra on PremiumBeat by Shutterstock, https://www.premiumbeat.com (Purchased with license on the 20/07/2025).Beginning and closing theme, 'Classical Orchestral Dvorak Serenade Waltz Strings Music, provided by mrqwertz on https://www.pond5.com (Purchased with license on the 01/06/2024).
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