“It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter he kingdom of God.” — Matthew 19:24
“And the great owners, who must lose their land i...
2024-02-13 07:34:03 +0000 UTC View Post
New original content created for the History on Fire YouTube channel.
In today’s video, I’ll touch on just five cases of ‘deadly dinners’--including meals with everyone's favorite crazy emperor, Caligula, to dining with Mongol generals Jebe and Subotai, sharing a bite with Vlad the Im...
When one of my grandmothers was a teenager during WWII, she was a partisan who actively fought against the fascist regime and the Nazis propping it up. This is perhaps why I am fascinated by stories of women participating in resistance against Nazis and Fascists during the war. I guess it feels m...
2024-02-01 20:03:35 +0000 UTC View Post
Recently, I joined Bernie from the Fan of History & What’s New In History Podcast to talk about an AMAZING LiDAR survey of the Yucatan lowlands. We discuss life in the "Pre-Classic" Mayan world which is contemporary with such famous events in the Near East as the sack of the Elamite capital...
2024-01-25 02:18:01 +0000 UTC View Post
A quick essay about why I had to turn down a lucrative deal :)
2024-01-18 18:52:37 +0000 UTC View Post
Today I turn 50. Here's something I've wanted to write for a long time
2024-01-11 18:29:09 +0000 UTC View Post
“Everywhere in southern Anhui they are eating people.” Zeng Guofan
“Infants but recently born were torn from their mother’s breasts, and disemboweled before their faces. Young st...
2024-01-10 20:15:23 +0000 UTC View PostMy apologies for forgetting to post here part 2 of the Taiping series. I just fixed that. And to add substance to my apology, I'll post the third and last part of this series in a couple of minutes! :)
2024-01-10 20:11:02 +0000 UTC View Post
“Is not this insurgent movement truly wonderful? These rebels keep Sabbath as we do, they pray to God daily, they read the Scriptures, they break the idols, and they long for the time when, instead...
2024-01-10 20:09:09 +0000 UTC View Post
I just released a new mini-documentary on YouTube. I’m going to keep releasing mini-docs throughout 2024 to see if the channel gets enough traction. If it does, great. Then, I’ll keep doing it. If it doesn’t, by the end of 2024, I’ll probably stop with the documentaries since they take mo...
2024-01-04 18:15:51 +0000 UTC View Post
My grandfather, Stelio, was born on Jan 3 1917--107 years ago. During WWII, along with his unit he joined the Allies and fought his way up north. I spent a ton of time with him and my grandmother until he died in 2000 shortly after his 83rd birthday. He was always good to me.
2024-01-03 23:23:23 +0000 UTC View Post
A story of how I grew up, and a musical playlist to spread a little happiness
New mini-episode! Merry Christmas! And thank you so much for your support. It truly makes all the difference.
In the early 1900s, human beings were pushing into the wilderness of Hokkaido, de...
2023-12-24 01:22:40 +0000 UTC View Post
Here's an essay I just published on Substack. You don't need a subscription there to check it out. Just click the link. Have a great one!
2023-12-20 19:47:37 +0000 UTC View Post
A new History on Fire YouTube video!
2023-12-13 20:34:45 +0000 UTC View Post
In the 1240s, the Mongol army seemed unstoppable and well on its way to conquer all of Europe. In this quick video, I explore how booze may have been the key ingredient that prevented the conquest. I hope you enjoy it!
2023-12-06 20:27:35 +0000 UTC View Post
Here's an essay I just published on Substack. You don't need a subscription there to check it out. Just click the link. Have a great one!
2023-11-29 18:59:45 +0000 UTC View Post
In 1815, a volcano explodes in Indonesia. The consequences are far-reaching: millions of people starve, and a German inventor creates the first prototype for bicycles. Things don’t stop there. A group of friends vacationing in Switzerland, including the legendary Lord Byron, is forced to abando...
2023-11-26 15:47:15 +0000 UTC View Post
Here's an essay I just published on Substack. You don't need a subscription there to check it out. Just click the link. Have a great one!
2023-11-22 02:46:29 +0000 UTC View Post
“The entire story of the Taiping Rebellion might be told, from one perspective, as the rage of a failed exam candidate writ large.” Stephen Platt
“They may not intend to harm others on purpos...
2023-11-17 20:22:16 +0000 UTC View Post
“The universities do not teach all things, so a doctor must seek out old wives, gypsies, sorcerers, wandering tribes, old robbers, and such outlaws and take lessons from them. A doctor must b...
2023-11-17 20:17:20 +0000 UTC View Post
Here's an essay I just published on Substack. You don't need a subscription there to check it out. Just click the link. Have a great one!
“If you know the way broadly you will see it in everything.” — Miyamoto Musashi
Ever since I started History on Fire, one topic has been the most consistently requested by listeners. Over the years, I received hundreds of messages asking me to cover the life of Miyam...
2023-11-06 22:33:02 +0000 UTC View Post
Here's an essay I just published on Substack. You don't need a subscription there to check it out. Just click the link. Have a great one!
The lead character in our episode has been the subject of an anime series, historical fiction novels and movies that are being developed about his life. This is the tale of Yasuke, an African man, who became a Samurai in 16th century Japan, and even served under one of the principal figures in Ja...
2023-10-16 18:53:55 +0000 UTC View Post
Just published a new essay on Substack about history and how the passing of time erases... just about everything. For your convenience, in case you don't want to click on the Substack link, I'll paste the text here:
"This thing all things devours;
Birds, beasts, trees, flowers;...
Here's my new YouTube video: a quick overview of the material I cover in Episode 101, but this includes archival images and the stunning good looks of yours truly :)
2023-10-05 19:57:12 +0000 UTC View Post
Today, you get a brand new episode one week ahead of the public release and ad-free!
“All warfare is based on deception.” Sun Tzu
Ever since I started History on Fire, one topic has been the most consistently requested by listeners. Over the years, I rece...
2023-10-02 17:37:50 +0000 UTC View Post
In honor of Caravaggio's birthday, I just published this essay about him. I hope you find it interesting
2023-09-28 23:35:58 +0000 UTC View Post
I was recently a guest on the Game-Changing History podcast. Given that it's a history podcast, and some of you may be interested, here's a link for you.
2023-09-24 06:31:12 +0000 UTC View Post