World History Encyclopedia

Overview

Episodes

Recent Episodes

APR 18, 2025

In this episode, we explore the complex causes behind the outbreak of World War II. Listeners will learn how the harsh terms of the Treaty of Versailles, economic turmoil during the Great Depression, and the rise of fascist leaders like Adolf Hitler set the stage for global conflict. We break down the policies and political decisions—including appeasement by Britain and France, the failure of the League of Nations, and alliances between Germany, Italy, Japan, and the USSR—that allowed aggression to go unchecked. The episode covers key moments such as Germany’s rearmament, the Nazi-Soviet Pact, and the invasion of Poland that triggered the war. By the end, you’ll understand why WWII became inevitable and how the world’s major powers responded—often too late—to one of history’s most devastating conflicts.

Written by Mark Cartwright and narrated by Scarlett Hart.

#history #wwii #worldwar #whe

20 MIN

JAN 10, 2025

Agriculture in the Fertile Crescent & Mesopotamia

Explore the pivotal role of agriculture in shaping human history in our latest episode. Journey back to the ancient Near East, where the Fertile Crescent is celebrated as the birthplace of agriculture. Discover how the domestication of plants and animals in regions like Mesopotamia and the Levant led to the first large-scale cities and empires. This cradle of civilization, enriched by fertile soil and rivers like the Euphrates and Tigris, witnessed innovations such as artificial irrigation, crop rotation, and the use of plows, which transformed semi-nomadic groups into permanent agricultural societies.

Delve into how agriculture's surplus production was essential for the emergence of urban centers and complex societies. In Mesopotamia, cereal grains became a cornerstone for taxation, supporting centralized governments and enabling trade and urbanization. The podcast underscores how agriculture not only sustained growing populations but also laid the foundation for specialized trades and empires, ultimately fueling human progress and civilization's advancement across the globe.