John Calvin is one of the major figures of the Protestant Reformation, famous for his doctrine of pre-destination. This episode covers his time in Geneva, and how he turned that city into a grim and terrifying experiment in theocracy. It is also the story of Protestants burning a heretic at the stake, in a bizarre…
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What is the Protestant Reformation and why does it matter? To begin to understand how thoroughly it has shaped Western Europe and North America we must travel back in time to see the world as it was before the Reformation. This episode is all about the Middle Ages, when an emperor braved the Alps in…
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1492 was a year that changed everything. In Castile, it was the end of the Reconquista, as Isabella and Ferdinand ended a decade long war with a triumphant ride through the streets of Granada. It was also the year they signed the Alhambra Decree, which banished all Jews from Castile, and it was the beginning…
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You have probably heard of the Spanish Inquisition, even if only from a certain Monty Python sketch. The truth about why it was started and for what purpose will probably surprise you. In this episode we take a close look at the episodes in Spanish history that prepared the way for the Inquisition. We also…
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In this episode, our plucky and determined heroine discovers the mantle of religious warfare. Isabella and Ferdinand respond to an attack on a Castilian city from Moorish forces. This becomes the first skirmish in a “Holy War” against Muslims in Spain. It is a war that will last a decade, and inflict a terrible fate…
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After a high risk secret marriage to Prince Ferdinand of Aragon, Isabella finds there is no easy path to gaining the crown of Castile. An evil uncle, a civil war, and a heroic Portuguese flag bearer appear in this episode as Isabella fights to be Queen. An astonishing solution to a domestic quarrel paves the…
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Ferdinand and Isabella of Spain are figures you may have heard of in passing, as the sponsors of Christopher Columbus. The fact that Isabella’s name is remembered in the same breath with Ferdinand’s is remarkable in an age when only men could hold political power. From the Black Death to royal scandal, this episode introduces…
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After the execution of Anne Boleyn, what is next for Henry VIII and for England? A terrible jousting accident changes the king, and may be a hidden factor in his increasing ruthlessness. The future of England and its religion hangs in the balance as Henry decides to assert his authority over English monasteries. This episode…
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This episode covers the sordid and sickeningly fast story of Anne Boleyn’s fall from grace. It has rumor, scandal, and a completely hilarious introduction to the codpiece. This is also the moment that Henry VIII begins to resemble the ruthless monster that he has become in popular imagination. With Anne’s position hanging precariously, what will…
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The woman who is blamed for turning Henry VIII from a most Catholic king into the one who separated Tudor England from the Catholic Church was a dark eyed stunner named Anne Boleyn. This is the story of how a king overturned the institutions of his country to get a divorce. It is also the…
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