Episodes

Norman mercenaries travel to Italy for a better life. Soon they turn from swords-for-hire to conquerors who would rule states across the Mediterranean World.

Ben of Battle Royale: French Monarchs joins the podcast to rank the Carolingians.

A Halloween episode about a lethal dance mania in Strasbourg.

The Duke of Normandy dreams of a crown. When chaos engulfs England he seizes his chance with blood and iron.

Dr. Christina Carroll explains the ideological underpinnings behind the Second French Empire.

Dr. Emma Kavanagh reads Olympe de Gouges' 'The Declaration of the Rights of Woman (September 1791),' a classic feminist document and critique of the RIghts of Man and of the Citizen.

A dramatic reading of one of the most important documents in modern European history.

Dr. Micah Alpaugh talks about the revolutionary ideas that criss-crossed the Atlantic & overturned the old Atlantic World order.

Olivier Robichaud returns to talk about how the Old French language came into being.

Dahlia El Zein talks about how colonial peoples travelled through the French Empire, interacting and changing their world.

The Vikings descend upon West Francia, first as raiders, then as conquerors.

Dr. Richard Derderian talks about how Algerians in France maintained and developed their culture during decades of remarkable, violent change.

Dr. Joan DeJean talks about how climate crisis, the first economic bubble and meltdown and corrupt police forced innocent women into exile in colonial Louisiana and how they overcame incredible odds to survive and even thrive.

Dr. Kate Vigurs talks about the women secret agents operating in France, their heroism, sacrifice & service in the fight against Nazi Occupation.

With the country in chaos, faithful ban together to bring peace to France.

Dr. Megan Brown discusses how post-independence Algeria remained a part of a pan-European project, as it existed in a legal limbo following its independence.

The Year 1,000 approaches. Signs in the heavens signal doom. French people prepare for the end of the world.

A riot breaks out between left-wing & right-wing agitators and half a dozen are killed by police. What happened? Whose fault was it? Dr. Chris Millington talks about the heated political culture of 1930s France.

Dr. Kathleen McCrudden Illert talks about one of the most fascinating revolutionaries you've probably never heard of and her impact on France.

Robert II ascends to the throne. The second Capetian, he must rule a kingdom even as many of his vassals consider him an illegitimate ruler.

Dr. Matt Robertshaw explains how Haitians travelled through the French Empire and their impact on Africa.

Hugh Capet inaugurates a new dynasty whose house and offshoots will rule France for 800 years.

Dr. Deborah Bauer talks about the emergence of surveillance agencies in France and the contradictions they represented in a liberal democracy.

Islamic forces from Iberia conquer a fortress in Provence. Taking advantage of political weakness in France, they establish a state along the coast.