
Free Daily Podcast Summary
by Dan Carlin
In "Hardcore History" journalist and broadcaster Dan Carlin takes his "Martian", unorthodox way of thinking and applies it to the past. Was Alexander the Great as bad a person as Adolf Hitler? What would Apaches with modern weapons be like? Will our modern civilization ever fall like civilizations from past eras? This isn't academic history (and Carlin isn't a historian) but the podcast's unique blend of high drama, masterful narration and Twilight Zone-style twists has entertained millions of listeners.
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The stage is set for an in-person showdown between Alexander and Persia's Great King. The resulting Battle of Issus, although often ignored by Hollywood, is one of the most important battles in all ancient history. It gets its due here.
Attacking the largest empire the world had ever seen is a huge endeavor at any age, but try doing it at 21. Alexander, fusing the qualities of a Napoleon with a gladiator, aims for immortality. The Persians are just in his way.
Is it safe to hand control of the deadliest army in the world to a 20-year old? If you are Thracian, Triballian, Illyrian or Theban, the answer is definitely no. Alexander becomes king and fights off threats to his rule in all directions.
What's the recipe for making a historically world-class apex predator? In the case of Alexander the Great, it might be the three Ns: Nature, Nurture, and Nepotism.
Pagan Viking Sea Kings spend the 10th and 11th centuries morphing into Christian monarchs. But with rulers like Harald Bluetooth and Svein Forkbeard it's debatable whether things will be any less horrific for Scandinavia's neighbors
This show picks up where Dan's Thor's Angels show left off. In the early Middle Ages Pagan Germanic-language speakers like the Vikings are a dying breed. Many of their contemporaries wish they'd die faster.
The Atlantic Slave Trade mixes centuries of human bondage with violence, economics, commerce, geo-political competition, liberty, morality, injustice, revolution, tragedy and bloody reckonings. That sounds like a lot, yet this show merely scratches the surface of this enormous subject.
When do spirit, tenacity, resilience and bravery cross into madness? When cities are incinerated? When suicide attacks become the norm? When atomic weapons are used? Japan's leaders test the limits of national endurance in the war's last year.
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Dan Carlin's Hardcore History: Addendum
Supplementary interviews and commentary from the creator of Hardcore History, expanding on themes and topics from the main series.

History Unplugged Podcast
Features interviews with history authors and answers to listener questions on a wide range of historical topics.

The Ancients
Explores ancient history through expert interviews, covering topics from Neolithic Britain to the fall of Rome.

Ancient Civilisations
Explores the history, people, and achievements of ancient civilizations through narrative storytelling.

The Rest Is History
Historians Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook analyze major historical events and figures with narrative depth and scholarly insight.

Empire: World History
William Dalrymple and Anita Anand examine the rise and fall of empires throughout world history and their lasting global impact.

You're Dead to Me
A comedian and historian explore quirky, surprising stories from the past with humor and insight.

HISTORY This Week
A weekly look at pivotal historical events and the people behind them, from famous figures to unknown influencers.

After Dark: Myths, Misdeeds & the Paranormal
Historians explore eerie, strange, and dark historical events, from hauntings and witch trials to UFOs and infamous crimes.

Dark History
Reveals dark, overlooked historical events like tyrannical rulers and corporate crimes that were omitted from mainstream education.

Ridiculous History
Explores bizarre and absurd stories from human history with a mix of humor and historical insight.

Things Fell Apart
Traces the origins of modern culture wars through personal stories and pivotal moments that sparked lasting social conflicts.
In "Hardcore History" journalist and broadcaster Dan Carlin takes his "Martian", unorthodox way of thinking and applies it to the past. Was Alexander the Great as bad a person as Adolf Hitler? What would Apaches with modern weapons be like? Will our modern civilization ever fall like civilizations from past eras? This isn't academic history (and Carlin isn't a historian) but the podcast's unique blend of high drama, masterful narration and Twilight Zone-style twists has entertained millions of listeners.
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