Playing War: The Development and Early Use of Kriegsspiel
(Host: Samantha)
Games are amazing. They teach us how to engage with the world through play. They’ve also been used to train some of the greatest military minds. Chess is notoriously the game of the aristocracy, used to teach strategy and forward thinking. In the 19th century, a Prussian father and son, George Leopold von Reisswitz and Georg Heinrich Rudolf Johann von Reisswitz, brought strategic gaming to a whole new level with profound results.
For further reading suggestions and more, please visit: https://www.footnotinghistory.com
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18:26
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18:26
A Brief History of Napoleon Bonaparte’s Sisters
(Host: Christine)
One of Napoleon Bonaparte’s favorite methods of expanding control was to place his siblings in positions of power. Here, Christine takes a look at the lives of Napoleon’s three dynamic sisters (Elisa, Pauline, and Caroline), their rise to imperial prominence, and how they were impacted by the fall of their brother.
For further reading suggestions and more, please visit: https://www.footnotinghistory.com
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25:18
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25:18
Simon de Montfort Revisited
(Host: Christine)
In the 13th century, nobleman Simon de Montfort led an infamous and bloody rebellion against his brother-in-law, King Henry III of England. Simon’s fight against royal power (and controversial life!) caused him to be a focus of one of Footnoting History’s earliest episodes. Now, over a decade later, we are revisiting his story for listeners both new and old –and incorporating more details, newer research, and better audio performance.
For further reading suggestions and more, please visit: https://www.footnotinghistory.com
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25:20
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25:20
Pockets! And Why Women Don’t Have Them
(Host: Samantha)
Ladies, do you ever feel frustrated by the lack of pockets in your clothes? Gentlemen, have you ever heard a woman friend complain about her pockets or been asked to stow a phone or a wallet for a companion? This phenomenon isn’t new. Since the introduction of the three-piece suit in the seventeenth century, men have had a near monopoly on pockets. Tune in this week to learn more about the origin of the pocket in western dress and to consider why women’s pocket game is so limited.
For further reading suggestions and more, please visit: https://www.footnotinghistory.com
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13:41
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13:41
Beyond Sad Gruel: Food and Diet in Medieval Europe
(Host: Lucy)
Seasonal eating and regional eating were the variables responsible for the most widespread differences in what people ate, although then as now, wealth and class played a significant role in what was available to and prized by diners. Contrary to Hollywood myth, though, sad gruel was not the norm. This episode explores cooking, eating, and thinking about food in medieval Europe.
For further reading suggestions and more, please visit: https://www.footnotinghistory.com
Footnoting History is a bi-weekly podcast series dedicated to overlooked, popularly unknown, and exciting stories plucked from the footnotes of history. For further reading suggestions, information about our hosts, our complete episode archive, and more visit us at FootnotingHistory.com!