Stuff You Missed in History Class
Episodes
How the Spanish-American War Worked
23 Feb 2009
Contributed by Lukas
Although the Spanish-American War was a short conflict, many historians believe this conflict marked the United States' emergence as a major world pow...
How the Black Death Worked
18 Feb 2009
Contributed by Lukas
When the Black Death swept across Europe, it killed an estimated 25 million people -- one third of Europe's total population. Tune in and learn more a...
How Thomas Jefferson's Bible Worked
16 Feb 2009
Contributed by Lukas
Thomas Jefferson, one of America's founding fathers, was a very unorthodox thinker. His revision of the Bible was one of his most controversial projec...
Why did it take more than 20 years to bury Eva Peron?
11 Feb 2009
Contributed by Lukas
Eva Peron died on July 26, 1952. After a 13-day wake, Dr. Pedro Ara mummified the body -- but it would take more than twenty years to bury the corpse....
Will the world really end in 2012?
09 Feb 2009
Contributed by Lukas
The Mayan empire produced a unique calendar that's still followed in parts of the world today. Curiously, this calendar predicts a monumental, world-w...
How Navajo Code Talkers Work
04 Feb 2009
Contributed by Lukas
During World War II, Axis and Allied powers struggled to discover the enemies' information while hiding their own. Tune in to this HowStuffWorks podca...
How the Underground Railroad Worked
02 Feb 2009
Contributed by Lukas
The Underground Railroad may have saved as much as 100,000 slaves. Tune into to this HowStuffWorks podcast to learn how the passage of the Fugitive Sl...
How Revisionist History Works
28 Jan 2009
Contributed by Lukas
Like any other discipline, history often becomes a matter of interpretation. Check in with HowStuffWorks' resident history experts as they explore the...
How the Vikings Worked
26 Jan 2009
Contributed by Lukas
In most films Vikings are depicted as bloodthirsty, relatively ignorant berserkers who did little more than plunder and pillage their way across Europ...
How Medieval Torture Devices Worked
21 Jan 2009
Contributed by Lukas
Building on an earlier examination of the Spanish Inquisition, HowStuffWorks' history experts take a look at the disturbing world of medieval torture ...
How the Civil Rights Movement Worked
19 Jan 2009
Contributed by Lukas
Explore the complicated history of the civil rights movement in this HowStuffWorks podcast. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpod...
How the Spanish Inquisition Worked
14 Jan 2009
Contributed by Lukas
Nowadays, the Spanish Inquisition is best known as a symbol of religious intolerance and extreme cruelty. Tune in to this HowStuffWorks podcast to lea...
Why were some Japanese soldiers still fighting decades after World War II?
12 Jan 2009
Contributed by Lukas
During World War II, the bravery of Kamikaze pilots was legendary. When the war concluded, several Japanese soldiers remained in hiding on islands acr...
Did the Chinese reach America before Columbus?
07 Jan 2009
Contributed by Lukas
Author Gavin Menzies believes a fleet of Chinese explorers reached the Americas before Christopher Columbus, but he's been repeatedly challenged to de...
How the Emancipation Proclamation Worked
05 Jan 2009
Contributed by Lukas
When Lincoln delivered the Emancipation Proclamation, he hoped to demoralize the South. Learn the details behind President Lincoln's Emancipation Proc...
Could treasure hunters have discovered Nazi Gold?
31 Dec 2008
Contributed by Lukas
Several treasure hunters think they might have found Nazi gold. Learn about the history of Nazi gold, the role of Swiss banks and much more in this po...
How the Great Wall of China Works
29 Dec 2008
Contributed by Lukas
The Great Wall of China is incredibly long, and was originally built for military purposes. Check out this HowStuffWorks podcast to learn more about t...
How Agent Orange Worked
24 Dec 2008
Contributed by Lukas
Agent Orange was a potent herbicide and defoliant used across Vietnam during the Vietnam War. Listen to this podcast from HowStuffWorks to learn about...
Who was Marco Polo?
22 Dec 2008
Contributed by Lukas
Marco Polo was an 11th-century Italian explorer famous for his extensive travels through China along the Silk Road, but it can be difficult to separat...
How the African Diamond Trade Works
17 Dec 2008
Contributed by Lukas
Diamond were first found in Africa sometime in the 1860s, and have troubled the continent ever since. Check out this podcast from HowStuffWorks to lea...
How Prohibition Works
15 Dec 2008
Contributed by Lukas
The alcohol prohibition of the 1920s was known at the time as 'the noble experiment.' Check out this podcast from HowStuffWorks to learn more about th...
How Henry VIII Worked
10 Dec 2008
Contributed by Lukas
From 1509 to 1547, thousands of people were beheaded under the bloody, violent reign of Henry VIII. Check out this HowStuffWorks podcast to learn more...
How the Boston Tea Party Worked
08 Dec 2008
Contributed by Lukas
During the Colonial period in North America, Britain taxed colonists without allowing the colonies to have governmental representation. Learn how the ...
Who was Rosie the Riveter?
03 Dec 2008
Contributed by Lukas
With much of America's workforce fighting in World War II, women broke past traditional gender stereotypes and gained employment in industries formall...
How the Rosetta Stone Works
01 Dec 2008
Contributed by Lukas
Prior to the modern discovery of the Rosetta stone, Ancient Egypt was an enigma. Even many pre-Napoleonic Egyptians had no concept of their forbearers...
How Easter Island Works
26 Nov 2008
Contributed by Lukas
Home to hundreds of mysterious, gigantic stone statues, Easter Island is an isolated, tiny island in the Pacific. Check out this podcast to learn more...
How the Titanic Worked
24 Nov 2008
Contributed by Lukas
The Titanic was famously considered 'unsinkable' by the engineers who built it. However, the Titanic's reputation could not save it from the infamous ...
How the French Revolution Worked
19 Nov 2008
Contributed by Lukas
Several factors contributed to the French Revolution. Check out this HowStuffWorks podcast to learn how an incompetent monarchy, the age of Enlightenm...
How the Crusades Worked
17 Nov 2008
Contributed by Lukas
The first Crusade began in 1095, and launched a struggle for control of Jerusalem in a series of arduous battles spanning more than two centuries. Lea...
What was Australia's Stolen Generation?
12 Nov 2008
Contributed by Lukas
When British explorers reached Australia in 1768, Aborigines were seen as savages in need of assimilation. Check out this HowStuffWorks podcast to lea...
How the Louisiana Purchase Worked
10 Nov 2008
Contributed by Lukas
When Thomas Jefferson purchased the Louisiana Territory for 15 million dollars, the US nearly doubled in size. Check out this HowStuffWorks podcast to...
How Presidential Salaries Work
05 Nov 2008
Contributed by Lukas
Compared to the average American salary, the President is well-off. However, most Presidents are wealthy when they arrive in office. Check out this Ho...
How the Swing States Works
03 Nov 2008
Contributed by Lukas
During presidential elections, campaign coverage often focuses on states whose populations are divided between candidates. Check out this HowStuffWork...
Why did Lady Godiva take a naked horse ride?
29 Oct 2008
Contributed by Lukas
In an argument over taxing peasants, Lady Godiva -- whose real name was actually Godgifu -- called her husband's bluff and rode naked through the mark...
How can a corpse be incorruptible?
27 Oct 2008
Contributed by Lukas
Within hours after death, decay usually sets in and the human body begins to rot. However, some human bodies simply don't seem to decompose, and scien...
What happened to the lost colony at Roanoke?
23 Oct 2008
Contributed by Lukas
In 1587, English colonists in Roanoke mysteriously disappeared, leaving only a few cryptic clues behind. For centuries since, researchers have wondere...
Do political parties influence the First Lady's duties?
21 Oct 2008
Contributed by Lukas
The role of First Lady is extraconstitutional, and the functions of this position have varied across administrations. Check out this HowStuffWorks pod...
Was an Irish monk the first European to find America?
15 Oct 2008
Contributed by Lukas
Although Columbus is often thought to be the first European in America, an Irish monk may have reached the New World in the sixth century. Check out t...
How Presidential Pardons Work
13 Oct 2008
Contributed by Lukas
The U.S. Constitution grants several powers to the President, including the ability to pardon anyone for several types of crime. Learn about the origi...
What was America's first terrorist threat?
08 Oct 2008
Contributed by Lukas
When the U.S. was still a young nation, the notorious Barbary pirates demanded tribute from countries across the world. Rumor has it that President Je...
Does my vote count?
06 Oct 2008
Contributed by Lukas
The framers of the Constitution put the electoral college in place as a compromise, and ever since voters have wondered if their vote counts. Check ou...
Did someone really escape from Alcatraz?
01 Oct 2008
Contributed by Lukas
Alcatraz was one of the United States' most notorious prisons -- isolated on an island and surrounded by sharks. Check out this HowStuffWorks podcast ...
The History of Presidential Debates
29 Sep 2008
Contributed by Lukas
In the United States, the presidential debate is a time-honored institution. Check out this HowStuffWorks podcast to as our staff writers trace the fa...
Did Marie Antoinette really tell French peasants to eat cake?
24 Sep 2008
Contributed by Lukas
Marie Antoinette was only ten when Rousseau published the famous 'let them eat cake' quote. Check out our HowStuffWorks podcast to learn more about wh...
How the Symbols of U.S. Political Parties Work
22 Sep 2008
Contributed by Lukas
A donkey and an elephant are the symbols of the U.S. Democratic and Republican parties, but how were these symbols chosen? Check out our HowStuffWorks...
Why is there an underground city beneath Beijing?
17 Sep 2008
Contributed by Lukas
The Beijing underground city may sound like the stuff of legends, but it's a real place built to escape Soviets. Check out our HowStuffWorks article t...
How Thomas Jefferson Worked
15 Sep 2008
Contributed by Lukas
Thomas Jefferson's life was peppered with accomplishments -- but what about the disparity between his public image and private life? Check out our How...
Who was America's first murderer?
10 Sep 2008
Contributed by Lukas
John Billington was one of the signers of the Mayflower Compact -- he was also the first American murder. Check out our HowStuffWorks article to learn...
Could Noah's ark really have happened?
08 Sep 2008
Contributed by Lukas
Versions of the Great Flood float around in nearly every human culture, and Christianity, Islam and Judaism share the overarching plot points of a man...
How did Rasputin really die?
03 Sep 2008
Contributed by Lukas
Rasputin, mystic and advisor to the Romanov family in Russia, was distrusted and seemingly immuned to death. How did Rasputin finally die? Check out t...
What happened to the two other men on Paul Revere's ride?
01 Sep 2008
Contributed by Lukas
Although Paul Revere's ride has evolved into an American legend, he was not alone on his famous midnight ride. Check out our HowStuffWorks podcast to ...
Did the Great Chicago Fire really start with Mrs. O'Leary's cow?
27 Aug 2008
Contributed by Lukas
In all of history, no cow is more infamous than Mrs. O'Leary's. The farm animals was accused of kicking over a lantern and starting the Great Chicago ...
How King Arthur Worked
25 Aug 2008
Contributed by Lukas
Thanks to his enduring presence in western culture, the name King Arthur conjures up a very specific image. Take a look at our HowStuffWorks podcast t...
Did the ancient Greeks get their ideas from the Africans?
20 Aug 2008
Contributed by Lukas
Known today as Egypt, Kemet is one of the longest-lived cultures in the world. The great Greek scholars studied at the Kemetic temple-universities, an...
How the Great Train Robbery Worked
18 Aug 2008
Contributed by Lukas
On the night of August 8, 1963, a gang of thieves stole bank notes worth the equivalent of $50 million. Take a look at our HowStuffWorks article to le...
Vlad Tepes: Who was the real Count Dracula?
14 Aug 2008
Contributed by Lukas
Vlad Tepes, a 15th-century Wallachian prince, was the notoriously blood-thirsty basis for Dracula, Bram Stoker's classic gothic horror character. Chec...
How the Donner Party Worked
12 Aug 2008
Contributed by Lukas
While stranded in the Sierra Nevada mountains, members of the Donner Party resorted to cannibalism in an effort to survive the harsh winter of 1846. L...
How the Berlin Wall Worked
06 Aug 2008
Contributed by Lukas
The Berlin Wall divided a country and a city, but it had a purpose. Learn more about its history and how JFK and Barack Obama fit into the picture in ...
How the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World Work
04 Aug 2008
Contributed by Lukas
On July 7, 2007, the new seven wonders of the world were chosen by more than 100 million voters. But whatever happened to the original seven? Take a l...
What's Mutual Assured Destruction?
30 Jul 2008
Contributed by Lukas
During the Cold War, both the U.S. and the U.S.S.R. stockpiled weapons, eventually holding enough power to destroy the world several times over. Yet n...
Why was tax evasion the only thing pinned on Al Capone?
28 Jul 2008
Contributed by Lukas
Al Capone was a king among criminals, and 'kept his hands clean,' maintaining plausible deniability by avoiding direct connections to illegal activity...
Why did England and Spain fight over an ear?
23 Jul 2008
Contributed by Lukas
When the Spanish Coast Guard caught English Captain Jenkins smuggling, they cut off his ear as punishment. Could this insult have sent two countries t...
Did Nero really play the fiddle while Rome burned?
21 Jul 2008
Contributed by Lukas
In A.D. 64, a great fire consumed Rome for six days and seven nights. Some rumors speculated that Nero set the fire, and even played a fiddle as the c...
Why was Davy Crockett king of the wild frontier?
16 Jul 2008
Contributed by Lukas
Davy Crockett is one of America's great real-life legends. With a little help from Walt Disney, Crockett experienced a resurgence in popularity more t...
What was the Christmas Truce?
14 Jul 2008
Contributed by Lukas
Amid the bloodshed of World War I, the Pope pled for a truce on Christmas Day. The commanding powers refused the truce, but soldiers across Europe cro...
How the First Olympics Worked
09 Jul 2008
Contributed by Lukas
The first Olympics took place in the sixth century in order to build diplomacy across the Greek world. Learn more about the history of the first Olymp...
What was in Peter the Great's cabinet of curiosities?
07 Jul 2008
Contributed by Lukas
Peter the Great was a feared leader but also an intellectual. Learn about Peter the Great and Peter the Great's love of academia and collectibles in t...
The Cursed Tomb of King Tut
02 Jul 2008
Contributed by Lukas
An inscription above King Tutankhamen's burial chamber reads: 'Death will come on swift pinions to those who disturb the rest of the Pharaoh.' This wa...
Ergot and the Salem Witchtrials
30 Jun 2008
Contributed by Lukas
Some researchers allege that ergot poisoning may have been responsible for triggering the Salem witchcraft trials -- but is this fact, or fiction? Lea...
Fact or Fiction: Is D.B. Cooper still alive?
27 Jun 2008
Contributed by Lukas
The D.B. Cooper mystery involves the case of Northwest Airlines Flight 305, which was hijacked by a lone man. Learn more about the D.B. Cooper mystery...
The Elizabeth Bathory Episode: Was a Hungarian countess the world's most prolific serial killer?
25 Jun 2008
Contributed by Lukas
Prolific serial killers are reigned in by some specific parameters. Learn more about Elizabeth Bathory and why she was known as "Bloody Mary". Learn ...
Did Genghis Khan really kill 1,748,000 people in one hour?
09 Jun 2008
Contributed by Lukas
Genghis Khan has more death attributed to him than any other person in history. Learn about Genghis Kahn and the siege Genghis Khan conducted on Nisha...