History Under the Radar

In the winter of 1386, two French noblemen engaged in what would be considered the last trial by combat in France. The center of their dispute was an accusation of rape. Marguerite de Carrouges was married to the knight Jean de Carrouges. She claimed that one of her husband’s former friends, Jacques le Gris, raped her when her husband was away. The court case and the brutal trial by combat that followed are depicted in Ridley Scot...

The HBO series Our Flag Means Death comically follows a gentleman landowner named Stede Bonnet who decides to try his hand at piracy. The show portrays Bonnet as a bumbling fop unsuited for the life of piracy on the high seas. However, his unwavering idealism inspires crew members to put up with his antics. In reality, Stede Bonnet became one of the most infamous pirates of his day. While it was confirmed that he knew little ...

Disclaimer: Today's episode contains language that may not be suitable for some listeners.

There is nothing better than a witty comeback or insult. When an overconfident aggressor is put in their place, it can be extremely entertaining. During the 1600s, the Ottoman Empire focused on expanding into part of present-day Ukraine. When the emperor sent a letter to the Cossacks to submit to him, their reply was one of the most ente...

Thousands of years ago, the ancient Israelites created a sacred container. Their most holy artifact, the Ten Commandments, was placed in this container. Centuries later, the Ark of the Covenant became lost to history. Ever since people have sought out the artifact in the hopes of proving its existence. One church in Africa claims to hold this most sacred relic. Is the Ark of the Covenant located in Ethiopia? Let’s explore this uns...

In the mid-1500’s. Spain was establishing their hold on the South American continent. Oftentimes, this included brutal wars with the native peoples, who were subjected to brutal acts to force their submission. However, one warrior became famous for not only resisting the Spanish but doing so with some interesting prosthetics. We’ll learn about Galvarino, the South American Warrior with Knives for Hands on Today’s History Under the...

In the 15th century, China sent a great treasure fleet across the ocean. Their mission was to contact other cultures and show the greatness of the Middle Kingdom. While we know this fleet met many Asian cultures and parts of Africa’s coast, there are those who believe they may visited another continent. A continent that Europeans would not be aware of for another sixty years. Did the Chinese visit America before Columbus? Let’s fi...

In the first decade of the 19th century, the new republic of the United States faced its first test as a country on the world stage. In North Africa, pirates were disrupting trade in the Mediterranean Sea. While they enjoyed several years of extortion to keep the trade going, eventually, the United States took a stand. The events that followed would shape the United States' foreign policy moving forward. Learn about the Barbar...

Imagine you are a medieval peasant, and it is your wedding day. You and your new bride stand before God and those around you, swearing to love and honor each other til death do your part. Perhaps your village is holding a party in celebration. Family and friends surround you to celebrate the happy occasion. However, the happy occasion is short-lived. The local lord appears and declares his right to spend the night with your bride ...

During the 1930s and 1940s, Adolf Hitler was the leader of Germany. He had a vision of creating a new German Empire, and his aggressive tactics towards his neighbors sparked World War II. He called this visionary German state the Third Reich. You may be asking yourself, what is a Reich? And if this was supposed to be the Third Reich, what were the first two? Learn about the first and second reichs today on History Under the Radar....

In 232 BCE, one of the greatest conquerors in history died. After days of illness, Alexander the Great died in Babylon, leaving behind the largest land empire in history at that time. However, the cause of his death has been debated for centuries. Was it poison? Old war wounds? Alcohol poisoning? Or did he have an illness that caused his people to bury him alive? We’ll look at this theory on the death of Alexander the Great in tod...

When we think of World Wars, we tend to think of the two global conflicts from the early twentieth century. World War I, sometimes called the Great War, lasted from 1914-1918, and World War II lasted from 1939 to 1945. These two conflicts changed the world, and in some ways, we still can feel the results of the wars today in how various countries interact with each other.

However, some historians argue that these are not the firs...