What If? | The Immolation of Hernán Cortés

What If? | The Immolation of Hernán Cortés

"Cortés and his men leapt across the breach in the causeway to pursue the fleeing Aztecs, only to see them turn and attack. Drawn into the trap, Cortés and sixty-eight other Spaniards were captured and dragged off, leaving scores of others dead on the road. Ten captives were killed immediately, and…the remaining fifty-eight were taken to the towering Great Temple, which could plainly be seen from the Spaniards' camp, made to dance before the statue of the Aztec god of war, Huitzilopochtli, and then, on by one, they were sacrificed…Cortés escaped this fate only through the intervention of Cristóbal de Olea, who sprang to his defense, killed the four Aztecs who were dragging him off, and freed his leader at the cost of his own life. The very conquest of Mexico hung on this single act." — Ross Hassig, "The Immolation of Hernán Cortés

What if Cortés had died on the causeway or at any other point in his dangerous career?


Join us as we continue asking "What if", speak to what might have happened if the conquistador had met his end at the hands of those he sought to conquer, and how our world might be different today.

Episoder(398)

The Bloody Verdict at Verden | Perspectives on Evil

The Bloody Verdict at Verden | Perspectives on Evil

Ten long years of war in the dark forests of Saxony, and there was no end in sight. Centuries earlier, these woods had witnessed the destruction of mighty Roman legions, a fact that several Frankish scribes had already noted in their chronicles. Per-haps their king would fare better than the Roman Emperor Augustus. Their enemy, the Saxons, were a far greater threat than the older Germanic tribes had been. When confronted with the truth of holy writ and the might of Christendom’s armies, they had refused to bow to the Frankish King Charles and clung to their pagan ways. Now, a decade after the first uprising along the border, Charles had resolved to suppress the Saxons’ desire for independence once and for all. He had learned of a re-volt near the Süntel massif that had killed several members of his court. Join us as we teach you about what happened as a result, the interpretations that followed, and how such evil can be combatted.

29 Jan 202412min

Pop Quiz | Hadrian's Wall

Pop Quiz | Hadrian's Wall

Welcome to the Pop Quiz! Every other Thursday, Joe asks a topical question about history, and Jon has to answer it without any help or resources - other than his legendary memory and knowledge of history. These episodes are unedited and a fun way for the team to interact more with you, our outstanding audience. Have an idea for a topic? Want to try and stump Jon? Send it to us at 15minutehistory@gmail.com or submit it to our website at https://www.15minutehistorypodcast.org. We promise not to give him any hints.

25 Jan 20247min

Xerxes I | A Discussion

Xerxes I | A Discussion

Join us as we discuss Xerxes I, his conquest, and how hubris ruined him.

22 Jan 202427min

Pop Quiz | Jamestown vs. Plymouth

Pop Quiz | Jamestown vs. Plymouth

Welcome to the Pop Quiz! Every other Thursday, Joe asks a topical question about history, and Jon has to answer it without any help or resources - other than his legendary memory and knowledge of history. These episodes are unedited and a fun way for the team to interact more with you, our outstanding audience. Have an idea for a topic? Want to try and stump Jon? Send it to us at 15minutehistory@gmail.com or submit it to our website at https://www.15minutehistorypodcast.org. We promise not to give him any hints.

18 Jan 20248min

Xerxes I | Hubris

Xerxes I | Hubris

Xerxes I, also known as Xerxes the Great, was a Persian king who ruled over the vast Achaemenid Empire from 486 BCE to 465 BCE. He was the son of King Darius I and Atossa, the daughter of Cyrus the Great. This lineage protected Xerxes during his time as a prince and solidified his claim to the throne. Join us as we teach you about Xerxes I, his conquest, and how hubris ruined him.

16 Jan 202418min

Christmas Bells | Hope

Christmas Bells | Hope

It’s Christmas Day, 1863, and a man is reading a letter. The letter had arrived several days before, but every time he picks up the parchment, it feels like the first time. He sits quietly in the solitude of his study, his hands trembling, his mind bearing the weight of the words on the page. His eyes, now weary and red-rimmed, trace over the inked letters as he uses the words “battle”, “seriously wounded”, and “son” to form a picture in his mind. Join us as share the story of a broken man and the hope he finds. From all of us at the 15-Minute History podcast, Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays.

22 Des 20236min

Two Kings | A Discussion

Two Kings | A Discussion

When reviewing evil in history, ancient kings are easy targets. Join us as we discuss two kings and detail two major events during their reign.

18 Des 202321min

Pop Quiz | Communism vs. Fascism

Pop Quiz | Communism vs. Fascism

Welcome to the Pop Quiz! Every other Thursday, Joe asks a topical question about history, and Jon has to answer it without any help or resources - other than his legendary memory and knowledge of history. These episodes are unedited and a fun way for the team to interact more with you, our outstanding audience. Have an idea for a topic? Want to try and stump Jon? Send it to us at 15minutehistory@gmail.com or submit it to our website at https://www.15minutehistorypodcast.org. We promise not to give him any hints.

14 Des 202311min

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