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(397)

Espionage | Kim Philby and The Cambridge Five

Espionage | Kim Philby and The Cambridge Five

Kim Philby, Donald Maclean, Guy Burgess, Anthony Blunt, and John Cairncross—passed almost 17,000 classified documents to the Soviet Union for 30+ years. The information was so extensive and the volume so large, that Soviet intelligence initially suspected some of it might be disinformation, due to the high-ranking positions these spies held and the access they had. However, much of this intelligence was invaluable, influencing Soviet strategies during pivotal moments of World War II and the Cold War. Join us as we teach you about one of the most notorious spy rings in modern history, The Cambridge Five, and the most prominent member, Kim Philby.

18 Nov 202417min

Pop Quiz | The Printing Press and the Internet

Pop Quiz | The Printing Press and the Internet

It's time for a Pop Quiz! Join us as Joe and I discuss the marvels of the printed word and the "skills gap" that seemed to happen during the Internet revolution.

14 Nov 20247min

The Diadochi Successors | A Discussion

The Diadochi Successors | A Discussion

Join us as we discuss the ideas of unity and disunity among the Diadochi successors and the relative merits and detriments of cultural blending.

11 Nov 202445min

Pop Quiz | The 2024 Election

Pop Quiz | The 2024 Election

It's time for a Pop Quiz! Joe and I take some time to discuss the results of the 2024 presidential election in the United States and some long-term implications for the two parties.

7 Nov 202421min

Unity and Disunity | The Diadochi Successors

Unity and Disunity | The Diadochi Successors

Hubris, an excessive pride in oneself, is a common trait among history's greatest figures. In the decades that followed the death of Alexander the Great, the Diadochi "successors" fought each other for control of the vast empire their leader had built. In the end, the unity created by the mighty king fell to ruin and led to the rise of an even greater power in the Mediterranean world. Join us as we discuss the Diadochi successors, learn the lessons of history and the dangers of hubris, and walk with us through history in fifteen minutes.

4 Nov 202417min

Pop Quiz | A Second Look at Historical Figures

Pop Quiz | A Second Look at Historical Figures

It's time for a pop quiz! Every Thursday, one of the hosts will ask the other a question about history they must answer. Have an idea for a topic? Send it to us at 15minutehistory@gmail.com or submit it to our website at https://www.15minutehistorypodcast.org.

31 Okt 20245min

The Roman Empire | A Discussion

The Roman Empire | A Discussion

Join us as we discuss six Roman emperors, highlighting how they either helped the empire grow through innovation and scalability, or through corruption and greed, contributed to its downfall.

28 Okt 202435min

Pop Quiz | Technology Transforming History

Pop Quiz | Technology Transforming History

It's time for a pop quiz! Every Thursday, one of the hosts will ask the other a question about history they must answer. Have an idea for a topic? Send it to us at 15minutehistory@gmail.com or submit it to our website at https://www.15minutehistorypodcast.org.

24 Okt 20244min

Populært innen Historie

med-egne-oyne
aftenposten-historie
henrettelsespodden
historier-som-endret-verden
sektledere
historier-som-endret-norge
rss-nadelose-nordmenn-gestapo
historiepodden
historiepodden-ww2
vare-historier
virkelig-grusomt
stryknin-og-kaffe
diktatorpodden
uloste-mysterier
rss-gamle-greier
rss-benadet
rss-gutten-som-ble-gangster
gangsterpodden-2
taakeprat
rss-historiepodden-ww2