What If? | A Lasting Peace at Tilsit (Republish)

What If? | A Lasting Peace at Tilsit (Republish)

During the summer break, the 15-Minute History podcast team are republishing some of their favorite episodes. This episode originally aired on July 12, 2021.

___

The raft floated in the midst of the River Niemen. On it were two beautiful pavilions, one for the Emperor of the French and the other for the Czar and Autocrat of All the Russias. In the French tent, Napoleon Bonaparte argued with his foreign minister, Charles-Maurice de Talleyrand, over how harsh the peace terms with the defeated Russians should be. Talleyrand, a servant of every revolutionary government since 1789, was a snake in silk stockings, but he knew foreign policy better than anyone else in the emperor’s entourage. He begged the emperor to treat Russia gently and put an end to fifteen years of war. But Napoleon, flush with the victory at Friedland earlier that year, was determined to humiliate Alexander I, and Talleyrand, ever the obedient servant in public, fell silent. What if Napoleon had heeded Talleyrand’s advice in 1807 and treated the Russians with more respect? What would our world look like today if history had taken a different course? In this series of bonus episodes on “15-Minute History,” Joe and I will be sharing some of our favorite “What If?” scenarios from this series with you. Building on the theme of Season Four, learning from history, we hope to provide some lessons on how individuals shape the destinies of large groups and entire nations.

Episoder(395)

S.O.B.s | American Foreign Policy in the Cold War

S.O.B.s | American Foreign Policy in the Cold War

The benefits of hindsight let us examine faults in national policy through the lens of what followed. But in the midst of a global threat of nuclear war, the United States chose to support vicious dictators in the name of anti-communism. Were they right or wrong? Did it save humanity from death in atomic fire? Was this a good idea or a bad idea?

9 Des 202416min

Pop Quiz | Censorship, then and now

Pop Quiz | Censorship, then and now

It's time for a Pop Quiz! Join us as Jon covers the roots of censorship in the McCarthy era and after the 9/11 attacks and compares them to current-day calls for limiting free speech in America.

5 Des 20243min

Espionage | A Discussion on Kim Philby and The Cambridge Five

Espionage | A Discussion on Kim Philby and The Cambridge Five

Join us as we discuss one of the most notorious spy rings in modern history, The Cambridge Five, and the most prominent member, Kim Philby.

2 Des 202433min

Thanksgiving & the Art of Being Thankful | Repost

Thanksgiving & the Art of Being Thankful | Repost

Join us as we share stories of Thanksgiving throughout history and discuss how to practice the art of being thankful. This episode originally aired in November 2019.

27 Nov 202413min

Pop Quiz | History in Video Games

Pop Quiz | History in Video Games

It's time for a Pop Quiz! Join us as Joe and I discuss our favorite historical video games and the insights they give us into "real" history.

25 Nov 20245min

Pop Quiz | Crashes, Recoveries, and the Welfare State

Pop Quiz | Crashes, Recoveries, and the Welfare State

It's time for a Pop Quiz! Join us as Joe and I compare the Great Depression to the COVID-19 lockdowns, how the country recovered from each, and the role of the welfare state in modern America.

21 Nov 20247min

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

Populært innen Historie

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