103 – Catching up with Genoa (up to 1310's)
It's about time we stop ignoring poor old Genoa up in the top left-hand corner of the country and bring her up-to-date. We take a really quick race from the fall of the Western Roman Empire to Genoa in the 14th century: it's battles against Saracens, Pisans and Venitians as it fights to assert itself as a powerful maritime republic.
8 Dec 202020min
102 – Venice kicks off its 14th century (up to 1310's)
We go back to one of our favorite destinations: Venice, which we last left at the start of the 13th century to bring the maritime republic up to the 14th. We see some crazy laws as the republic move more and more to an oligarchy and has bit of trouble as the 14th starts up, especially with the pope.
1 Dec 202017min
The first great MEGA-RECAP launch
After 100 episodes you might want a general overview of the story so far from 476 - 1310: The emperors, the naughty popes and who got a word stuck in which orifice. All of the things you may have forgotten in this over one hour episode that sums up the first 800+ years of "A History of Italy".Available ad-free to Patreon supporters and those who make a recommended $5.00 donation on Paypal. Head over to our Patreon page or get in touch to get a hold of the episode!
28 Nov 20203min
101 – The many paths to communal demise (up to early 1300's)
As we really dig into the 14th century, we look at an overview of the different ways in which the communes turned into the signorie, cities and groups of cities ruled over by a single hereditary ruler.
17 Nov 202021min
Recap 05 – From episode 077 to 100
We go back over around 50 years from the death of Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II to beyond 1300 to retrace the steps of the kingdom of Sicily, the war of the Sicilian Vespers, the northern communes and maritime republics as well as looking over at Sardinia and keeping an eye as always on the papacy.
10 Nov 202028min
Berlusconi and Bunga Bunga part 3
We arrive at the third and last Berlusconi government (so far) from 2008 to 2011 and his downfall under the onslaught of the EU, economic crisis, legal trouble and Bunga Bunga.
3 Nov 202032min
Berlusconi and Bunga Bunga part 2
In this second part of our review of Wondery's "Bunga Bunga" podcast and our memories of the Berlusconi era, we look at the 2001 - 2006 legislation, lead by Berlusconi and the longest lasting in Italian republican history
27 Okt 202027min
Berlusconi and Bunga Bunga part 1
Following the publication of Wondery's excellent "Bunga Bunga" podcast, with co-host and legal expert Matteo Marconi we review the show and look back on our own experience of the Berlusconi era. In this episode his first government experience in 1994.
20 Okt 202026min
