Mozart, Beethoven and Bach - possibly the three most famous composers of all time. Which one of them had 20 children? Which one died a pauper and was buried in a mass grave? And which one wore the same clothes for up to three weeks at a time, stinking to high heaven? These are just some of the things you’ll learn from the season 3 finale of Blind History.
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History isn’t just stories from the past, it’s also about things that humanity has been through that might be more relevant now than ever. Take great plagues for example: Humankind has faced some truly horrible diseases and pandemics in the past... and as awful as coronavirus is, it’s not nearly as scary as some of those that wiped out millions of us before - or the truly terrifying treatments they used to apply.
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Joseph Stalin is in the big three of the truly evil people of the 20th century, along with Mao and Hitler. Their combined body count is well over 100 million souls, and most of those weren’t soldiers. Stalin did however raise Russia to power, might and glory - and his personal story is human and full of flaws. Join us in this penultimate episode of Blind History season 3, and discover that even monsters can start off just like you or me.
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Charlemagne’s reign marks the end of the dark ages and the start of the medieval era. In this episode we explore the origins of France and Germany, the genealogies of all the kings and queens of Europe, and the first emergence of Northwestern Europe from savagery and barbarism, since the fall of the Roman Empire.
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19.05.20 Pt 2 - If you can communicate effectively, there's no reason you can't get two boyfriends during lockdown. Don't run with a mask, you might die. It turns out in order to step down as Prime Minister of Lesotho, you need to be accused of killing your ex-wife. JJ Cornish joins us to ask whether women lead better when peril ensues. Blind History returns... this week we feature Genghis Khan.
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During his short but expansive reign, he brought millions of souls under the banner of the Mongol Empire. Riding and fighting on horseback, he and his horde advanced into Persia, eastern Europe and China with such ferocity that even long after his reign had ended, the mere mention of his name would make men shudder, women weep, and children hide. Such was the reputation of the great Genghis Khan.
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Africa has always had a rich oral tradition of storytelling, that through the centuries has made it possible for people or cultures to pass knowledge, history, and experiences from one generation to the next. This largely rural tradition is a dying art form that has never been more necessary, particularly at such a critical time in South Africa’s history. Even with a financing past, Michael Charton understood this and created Inherit South Africa - to condense epic narratives of South Africa into bite-sized stories. He shares more about his passion with Gareth, and retells some of his favourite figures from the past.
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Eva Perón was born poor, unimportant and ordinary, but she was ambitious. Her ambition was so great that it propelled her into power, influence, glamour and wealth. By the time she died at only 33, she received one of the most ostentatious funerals ever held - and ever since, Argentina has considered her a saint.
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From his silver throne in the glittering palace of Versailles, Louis XIV watched over his kingdom, resplendent in majesty. Everything about being a king was designed, considered, exalted. He taught the world what kings should look like, sound like, how they should walk and eat. He made himself the centre of the French universe, and epitomised the very idea of absolute monarchy. Within a hundred years of his death, everything he had painstakingly imbued into France had been ripped apart by revolution. Join us on a journey into the history of France in this episode of Blind History…
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The Artist & The Money
23.06.20 Pt 2 - Get your number off the internet, the killer is out there and will get you! What happens if you get along with your ex-partner's in-laws? It's not the end of the world to cheat on your wife, just don't bring Covid-19 home. Josh Lindberg joins us to discuss his letter on behalf of the arts. And speaking of the arts, Blind History's season 3 finale features the greatest composers we have ever known.
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