Half-Arsed History

Quarter-Arsed History presents: Bat Bombs, an actual, factual US military project run by a dentist, the goal of which was to drop incendiary bats on Tokyo during the Second World War. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, discover five historical figures with some of the strangest epithets you'll ever come across: Mithridates the Poison King, Charles the Bald, Ivaylo the Cabbage, Selim the Drunk, and Robert the Cuckhold. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Quarter-Arsed History presents: Hiroo Onoda, a Japanese guerilla fighter who continued to fight the Second World War on behalf of Japan for almost three decades after it finished. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, uncover the life story of one of the most famous vikings in history: Harald Hardrada, who attempted to reforge the North Sea Empire after spending his younger years in exile. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Quarter-Arsed History presents: Harald Bluetooth, a famed viking king who unified Denmark before going after Norway and the Holy Roman Empire, and whose name is now synonymous with connecting electronic devices wirelessly. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, hear the tale of Cnut the Great, who unified the thrones of Denmark, Norway, and England to create what is known to history as the North Sea Empire. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Quarter-Arsed History presents: Violet Jessop, who not only survived the sinking of the RMS Titanic, but also the sinking of its sister ship the HMHS Brittanic, as well as surviving a collision aboard the RMS Olympic. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, learn the full story of the famous ship RMS Titanic - a ship that was touted as being "unsinkable", right up until it sank on its maiden voyage across the Atlantic. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Quarter-Arsed History presents: Operation Plumbbob, a series of nuclear tests that were carried out in the US in 1957, that involved test subjects such as buildings, aircraft, pigs, living servicemen - as well as creating what was at the time the fastest-moving human-made object in history. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, hear the tale of the second and third voyages of Captain James Cook, as he sailed in search of Terra Australis Incognita and the Northwest Passage. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Quarter-Arsed History presents: Blas de Lezo, the Spanish naval officer who lost a leg, arm, and an eye and still managed to be one of the greatest naval commanders Spain ever produced. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, hear the tale of the first voyage undertaken by Captain James Cook, the first recorded instance of European contact with the east coast of Australia. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Quarter-Arsed History presents: Iron Mike Malloy, a seemingly indestructible Irishman who survived several murder attempts as people attempted to cash in on his life insurance policies. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, learn about the time that a chariot race sparked a deadly revolt which almost brought down an emperor: the Nika Riots. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Quarter-Arsed History presents: the Crash at Crush, an infamous publicity stunt where two trains were deliberately crashed into one another at high speed, with fatal results. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, discover the life story of Hurrem Sultan, one of the most powerful women in Ottoman history and someone who paved the way for generations of women to play a huge role in the Ottoman Empire's history. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Quarter-Arsed History presents: Emperor Houfei, the ancient Chinese emperor who, as a teenager, made the fatal mistake of using his general's belly for target practice. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, hear the tale of the pirate Henry Every, who pulled off what is perhaps the biggest and most profitable act of piracy in history - and got away with it.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Quarter-Arsed History presents: Fart Proudly, by Benjamin Franklin, a grand scientific proposal laying out a bright future wherein we could all openly fart in polite company. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, discover the life story of one of the US's most famous founding fathers - the writer, scientist, inventor, diplomat, statesman, and flatulence enthusiast, Benjamin Franklin.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Quarter-Arsed History presents: Khosrow’s Better Antioch, an entire copy of the city of Antioch built by the Sassanid king Khosrow I after he destroyed the original. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, hear the tale of the Roman Empire - one of the most important and influential realms in human history that spanned from western Europe across the Middle East before its decline and ultimate collapse. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Quarter-Arsed History presents: the Capture of the Den Helder Fleet, the only time in history that a fleet of ships has been captured, unbelievably, by cavalry. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, learn the story of the Roman Republic - from its origins as a city-state, to its rise and expansion as a republic, through to its transition to an empire. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Quarter-Arsed History presents the Leaning Tower of Pisa, the famous Italian landmark that has a four-degree lean thanks to a critical oversight in its original design. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, hear about the last stand of the samurai in the Satsuma Rebellion, an enormously important turning point in Japanese history. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Quarter-Arsed History presents “Typhoid” Mary Mallon, an Irish cook who, as an asymptomatic carrier, unwittingly infected a great number of people with typhoid fever. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, enjoy the story of the time the Catholic Church ended up with three concurrent popes all vying for power: the Western Schism. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Quarter-Arsed History presents Roland the Farter, a 12th-century English flatulist that was so good at farting that King Henry II granted him a rich and expansive estate. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, learn the full story behind one of the most famous political conspiracies in history: the Gunpowder Plot, and its most famous conspirator, Guy Fawkes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, discover the third part of the history of flight: how the Second World War changed aviation forever, the breaking of the sound barrier, the development of the jet engine, and more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, discover the second part of the history of flight: the lead-up to successful heavier-than-air flight, how it was first achieved, and how it spread and changed in the early 20th century. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, discover the first part of the history of flight: the origins of humanity's attempts to take to the skies, with wings, ornithopters, hot air balloons, and airships. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, hear the ridiculous tale of Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna, who served as the president of Mexico eleven times, and did a pretty terrible job at it. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, uncover the truth behind the famous Salem Witch Trials, a defining moment in American colonial history. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Change is coming to Half-Arsed History: in the coming weeks, you'll start to hear ads on the show, but there will also be more weekly content offerings as the show transitions from a hobby to a profession. This quick update should bring you up to speed with what's changing with the podcast - I'm trying to be open and transparent about things, and I hope you can understand why I've made the decisions I've made.As ever, I appreciate any and all feedback - head over to halfarsedhistory.net and use the contact form to get in touch. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, learn the story of Fritz Haber, a man whose monumental scientific breakthrough prevented a global catastrophe, and how he sabotaged his own legacy with enthusiasm for war and death. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, enjoy the tale of the bloodiest mutiny in British naval history, the mutiny on the Hermione, and the daring operation undertaken to return the ship to British hands.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, find out who won the race to the North Pole, and hear about all the controversies and disputes involved with various attempts that were made to be the first to reach it. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, get across ten more ridiculous stories that led to some of the weirdest deaths in history. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, discover how the Commonwealth of Australia was created through federation, bringing six separate colonies together as one new nation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, learn why Australia Day, the 26th of January, isn't a date worth celebrating while uncovering the full story of the colonisation of Australia. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, uncover the life story of one of ancient Egypt's most successful and famous pharaohs: Hatshepsut, whose great buildings are still standing today. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, enjoy some of the ridiculous stories involved with when famous pieces of artwork have been stolen: the funniest art heists in history. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, begin the new year by learning about the history of the date-keeping system that almost the entire world uses today: the Gregorian calendar. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, hear the second part of the life story of Frederick Douglass, and the influence he had on the progress of US history as a speaker, writer, abolitionist, and statesman. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, uncover the first part of the life story of Frederick Douglass, a remarkable man who began life enslaved before making a daring and dangerous escape to a life of freedom as an author, speaker, statesman, and political activist. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, hear the story of the most ridiculous World Cup in soccer's history - which also happens to be the first one ever held, the 1930 FIFA World Cup. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, listen to the conclusion of the story of Japan's great unifiers, with the tale of Tokugawa Ieyasu, who forged the mighty Tokugawa Shogunate.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Half-Arsed History, continue the tale of the unification of Japan with the life of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, the second of the great unifiers. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.