Half-Arsed History

This week's monument is Neuschwanstein Castle, a spectacularly beautiful castle perched atop a mountain ridge in the German Alps. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Quarter-Arsed History presents: the French Revolution, with a dazzling AI-generated script that is astonishingly true to life, utterly indistinguishable from the real thing. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week's episode, conclude the story of the Crusades, with a collection of ridiculous tales from the five later campaigns waged by Christians seeking to conquer Jerusalem. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week's monument is the Sagrada Familia, a huge and very unusually designed church in Barcelona, Spain - that after 140 years, still hasn't been finished. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Quarter-Arsed History presents: the Flemish Revolution, usually known by the name the Flemish Peasant Revolt of 1323-1328, which saw angry Flemish villagers take up arms against their hated feudal lord. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week's episode, learn about the first three of the crusades undertaken by armed Christian pilgrims, seeking to bring the Holy Land under Christian rule. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week's monument is the Palace of Westminster, the home of the British Parliament, and its famous clock tower, often (incorrectly) referred to as Big Ben. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Quarter-Arsed History presents: the Six O'Clock Swill, a name given to the backfired attempt that temperance laws made to curb Aussie and Kiwi alcohol consumption. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week's episode, get across the history of the Australian city of Melbourne, recorded live at the Alex Theatre in Melbourne itself. Here is a PDF of the slides used during the show: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1CAi-OaBkp8SKreGQyBpawg3YyHvgrT-R/view Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week's monument is the Arc de Triomphe, yet another truly iconic Parisian landmark - one that celebrates the revolutionary and Napoleonic periods of French history. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Quarter-Arsed History presents: the Sydney Riot of 1879, when a riot erupted on during a cricket match between England and NSW due a dodgy umpiring decision. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week's episode, get across the history of the Australian city of Sydney, recorded live at the Factory Theatre in Sydney itself. Here is a PDF of the slides used during the show: https://drive.google.com/file/d/19mUubwXufZeVjq9Z_uRnqF1kdBUDG3Jj/view Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week's monument is the Brandenburg Gate, one of Germany's most famous national icons and a monument that I have visited I don't know how many hundreds of times when I used to work in Berlin as a tour guide. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Quarter-Arsed History presents: Project Habakkuk, the time when - in all seriousness - the Allies tried to build a massive aircraft carrier out of ice. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week's episode, hear the tale of the Battle of the Teutoberg Forest, and understand why it such a monumentally important event in human history. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week's monument is the Grand Palace complex, found in the Thai capital of Bangkok, which has been the official residence of the Thai roayl family since the last 18th century. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Quarter-Arsed History presents: John Dee, the royal astronomer at Queen Elizabeth's court, whose longstanding interest in the mystical and the occult resulted in him... honestly, just listen to the episode, you really won't believe what ended up happening. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week's episode, meet Elizabeth I, one of the most famous and important monarchs in English and British history, whose legacy helped to build modern English culture, language, and politics. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week's monument is Buckingham Palace, the official residence of the British royal family and one of the most popular tourist attractions in the British capital of London. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Quarter-Arsed History presents: Emmerich Juettner, a forger who was both completely terrible at forging banknotes, but very good at not getting caught. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week's episode, hear the history of the construction of the Panama Canal, which links the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans across Central America. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week's monument is the Palace of Versailles, a beautiful palace on the outskirts of Paris that served as the residence for the French royal family across the 18th century. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Quarter-Arsed History presents: the origin of the teddy bear, the children's stuffed toy which got its name after a presidential hunting trip in 1902, when Theodore Roosevelt refused to shoot a bear. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week's episode, continue to get to know Theodore Roosevelt by hearing all about his foreign policy and evaluate his lasting legacy as president of the US. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week's monument is Potala Palace, a huge, fortress-like palace complex in the Tibetan city of Lhasa. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Quarter-Arsed History presents: the Leicester Balloon Riot, an incident that saw tens of thousands of angry people cause a ruckus because they thought a hot air balloon wasn't as big as they were hoping it would be. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, meet Theodore Roosevelt, and hear about his rise to the office of US president as well as his administration's overwhelmingly positive domestic legacy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week's monument is the Taj Mahal, a huge, opulent mausoleum in the Indian city of Agra, built by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan I as a resting place for his wife, Mumtaz Mahal. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Quarter-Arsed History presents:the 1968 Olympic protest salute, when two African-American athletes staged a political protest on a medal podium at the Mexico City Olympics. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week's episode, conclude the history of the modern Olympic Games, covering their story from the beginning of the post-war period through to the present day. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week's monument is the Blue Mosque, found in the Turkish city of Istanbul, one of the most beautiful and magnificent examples of classical Ottoman architecture. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Quarter-Arsed History presents: Jim Thorpe, an immensely talented athlete and sportsman who won Olympic gold in mismatched shoes, only to have his medals stripped from him. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week's episode, discover the first half of the history of the Modern Olympic Games, from its inception as a brainchild of Pierre de Coubertin to the interruptions the Games experienced as a result of the Second World War. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week's monument is Mont-Saint-Michel Abbey, an incredible building that stands on a tidal island in a bay in Normandy, France. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Quarter-Arsed History presents: that time when Pepsi came into possession of a giant fleet of Soviet warships, after brokering a deal to sell Pepsi in the USSR. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week's episode, hear about all the major assassination attempts that have been made on presidents of the United States, both successful and unsuccessful. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week's monument is Red Square, found in the centre of the Moscow, the Russian capital, a public plaza surrounded by famous buildings such as St Basil's Cathedral and the Kremlin. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Quarter-Arsed History presents: a brief history of the necktie, from its origin as a fashion accessory for Croatian mercenaries to an everyday piece of formal or business clothing. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week's episode, learn the truth behind five more commonly-held historical misonceptions: the colour of classical statues, things erroneously associated with Julius Caesar, the existence of the iron maiden, Napoleon's height, and NASA's million-dollar space pen. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week's monuments are St Peter's Basilica, the largest church in the world, and the Sistine Chapel, with its famous ceiling painted by Michelangelo, both found in the Vatican City in Rome. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Quarter-Arsed History presents: the Dublin Whiskey Fire, when torrents of flaming whiskey flooded through Dublin resulting in the loss of 13 lives - none of them to the fire itself, however, all instead to alcohol poisoning. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week's episode, discover the story of the Rosetta Stone, a series of 2,000-year-old texts written that became the key to our modern understanding of the Ancient Egyptian language. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week's monument is Machu Picchu, a mountaintop citadel found in Peru, which served as an imperial retreat during the heyday of the Inca Empire. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Quarter-Arsed History presents: Edward Dando, a bloke who became infamous in 1830s London for eating vast quantities of oysters, without ever paying for them. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Half-Arsed History is taking to the stage this August, in Melbourne and Sydney! We'll have a great time getting across the histories of these two cities, and there's plenty of other stuff planned - Q&As, meet and greets, tour merch, a song or two, all sorts of things. Hope to see you there!Tickets are available now: https://premier.ticketek.com.au/shows/show.aspx?sh=HALFHIST24 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week's episode, meet Frédéric Chopin, one of the most famous and celebrated composers and pianists of the Romantic Era, and learn about his life, work, and relationships. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week's monument is the Forbidden City, a huge palace complex in central Beijing, China, which served as the imperial seat of government for over 500 years. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Quarter-Arsed History presents: the Ball of the Burning Men, a wedding celebration at which the reigning French king, Charles the Mad, was almost burnt to a crisp. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week's episode, learn the incredible story of Alan Turing - a man who not only laid the foundations of modern computer science, but also had an immense impact on the Second World War due to his work in deciphering the Enigma code. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week's monument is Kinkaku-ji, also known as Rokuon-ji, a Buddhist temple in the Japanese city of Kyoto, famous for the fact that much of its exterior is completely covered in gold. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.