Half-Arsed History

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.

Quarter-Arsed History presents: the time Mark Thatcher, the son of a sitting UK prime minister, decided he wanted to be a racecar driver and got stranded in the middle of the Sahara Desert. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week's episode, get to know Christina of Sweden, the keenly intelligent and fiercely independent queen of Sweden, who is remembered today for her passion of learning and knowledge. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week's monument is the Great Mosque of Djenné, found in Mali, which to this day remains the largest mud brick building on the planet. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Quarter-Arsed History presents: the tale of Legio IX Hispana, also know as the Lost Legion, an ancient Roman military unit that one day just disappeared from recorded history. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week's episode, discover the story of one of the greatest Roman emperors ever to have lived: Trajan, who brought the empire to its largest territorial extent in 117 CE. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week's monument is Himeji Castle, a complex in Japan that is perhaps the finest and most magnificent example of Japanese castle-building. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Quarter Arsed History presents: a brief history of the State of Origin, an very popular rugby league series that sees representatives from Queensland and New South Wales face off every year. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week's episode, learn all about Oscar Wilde, the famous Anglo-Irish playwright who is still remembered for his dazzling wit, and hear the tragic tale of his downfall due to the harsh social attitudes of the time. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week's monument is the Moai, huge monolithic statues carved from volcanic rock and transported all across Rapa Nui (Easter Island) in the remote south Pacific Ocean. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Quarter-Arsed History presents: the Nottingham Cheese Riot of 1766, when the English town of Nottingham was thrown into civil unrest due to... well, as you probably guessed, cheese. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week's episode, listen to the tale of the assassination of Abraham Lincoln, when actor John Wilkes Booth shot the sitting US president in Ford's Theatre. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week's monument is the Alhambra, a mediaeval hilltop citadel overlooking the Spanish city of Granada, that is one of the finest examples of Islamic architecture in the entire world. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Quarter-Arsed History presents: Ten Cent Beer Night, a baseball game at which beer was sold at ten cents a cup, leading to streakers, missiles pelting the players on the field, and eventually a full-blown riot. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week's episode, conclude an overview of US history with the last of a four-part series, this week getting across the radical changes that took place in post-war USA, with things like the Cold War, the Civil Rights Movement, the War on Terror, and more.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week's monument is the Louvre Palace, a building in Paris, France that is today home to what is today the world's most famous art museum, but used to be a royal residence for French kings. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.