On this episode of The Express History Podcast, we're going to be unpacking the hyper-famous Classical Age of Ancient Greece. The goal is to go over the political and military history of the period and show how very unique cirumstances were created, which then allowed for the legendary ancient Greek intellectual achievements. If you enjoy the episode, feel free to follow and rate the podcast!

Key Dates:

800 BC - Approximate end of the 'Greek Dark Ages'

625-600 BC - Phanes coins of Ephesus, oldest known inscribed coins

560 BC - Supposed death of Solon, Athenian reformer

490 BC - Greek victory over the Persians at Marathon

480 BC - Greek victory over the Persians at Salamis

431–404 BC - Peloponnesian War

399 BC - Execution of Socrates

If you want to dig deeper, one of the most comprehensive accounts of this period is 'From Solon to Socrates' by Victor Ehrenberg.

As always, I would also love to hear any feedback: find me on instagram (@expresshistorypodcast), or write to me at tomaso.cetto@icloud.com.

On this episode of The Express History Podcast, we'll be exploring the fascinating history of Islamic Spain. Spain's many centuries under Islamic rule are crucial to understanding not just its own makeup as a country today, but also the wider development of European art and philosophy. If you enjoy the episode, feel free to follow and rate the podcast!

Key Dates:

711 - Arab armies launch the invasion of the Iberian Peninsula

756 - Abd al-Rahman I declares the independent Emirate of Cordoba

961 - Death of Abd al-Rahman III

1094 - Almoravids achieve the conquest of al-Andalus

1147 - Almohads overthrow the Almoravids

1212 - Decisive Christian victory over the Almohads at Las Navas de Tolosa

1266 - Nasrid Emirate of Granada is the last Muslim state in Spain

1492 - Final conquest of Granada, extinction of al-Andalus

If you want to dig deeper, the most comprehensive narrative history for the period (covering both the Muslim and the Christian side) is 'A History of Medieval Spain' by Joseph F. O'Callaghan.

As always, I would also love to hear any feedback: find me on instagram (@expresshistorypodcast), or write to me at tomaso.cetto@icloud.com.

On today's episode of The Express History Podcast, we're going to be talking about the European Age of Exploration. The goal is to look at how, in less than two centuries of restless sailing culminating in Ferdinand Magellan's circumnavigation of the globe, European explorers laid down the foundations for a globalised world. If you enjoy the episode, feel free to follow and rate the podcast!

Key Dates:

1420 - Portuguese sailors reach Madeira

1472 - Portuguese sailors reach Sao Tome & Principe

1488 - The Portuguese explorer Bartolomeu Dias rounds the Cape of Good Hope

1492 - Christopher Columbus sets off on his first voyage, reaching America

1498 - The Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama arrives in India

1519 - The Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan starts his circumnavigation of the globe

If you want to dig deeper, my favourite source for this topic is David Abulafia's masterful 'The Boundless Sea'. It's meant to be a whole human history of the oceans, but chapters 25-32 cover the material discussed in this episode.

As always, I would also love to hear any feedback: find me on instagram (@expresshistorypodcast), or write to me at tomaso.cetto@icloud.com.

In today's episode, we're going to be talking about the Republic of Venice. My main historical passion is cross-cultural interactions in the Mediterranean, and few cities have been as prominent as Venice on this front, so I'm really excited for this one. If you enjoy the episode, feel free to follow and rate the podcast!

Key Dates:

697 - Supposed election of the first Doge of Venice

1082 - The Republic obtains important trading privileges in Byzantine ports

1204 - Fourth Crusade, Venice makes major territorial gains in the Eastern Mediterranean

1403 - The Venetians decisively defeat their rivals the Genoese

1669 - Crete, the jewel in the Venetian Empire, is lost to the Ottomans

1797 - The Republic is dissolved by Napoleon Bonaparte

If you want to dig deeper, my favourite book on the topic is 'Venice: The Hinge of Europe, 1081-1797 ' by William H. McNeill.

As always, I would also love to hear any feedback: find me on instagram (@expresshistorypodcast), or write to me at tomaso.cetto@icloud.com.

For the first episode of The Express History Podcast, we're going to be talking about the active conflict in Cyprus. This is a special one for me: Cyprus is one of my favourite places in the world, and the conflict which still affects the island is vastly under-publicised. If you enjoy the episode, feel free to follow and rate the podcast!

Key Dates:

1571 - Cyprus becomes an Ottoman province

1878 - The British Empire takes over the administration of Cyprus

1960 - Cyprus becomes an independent nation

1967 - Military dictatorship of Georgios Papadopoulos installed in Athens

1974 - Turkey invades Cyprus and partitions the island

1983 - Proclamation of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus

2004 - The Republic of Cyprus joins the European Union

If you want to dig deeper, my favourite book on the topic is 'Hostage to History: Cyprus from the Ottomans to Kissinger' by Christopher Hitchens.

As always, I would also love to hear any feedback: find me on instagram (@expresshistorypodcast), or write to me at tomaso.cetto@icloud.com.

Hi, and welcome to the Express History Podcast!

The show's motto is 'History, to the point'. Hosted by Tomaso Cetto, it's the place to find concise, clear explanations of various historical topics, from Ancient Greece to the Arab Conquests.

The podcast is built around two core beliefs: that the study of the past is the best way to understand the present, and that history should be accessible to everyone. With these beliefs in mind, the podcast is designed to provide the core information to get anyone started on all kinds of historical topics, whatever their background or training.

Thanks to @louiseimogen_art for the artwork, and @seegz_music for the music. Also big thanks to Jack Fox-Male, who inspired me with his own podcast, @everydayinterludes, which you can access wherever you get your podcasts.

If you enjoy the podcast, I would really appreciate a rating/like/subscribe on your chosen platform. I would also love to hear any feedback: find me on instagram (@expresshistorypodcast), or write to me at tomaso.cetto@icloud.com.