Episode list

The Armchair Historian

Crimean War (1/2)

Thu, Nov 09, 2017
The Armchair HIstorian provides a short overview of the causes of the Crimean War and the opening phases of the conflict.
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Crimean War (2/2)

Thu, Nov 09, 2017
The Armchair Historian describes the concluding battles of the Crimean War, including the siege of Sevastopol, the Charge of the Light brigade and the stand of the Thin Red Line.
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Franco-Prussian War
The Armchair Historian discusses the European geo-political situation that led to the Franco-Prussian War and how the new German Confederation was able to destroy France's Second Empire so quickly.
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Siege of Boston

Wed, Feb 07, 2018
After the British army's pyrrhic victory at Bunker Hill, the Americans maintained their armed presence nearby. General George Washington, now in charge of American forces, proposed various attack plans, but the British navy's control of Boston's harbor forestalled them. Finally, General Henry Knox arrived with artillery after dragging the pieces over an arduous 300 mile journey from Fort Ticonderoga. Now Washington could attack the British without their navy being able to protect their army.
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How did Venice Become a Trade Empire?
The Armchair Historian traces the history of the Venetian republic from its creation shortly after the fall of Rome through the next thousand years as a mercantile power.
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Why did Italy 'Betray' the German Empire?
The Armchair Historian traces the reasons why Italy snubbed its former allies Germany and Austria-Hungary at the outset of World War One and joined the Entente - Great Britian, France and Russia - instead.
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Battle of Stalingrad
The Armchair HIstorian outlines the crucial six-month long Battle of Stalingrad between the Wehrmacht and the Soviet army that resulted in enormous casualties - the average lifespan of a solider fighting there being less than 24 hours.
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How did Japan Invade China in WWII?
The Armchair Historian delves into the causes and results of the Second Sino-Japanese War, which, in addition to tying up massive amounts of Japanese soldiers during the conflict, directly led to the ultimate Chinese Communist victory after World War Two.
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Siege of Leningrad
The Armchair Historian describes the 842-day long siege of Leningrad by German forces that resulted in more Russian causalities, both military and civilian, than occurred in all American conflicts from the Revolutionary War to the Afghan conflict combined. By the time the blockade was lifted in 1944, more than a million and a half Russian soldiers and civilians had died.
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Would D-Day Have Failed Without the Airborne?
Assaults by Allied paratroopers from the British 6th Airborne, the American 82nd Airborne and 101 Airborne Divisions on D-Day are recounted and analyzed to determine if the Normandy invasion on June 6, 1944 would have failed without their efforts.
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Why did Soldiers Fight in Lines?
The Armchair Historian describes the development of linear tactics for infantry units, starting with the Swedish armies commanded by Gustavus Adophus II in the 17th Century and evolving to standard use during the next two centuries to thwart cavalry attacks, keep order among large numbers of men and deliver concentrated fire using inaccurate muskets against an enemy.
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What Made the American Civil War So Deadly?
The Armchair Historian describes how the advances in military technology, such as the minie-ball and rifled cannons, coupled with the failure to adapt decades-old tactics such as linear tactics, led to the enormous casualties during the American Civil War.
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How did Britain Conquer India?
The Armchair Historian traces how the Great Britain conquered India starting with the establishment of the British East India Company, to defeating various empires on the Indian subcontinent militarily.
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The Swedish Empire
The Armchair Historian analyzes the rise and decline of the Swedish empire during the 17th Century.
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Was Prussia's Army Really the Best?
The Armchair Historian analyzes the structure, tactics and military successes of Prussia's armies to determine if they were really the most potent fighting force in Europe during the 18th and 19th Centuries.
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History of Prussia
The Armchair Historian traces the rise of Prussia from its beginnings as just another German principality to one of the dominant countries in Europe during the 18th and 19th centuries
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The Chinese Civil War
The Armchair Historian traces the reasons for the communist party to defeat the forces of Chiang Kai Shek following World War II.
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How Did Italy Lose to Ethiopia? (1895)
The Armchair Historian describes the 1895 conflict between Italy and Ethopia, the only conflict between a European and an African nation that resulted in a long-standing victory for the latter.
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North African Campaign 1940
Desperate to win military glory and recreate the ancient Roman Empire in the 20th Century, Mussolini ordered his Italian army commanders to attack British forces in Egypt. Though heavily outnumbered, the British army managed to smash the invaders using clever strategies and superior logistics.
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How Did the Ottomans Lose the Battle of Vienna? (1683)
The Armchair Historian discusses the last great invasion of western Europe by the Ottoman Empire in 1683 and how close the Turks came to overwhelming the defenses of Vienna before reinforcements from the Holy League turned the tide of battle.
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How Did France Lose in Mexico?
The Armchair Historian analyzes the rationale behind the second French intervention in Mexico during the 1860s and how the United States' enforcement of their Monroe Doctrine by sending aid to Benito Juarez's forces caused the downfall of Emperor Maximillian's short reign as sovereign.
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North African Campaign 1941
Adolph Hitler appoints Erwin Rommel to command German forces in North Africa in order to clean up the mess created by Mussolini and his Italian troops. He manages to besiege tens of thousands of mostly Australian troops in Tobruk, but the Desert Rats held out long enough to be relieved by British forces.
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Battle of Quebec

Sat, Feb 09, 2019
The Armchair Historian describes the unsuccessful American invasion of Canada during the American Revolution in 1775
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Was Britain's 18th Century Army Europe's Finest?
While some historians claim that when the United States defeated British during the Amerian Revolution, it bested the finest army fielded in the world during the 18th Century. The Armchair Historian compares the British army against those of other European nations to determine if this hypothesis holds water.
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Battle of Long Island
In 1776 over 40,000 British and Hessian soldiers squared off against 19,000 Americans on Long Island in the largest battle of the American Revolution. Not only did the British have twice as many men, they also had naval supremacy and could land these troops anywhere around New York City to flank or get behind George Washington's forces. Washington thought the British would sail up the Hudson or the East River to attack Manhattan, so he thought the British landing on Long Island was a feint. This, coupled with British sympathizers who knew the local topography better than American generals led to the almost complete destruction of the American army. Only the desperate rearguard action by the First Maryland Regiment and Lord William Howe's concern over attacking Brooklyn's defenses without proper preparation prevented the end of the American Revolution on the spot.
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Seven Years' War: Episode 2/2
The Armchair Historian traces the battles of the Seven Years War from 1759 and the fall of Quebec to the Treaty of Paris in 1763 which effectively ended the first truly global conflict, with campaigns taking part in North America, Europe, Africa, South America and India.
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Edit Focus

Divine Consultants - The Beginning

Divine Consultants - The Beginning

Headstrong but confused Joy Amicable lives in a divided society where for some of the people, the world is a utopia, and for the others, a dystopia. Joy belongs to a discriminated minority, but tries to merge into the mainstream. Rumours say that the minority spreads a dangerous Soul Trap disease that only infect the docile mainstream. When Joy's best friend Hope goes missing but nobody cares to search for her, she starts her detective alter ego comes out and starts investigation - she discovers that the lies and the corruption around her are much nearer than she would have wanted - the leaders and the authorities she had trusted turn out to be monsters, just then she gets to meet the supernatural and lethal Company Man. Who else has to be sacrificed before the truth is revealed? Part 1/18. Joy. Joy Amicable belongs to a discriminated minority and tries to blend into the mainstream by any means. The atmosphere is strained when heroic activity at school does not produce the desired result. Part 2/18. Hope. Dr. Aliah's meeting doesn't go as expected, and Joy is tired of listening to his parents quarrel. Joy and Hope leave to raise money for charity, but there's some strange folks moving around town. Part 3/18. Collision. Dr. Aliah and Mayor Hayne cannot agree on a star program. Joy and Hope find that they are being followed, but help is nowhere near. A sudden conflict leads to problems in the Stars Program as well as in friendship. Part 4/18. Another me. Joy's alter ego pops up when things don't go according to plan. Joy tries to get back to Dr. Aliah's Stars Program, but notices that she may not be as balanced as she claims. Part 5/18. Lost friend. Hope has been missing for seven days. Joy is desperately looking for her all around the town. Eventually, Joy finds a man who recognizes Hope. Part 6/18. Risk-taking. Does the surprising clue take Joy closer to Hope? Hope's mystical disappearance stresses Joy and she is determined to find her. At the same time, she is risking his own safety. Part 7/18. Surprise from high up. Joy's illegal investigations become even more dangerous when someone else is interested in the same subject. Joy should focus on the Stars Program, but instead she asks for help from a new party. Part 8/18. Rumors of Hope. Susie is in a strange company. Joy has a chance to prove her progress in the stellar program, but on her way to Aliah she hears strange rumors about Hope. Joy has to push hard to get after the rumors. Part 9/18. Fraud? Is Aliah hiding something? Joy can't stop her alter ego and accuses Aliah of secrecy and lying, but things aren't as simple as they first seemed. Part 10/18. Dad. Joy's father wants to help, but the consequences are out of control. So it would be better for Joy to focus on studying, but she finds a surprising connection to Hope's disappearance. Part 11/18. Reporter. According to Anton the reporter, Joy's investigations should be stopped immediately. At home, things are getting worse. Joy gets scary news, but it's maybe too late to cancel the Almis test. Part 12/18. Nightmare. Joy dives into the depths of the Almis test trip. In her nightmares she struggles with the alter ego are and her parents who are taking Joy even deeper into the danger. Does anyone care if Joy survives? Part 13/18. Kidnapping. Joy gets a surprise guest and hears what really happened in Mayor Hayne's basement. An arrogant teacher does not ease the situation, but fortunately a Zenith turns out to be friendly. Part 14/18. The Mayor's secret. Joy goes to find out what Mayor Hayne is hiding in his house. An old acquaintance crashes in as surprise and shocks everyone. The rioting Nadirs approach Mayor's house, but does the Mayor give them mercy? Part 15/18. The Company Man. Who is the supernatural man behind the influential but unknown corporation, and how does this all relate to the Mayor? And will Joy finally find out what happened to Hope? Part 16/18. More lies. Joy finally understands what this is all about. The Company Man comes to destroy the evidence and is about to destroy the entire building. Joy releases her anger at the Aliah who is trying to convince Joy of the danger. Part 17/18. Sacrifice. The menacing Company Man wants the evidence, even if forcibly, but Joy no longer intends to sacrifice others but to sacrifice herself again. Joy brings the evidence and confronts the most dangerous supernatural killer, The Company Man. Is Joy going to make it?! Part 18/18. Happy Ending? The Nadir riots are calming down and the dust has settled. Joy wants to make it clear to the Aliah how she mistreated other with the Star Program, but does the Aliah hear anything anymore?

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