A History of Italy

Quick summer announcement

Just a quick announcement to sa that I’m a bit behind, but almost back on track! Also, if you have any ideas or requests for episode 100, now is the time!

092 – Boniface VIII peaks and crashes

1298- 1303 Boniface VIII crushes the internal opposition of the Colonna, organises the first Jubilee, dabble in Italian politics including Florence and then clashes once again with Philipp IV of France, which seals his fate.

091 – Boniface VIII on the scene

1295 - 1297 We go back to the abdication of pope Celestine V in 1295 and see the rise to power of one of the most controverstial popes in history, Boniface VIII in this first of two episodes on the man and his time.

090 – Twilight of the Sardinian Judicates

Before finally getting on to the 14th century, we see how the end of the 13th marked the beginning of the end of the Sardinian Judicates, before of course going back to look at what they actually were.

089 – The “cannibal” count – an example of late 13th century Italian politics

the politics of late 13th century Pisa as an example of the general situation in the communes as well as touching on Sardinia.

088 – Twilight of the communes

Before saying goodbye to the 13th century, we take a quick tour of the peninsula to tie up some loose ends, such as the maritime, republics, Piedmont and the situation with the communes.

087 – Marco Polo part 2

Marco Polo finally leaves on his great voyage which will take him to the ends of the known earth to meet a whole series of different cultures to then come back to Venice and live though one of the republic's most dangerous moments

086 – Marco Polo part 1

In this first episode on the 13th century explorer Marco Polo we look at some background on Venice at his time and his family as well as introducing the figure of the Great Khan Kublai.

Special episode 07 – Liberation

A special episode for the 75th anniversary of the liberation from Nazi and Fascist occupation

085 – The war of the Sicilian Vespers gets confusing

1285 - 1302 The War of the Italian Vespers gets quite confusing, but in the end finally leads to the Peace of Calbelotta in 1302 in which the island of Sicily is separated from the rest of the kingdom.