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From the Nile to the Thames, from Cusco to Constantinople — history's greatest empires shaped the world we still live in. In this episode, we walk through 12 of the most consequential empires ever built, from the Bronze Age to the 20th century. Twelve empires. Three thousand years. One argument: every world you've ever lived in was shaped by one of these.   VISIT: facebook.com/HistoryShortsPodcast

America's 250th anniversary continues with the second half of the story. In Part 1, Peter Zablocki and Tom Reszka debated the ten events that built the nation from the Declaration of Independence to the hollow centennial of 1876. Now they pick up where America left off — battered, reunified, and about to become one of the most powerful nations on earth. From the Haymarket Affair to the moon landing, from Pearl Harbor to the Cuban Missile Crisis, from the March on Washington to September 11th, Peter and Tom debate the ten events of the last 150 years that didn't just happen to America — they made it what it is today. Along the way, they argue about what got left off the list, including the highway system that rebuilt American life around the automobile and the internet that's still rewriting the rules of democracy itself. This is the second half of a special two-part series marking 250 years of the United States — and it ends with the question every American should be asking right now: after 250 years, is the experiment working? History Teachers Talking is part of the History Shorts Network.

America turns 250 this year. To mark the occasion, Peter Zablocki and Tom Reszka — the hosts of History Teachers Talking — sit down to debate the ten events that shaped the first half of the American story, from the founding in 1776 to the hollow centennial of 1876. From the Constitutional Convention to the Civil War, from the Louisiana Purchase to the collapse of Reconstruction, these are the moments where America made its defining choices — and where the consequences are still being felt today. Plus three honorable mentions that almost made the cut — and why. This is Part 1 of a two-part series. Part 2 covers 1876 to 2026. History Teachers Talking is part of the History Shorts Network.

What was the greatest act of diplomacy in world history? Was it Richard Nixon opening relations with Communist China? The Camp David Accords? The Congress of Vienna rebuilt Europe after Napoleon. Or the tense backchannel negotiations that helped prevent nuclear war during the Cuban Missile Crisis? In the first new episode of History Teachers Talking in two years, Peter and Tom dive into the diplomatic moves that reshaped the world—sometimes quietly, sometimes dramatically, and sometimes without firing a single shot. From Cold War maneuvering and secret negotiations to overlooked "teacher flex" moments like the Helsinki Accords and the Dayton Accords, this episode explores how diplomacy has ended wars, prevented catastrophes, and changed the course of history. Because sometimes the most important victories in history happened around a table… not on a battlefield.   FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT www.historyshortspodcast.com/http VISIT OUR FACEBOOK PAGE: https://www.facebook.com/HistoryTeachersTalkingPodcast/

After a two-year hiatus, Peter and Tom return to the microphones to dive into one of history's most compelling themes: comebacks. From political resurrections to military turnarounds, from personal redemption stories to moments when everything seemed lost—only to be reclaimed—this episode explores the figures and events that prove history is rarely final. But this isn't just about Napoleon escaping exile or nations rising from collapse. It's also about the idea that history moves in cycles—and sometimes, so do we. In a conversation that feels just like sitting back in the classroom with your favorite teachers, Peter and Tom reflect on legendary second acts, unexpected reversals, and what these stories reveal about resilience, leadership, and timing. And fittingly, this episode marks a comeback of its own: History Teachers Talking returns under the History Shorts Network, bringing the same light-hearted, insightful, and engaging discussion you remember—just with a few more stories (and maybe a few more gray hairs). Because in history, the best stories aren't just about the rise… they're about the return.   For More Information, Visit: https://www.historyshortspodcast.com/http

Most Americans who have been prisoners of war are ordinary people who have been placed in extraordinary circumstances by no planning of their own. Join us as we run through the history of American POWs throughout all of our conflicts.

Jimmy Carter served as the 39th President of the United States from 1977 to 1981. Yet, ironically, it is everything but those years that make him famous. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bad? Cruel? Weird? Ruthless? Violent? Yep, yep, yep, yep, and yep. Join us as we discuss Rome's worst Emperors! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In celebration of Women's History Month, join us as we discuss some of the famous firsts in women's history! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Submarines played a significant military role for the first time during the First World War and then again in the Second World War, but their history and legacy extend past way that. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"Forrest Gump," directed by Robert Zemeckis and released in 1994, is known for cleverly integrating its titular character into various historical events and cultural phenomena. Join us as we discuss these historical and cultural events in the context of Forrest's story. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Never underestimate humanity's ability to turn the mad or the mundane into a competitive sport. Join us as we discuss some of history's (and modern times') crazy sports! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Boston Massacre was a deadly riot that occurred on March 5, 1770, on King Street in Boston. But was there more to it than just that? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Political turmoil, religious conflicts, and tragic personal circumstances marked Mary Queen of Scots' life. Here is the story! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Unit 731 was a Japanese research program during World War II that conducted horrific experiments such as infecting subjects with plague, giving subjects frostbite, and cutting people apart while alive and unsedated  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices