700 BCE - 1497 CE - Long before European contact, North America was home to vibrant civilisations. From the Ancestral Puebloans, Hohokam, and Mogollon in the Southwest to the Adena, Hopewell, and Mississippian cultures of the Eastern Woodlands, these societies thrived. In the Arctic, the Dorset and Thule peoples adapted to the harsh northern climat…

1325 - 1521 - The powerful Mesoamerican civilisation known for advanced city-building, military strength, religious rituals, and human sacrifices before their downfall to Spanish conquistadors led by Hernán Cortés.

950 - 1697 - The fall of the Classic Mayan cities did not spell the end for the Mayan culture who migrated northwards, established memorable settlements like Chichen Itza, and adapted to new circumstances until the arrival of the Spanish many centuries later.

A look back on the episodes about the Incas and the Toltecs, including a discussion on the role of AI in history contact such as this podcast and the usual look back at listener correspondence, and news from behind the scenes of the podcast itself.

950 - 1150 - Sophisticated and enigmatic, the Toltecs dominated their locality with their art, architecture and mythology. Their warrior culture inspired and was admired by the Aztecs, who claimed their own ancestry from the Toltecs.

1200 - 1533 - The mysterious and wonderful Inca demonstrate the peak of South American human development before contact with the Old World, and such is their legacy that important remnants of their culture remain part of the fabric of Peru to this day.

A look back on the episode surrounding the Middle Horizon period of pre-Columbian Peru, and we scrutinise the podcast's viability as an impartial source of information.

110 - 1470 - In the centuries leading up to the dominance of the Inca, three notable societies existed in Peruvian lands, all with similiarities but not necessarily a common cause.

HISTORY A TO Z (8) - The letter F brings us the First Crusade, Saint Francis of Assisi, Frederick II (Holy Roman Emperor) and the Fall of Constantinople.

A look back at the episode on the Rapa Nui of Easter Island, plus plenty of discussion about mysteries of the ancient world, the Romans and the Picts among other things on this fresh look debrief episode.

1200 - 1722 - Understanding the hazy origins of a society isolated in the Pacific Ocean and their motivations and capabilities for creating some of the most iconic stone statues in the history of humankind.

C-c-c-catch the Wave, People !! It’s the most m-m-m-m-merriest time of the year and VHS Rewind is proud to be spending this holiday reviewing M-M-M-Max Headroom’s Giant Christmas Turkey 1986. This is, indeed, a strange bird of a special with the faux computer-generated host singing songs (some of which are actually Christmas-flavored and one of whi…

Did Hana-Rāwhiti Maipi-Clarke purposefully wait for the History of the World podcast to get to the Māori episode, before she performed her viral haka in the New Zealand parliament? Some discussion about the Māori episode and also about the podcast itself.

1250 - 1642 - Sometime before the eruption of Tarawera, Polynesians landed on the island group of New Zealand. From there, they developed a culture that would not be discovered for a few centuries, and by which time had cemented themselves as part of the fabric of New Zealand.

Discussing the source material and digging deeper into the mysteries surrounding the hesitation of the expansion at the edge of Polynesia. Should we just assume what seems obvious, or could there be deeper reasons?

3000 BCE - 1250 CE - The story of the population of the Pacific Ocean and beyond, including Indonesia, Philippines, Madagascar, New Guinea, Fiji, New Zealand, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Tahiti, Samoa, Hawaii, New Caledonia, Tonga, Samoa, Palau, Easter Island, and the place it all began, Taiwan.

HISTORY A TO Z (7) - It's the letter E, and we are exploring the Epic of Gilgamesh, the Eruption of Mount Vesuvius, the Edict of Milan, Edward the Confessor and Eleanor of Aquitaine.

Our usual round up of news from the world of the History of the World podcast, and some brief discussion on the nature of the medieval societies of Mainland South East Asia.

192 - 1471 - This is the story of the resiliant polity of Champa whose story feels like a story of constant warfare, but interspersed with great piety and temple construction. How did this tribal confederation survive these brutal medieval centuries?

802 - 1431 - The modern Cambodian flag contains a picture of Angkor Wat, an eye catching religious temple constructed by the Khmer, and the pride of Cambodian history. The religious construction was symbolic of the key fundamental priorities of Khmer rulers, ruling over this dominant South East Asian political movement.…

HISTORY A TO Z (6) - Concluding our two parter on subjects beginning with the letter D, we discuss the Roman Emperor Diocletian, the Domesday Book, Sir Francis Drake and D-Day.

Why don't we talk more about the histories of countries not on the mainstream when they are so relevantly intertwined in the history of the world and have interesting stories to tell? Is it right for an English podcaster to attempt to speak with respect of the tonality of the nations of the east?

968 - 1407 - Much of modern Vietnamese culture stemmed from the Red River valley, where a polity emerged called Đại Việt, that would have to survive on the southern fringes of the power of China to its north.

What a challenge this episode was! We don't necessarily know how much of the information about Srivijaya is strictly true. Let's dip into the material and methods used to construct this week's episode.

671 - 1200 - There were times when the land based Silk Road was not an easy path and the sea route was favoured. In order to get to China, one would have to navigate through the islands of South East Asia, which offered the opportunity for someone there to obtain some fortunate wealth. Let me introduce you to Srivijaya.…

HISTORY A TO Z (5) - The first of two episodes exploring people and events that begin with the letter D. In this broadcast we feature both Darius I and Darius III of Achaemenid Persia, the great Greek orator, Demosthenes and the poignant death of Socrates.