A History of Italy
Join history buff, Mike Corradi on a journey through time as he unfolds the rich tapestry of the Italian peninsula's history. This chronological story starts with the collapse of the Western Roman Empire and leads you through the most iconic events, influential figures, and cultural milestones that have shaped Italy into what we see today. It’s all serious stuff, but we do take time to stop and laugh at battles over a bucket, rude names, naughty priests and popes, rabbits winning sieges, doves winning battles, bits of dead bodies as tokens of love, and whole series of real historical silly situations that no comedian could think of.
Come along every other week for a compelling and insightful glimpse into A History of Italy.
- Update frequency
- every 11 days
- Average duration
- 21 minutes
- Episodes
- 288
- Years Active
- 2017 - 2025
168 - The Italian war 5 - round 1 aftermath - the south and centre
After seeing French King Charles VIII out of the Italian peninsula, we take a quick tour around to see what the situation is at the end of the 15th century and make sure everyone is on the same page.…
167 - The Italian Wars 4 - Charles has left the building (1495 - 1498)
Charles VIII of France is on his way out as king Ferrandino of Naples, along with Gonzalo de Cordoba, are gradually taking back the kingdom.
Meanwhile Charles is headed off by the Holy League of Venic…
166 - The Italian Wars 3 - finally Naples… for a bit (1495)
Charles VIII of France finally managed to get to Naples, but doesn't hang around long, the players on the Italian scene feel he has worn out his welcome and Venice, Milan, the pope, Holy Roman Empero…
Special - The Gulf of poets: Byron, Keats and Shelly in Italy
A chance visit to the beautiful Ligurian town of Porto Venere, staying in a 900 year-old tower, Torre Capitolare (https://www.capitolare.com/) gave us the opportunity to meet not only with medieval h…
165 - The Borgias are the bosses (1492 - 1497)
After his election as pope Alecander VI Rodrigo Borgia gets straight down to business, sorting out the lawlessness in Rome, tinkering with the delicate national balance with the Duchy of Milan, the R…
Special - Lucrezia Borgia
To celebrate the "A History of Italy" podcast joining the "Sentire" media network (sentire.media), we take a look at one of the most maligned women in history, Lucrezia Borgia. By the 20th century, h…
Special - Caterina of Siena
To celebrate A History of Italy of joining the Sentire podcast network (sentire.media) we go back to visit with a peculiar young girl who went from early, rather graphic and violent religious visions…
Special - Matilde di Canossa
To celebrate the A History of Italy podcast becoming a member of the Sentire Media podcast network we go back and visit with one of our personal favourites, Matilda of Canossa Margarine of Tuscany, a…
164 - The rise of the Borgias
After seeing Charles VIII though Rome with an uncertain deal with pope Alexander VI, Rodrigo Borgia, we go back to see how the Borgias came to Italy from Spain with Alphonse of Aragon, rose to the pa…
6th Anniversary episode - Best of the sketches
Interview on the Aldo Moro Affair with Simon Gaul, Author of "White Suicide"
163 - The rise and Fall of Gerolamo Savonarola
162 - The Italian wars 2- opening hostilities and the Medici get kicked out
Mean…
161 - The Italian wars 1: setting up and setting off
Recap 07 - Episodes 139 to 160
Special: 9th October 1963 - Vajont, a man-made natural disaster
Quick annoucement - demolition work in progress
160 - Federico Da Montefeltro and bits getting cut off
Summer announcement - listen even if you haven't cought up
