Throughout the history of civilization, there have been key moments that have defined its rapid growth. From increased output, trade, and technology came the idea of division of labor, or specialization, which allowed for members of society to take up different roles to support the community– creating increased output and greater innovation. Howeve…

Following World War II, the study of comparative politics and government grew as historians and governments tried to gain an understanding on the types of policies that states should enact to ensure their future prosperity. Questions regarding research design immediately began popping up: How could causation be established between the passage of a …

Following 1929’s famous stock market crash and its severe economic repercussions, the United States and the rest of the world were thrown into disarray. Unemployment grew and GDP fell, leaving the nation in poverty. To alleviate the effects of this crisis, President Franklin D. Roosevelt proposed the New Deal– legislation that would include public …

In the seventeenth century, the Dutch Republic flourished, with advances in trade, science, and art. During their Golden Age, they saw the development of complex economic institutions, including the creation of publicly traded companies like the Dutch East India Company and the formation of more advanced trading mechanisms, building a robust future…

Protest [ noun proh-test; verb pruh-test, proh-test ] 1. A public expression of objection, disapproval or dissent towards an idea or action. 2. The subject of this episode... Since the dawn of governing structures, protests have served as the method by which masses enact policy and action. How can the dynamics of protests and mass gathering be char…

Over the past few centuries, urbanization has rapidly accelerated, creating the largest clusters of humans the planet has ever seen. Clustering is nothing new, however, as early humans banded together to form nomadic tribes, civilizations, and even city-states. Yet, the formation of large-scale cities has brought its own complexity, and thus the co…

Throughout the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, the United States' history was characterized by its westward expansion. A lasting institution instrumental in understanding this mass settlement is the United States Postal Service (USPS), which sprung up in correspondence to the booms and busts that occurred in town development. With histori…

After the fall of the Roman Empire, Europe was cast into disarray, as several people groups banded together in fiefdoms to ensure survival. However, after decades in the Dark Ages, a light emerged on the European continent and the Late Medieval and Early Modern periods saw a great increase in trade, commerce, and connectedness between the states an…

The 19th century in Zimbabwe saw British settlers arrive in search of land and gold. After years of strained British rule, resistance to their authority led to Zimbabwe gaining their independence in 1980. However, decisions made under the British administration have led to inefficiencies and insurrections in today's state. To dive deep into the his…

Following the Panic of 1893, industrialists across America began cutting corners to reduce costs. George Pullman, chairman of the Pullman Palace Car Company, refused to engage in any collective bargaining proposed by his workers after he reduced their wages. What followed would be America's most famous labor strike, the Pullman Strike, which would …

In 1911, the Chinese Dynastic cycle came to an end after 2,132 years of ruling the nation. Following the Xinhai Revolution, China would adopt a republican form of government, yet it would still see further struggles over power. In this episode, we are joined by Dr. Peter J. Carroll, an Associate Professor of History at Northwestern University, to d…

How did the Treaty of Waitangi change the political and judicial landscape of New Zealand? In this episode, Professor of History at the Victoria University of Wellington in New Zealand Dr. Jim McAloon joins us to discuss the origins and legacy of this famous negotiation and the impact it has had on the country.…

We are joined by Dr. Peter Holquist, the Ronald S. Lauder Endowed Term Associate Professor of History at the University of Pennsylvania, specializing in Imperial and Soviet Russian history. Dr. Holquist provides us with an insightful outlook on the era of Tsar Alexander II's reign (1855-1881), as we engage in a discussion on his domestic progressiv…

Associate Professor of History at the University of Vermont Dr. Sarah Osten joins us for a conversation on land reform in Mexico. How do the frequent changes in leadership and the various attempts at redistributing land build the Mexican economy and societies that we see today?

Postdoctoral fellow in the Neukom Institute for Computational Science at Dartmouth College Dr. Jeremy M. Mikecz joins us to discuss Francisco Pizarro's conquest of the Inca Empire and the changes in South American societies that followed along with the uses of digital and spatial methods in the study of early colonial Peru.…

Associate Professor of South Asia Studies at the University of Pennsylvania Dr. Deven Patel and Senior Lecturer of International Studies at the Lauder Institute in the Wharton School Dr. Sudev Sheth discuss Alexander the Great's campaign in India and fusion of Greek and Indian art and culture that took place in the following years.…

Chair of the Department of History and Political Science and Professor of History at Ashland University Dr. John Moser discusses the events on the day Archduke Franz Ferdinand of the Austro-Hungarian Empire was assassinated and the series of developments that followed, bringing chaos to nearly all of Europe and soon, the world.…

Kathakar is a brand new podcast in which your hosts, Arnab, Ansh, and Aniruddh discuss and dissect some of the world's most important turning points in history and their human aspects with esteemed experts. Stay tuned for upcoming episodes, and thank you for listening!