Ib Historicus

Unification  The Kingdom of Italy was established following the efforts from the likes of Cavour and Garibaldi. This episode highlights the events leading up to unification and the challenges that the new nation faced. Sources

Key Figures and Revolution The movement to unite the peninsula, the Risorgimento, was headed by the political thinker Giuseppe Mazzini. Discover the role he played and learn more about the outbreak of the 1848 revolution. Sources

The Case of the Italian States This episode discusses the situation of the Italian states in the post-Napoleonic period. Learn about the secret society, the Carbonari, and their activities in the 1820 and 1830 revolts. Sources

Japan Prior to 1931 Learn about the domestic, economic and political issues that Japan faced before 1931. Discussing the causes of expansionism, this episode will focus specifically on the individuals who laid out the nation’s domestic policies, as well as the role the Japanese military played in political decision-making and the impact of the Great…

Last Years of Stalin’s Reign Apart from his role in creating the Soviet State, Stalin was influential in other key events such as the Second World War and the Cold War. This episode briefly discusses the part played by one of the most important figures of the 20th century. Sources

Society and Domestic Intelligence A guest episode featuring Polly Corrigan from King’s College London. Here we discuss the role of women, features of Soviet domestic intelligence and the repression of writers.   Disclaimer: Research has been compiled and all opinions are her own.

The Five Year Plans & Collectivisation   Some of Stalin’s most famous (or infamous) domestic policies include the Five Year plans and collectivisation. How were these policies carried out and what were the results? Sources

Maintenance of Power This episode will look into the methods Stalin used to maintain his position of power, such as the Constitution of 1936 and the influence of his cult of personality. Sources

Consolidation of Power There were a number of potential rivals that stood in Stalin’s way. Discover who these figures were and how Stalin maneuvered through the political labyrinth. Sources

Stalin’s Rise to Power Learn about the influence of Vladimir Lenin and the early steps of Stalin’s move to the top. This episode will highlight some key arguments that will help you understand Stalin’s rise to power. Sources

Emergence of the Soviet State An introductory episode on the events of the October Revolution and the Russian Civil War. Learn about the conditions that allowed for the Soviet State to emerge. Sources

International Responses and Outbreak of War Throughout the reign of Mussolini and Hitler, the reaction of the international community changed rather frequently. From Britain to the League of Nations, learn about the various positions taken up by the international powers in the face of the Abyssinia Crisis, the Anschluss and the attack on Poland. Sources

Expansion in 1938-1939 As Mussolini and Hitler grew closer, their foreign policies became increasingly aggressive. In this episode their handling of Austria, Czechoslovakia and Albania will be discussed, as well as the change of policies on the side of Britain and France. Sources

Hitler and the Settlements A key feature in Hitler’s rise to power was his rhetoric against the treaties of the First World War. Discover why many Germans agreed with the Nazi leader and what steps were taken for the country to strengthen once more. Sources

Nazism and Foreign Policy Turning to Germany, this episode provides key background information on the country’s situation. Additionally, the context of Hitler’s thought process and the Nazi’s push on foreign policy will be discussed. Sources

Abyssinia 1935-1936 Learn about one of the most important events during this period: the Italian invasion of Abyssinia. In this episode you will discover the origins, events and conclusions of this campaign. Sources

Domestic Issues in Italy–the 1930s Following his rise to power, Mussolini had the difficult task of rebuilding the country. Learn about the social, economic and political struggles the Italian government dealt with and what its responses were. Sources

Fascism in Italy–the 1920s In the period following the First World War, Italy faced a lot of uncertainty. With various political forces competing, the ideology of fascism rose to power. Tune in for background information on this period and the role of foreign policy with which Italy looked to stabilise itself. Sources

Bonus episode: Japanese Invasion of the Dutch East Indies Guest episode with Dr. Willem Remmelink, Former Director of the Japan-Netherlands Institute in Tokyo. Here we discuss the events outlined in his translation, The Invasion of the Dutch East Indies (2015). The book is available as a free download on open access. Disclaimer: Research has been compiled…

Outbreak of War in Asia-Pacific Here we look into the situation of the Pacific region. Why did Japanese war planners look to this region? Why was Pearl Harbour attacked? Sources