Episodes
Sept. 17, 2018
029 – New millennium, nationalist myths, same old mess
1002 - 1013 As a new millennium dawns on the Italian pensala, we see that nothing much has changed, at least for the moment, as we see Henry II of Bavaria attempting to take power in Italy and then become emperor.
Sept. 10, 2018
Special: 8th September 1943, from infamy to resistance
To commemorate the 75th anniversary of the armistice between the Italian government and the allied forces we look at the fateful day the armistice was announced and the consequences for the Italian forces and people.
Sept. 3, 2018
028 – The year 1000 and life for the average Giuseppe
After our recap episode, we take a look at the attitudes towards the year 1000 and have a look at what daily life was like for people around that year.
Aug. 30, 2018
NC 003 – Identity crisis of a Brexit victim
We explore the concept of national identity and pride and look at additive rather than subtractive human pride.
Aug. 27, 2018
Recap 02 – episodes 014 – 027
In this recap episode we look back over the period from the fall of the Lombard kingdom at the hands of Charlemagne in 774 to the year 1000.
Aug. 23, 2018
NewsCappuccino 002 – On the possible third Italian republic and unity
A look at the paper is an opportunity to explain the make-up of the current government and prompts consideration about the state of Italian unity today.
Aug. 23, 2018
NewsCappuccino 001 – Choosing coffee, choosing a government and a visit to Rome
In the bar today a conversation about the government between two men with Roman accents prompts memories of trips to the eternal city, inlacing one adventure riding with a coach-full of modern-day hippies.
Aug. 23, 2018
NewsCappuccino 000 – Launch episode
Welcome to the new Paypal and patron-only feature of "A History of Italy": NewsCapuccino. In this programme we're going to take a look at current affairs, stories and memories, starting from Italy and Italian issues, but taki...
Aug. 19, 2018
027 – Yet another Otto (III)
983 - 1002 After the death of Otto II, we see how his young son was brought up to manhood under the regency of his mother Theophanu and his grandmother Adelaide of Italy and how he became an emperor with dreams of greatness, ...
Aug. 13, 2018
026 – Another Otto (II)
973 - 983 We take just a moment to mourn Otto I and then proceed to see how his son, Otto II, got on with his attempt to hold the Holy Roman Empire together and even try to expand to all of the Italian peninsula while dealing...
Aug. 5, 2018
025 – Ottonian Italy
966 - 973 Otto I of Germany continues to consolidate his hold over Italy, attempting to go all the way south and dislodge the remaining Byzantine presence, meanwhile setting up his son with a Byzantine princess, Theophanu.
July 27, 2018
Interview – Daniela Pellacani on Ciro Menotti
We have a chat with Italian teacher and history enthusiast Daniela Pellacani from Carpi on one of the heroes of the Risorgimento, Ciro Menotti.
July 21, 2018
024 – Outstanding Otto and more mess from a porn pope
951 - 066 We take a look at the reign of the teenage oboe John XII and the start of the struggle between the papacy and the Holy Roman Empire
July 14, 2018
023 – Here come the Ottonians
932 - 955 We look at how Alberic II did after taking control of Rome from his mother Marozia and his stepfather Guido of Provence. Then we jave a look at the usual confusion in northern Italy before the descent of the Saxon k...
June 30, 2018
022 – More mischief from Marozia
910 - 932 We look at the second part of the incredible story of Marozia, as we use her family as an example of the chaos that was early tenth century Italy.
June 21, 2018
021 – Rowdy Roman Revelry: Marozia's pornocracy
897 - 910 We take a look at the situation of debauchery and corruption that Italy, and more specifically Rome, fell into during the ninth and tenth centuries, with a particular focus on the Tuscolo family and perhaps its most...
June 13, 2018
020 – Annoying anarchy
888- 926 We look at the anarchy Italy fell into after the end of the Carolingians with the dealings of such men as Berengarius of Friuli and Guy of Spoleto, intersperse with some more foreign kings and emperors.
June 8, 2018
019 – Feudal fun with the Franks
843- 887 We finish off the last of th Carolingians in Italy and take a look at the feudal system they brought with them into the county.
May 30, 2018
Special: Republic Day and an unprecedented institutional crisis
We look back over the history of the upcoming cementation of Republic Day, 2nd June and look at the current political situation in the light of the constitution that cam out of that historical moment.
May 24, 2018
018 – A clear-up on kingdoms and back up the boot in the ninth century
We first cleat up the concept of the "Kingdom of Italy" and then make our way back up from the Arab Emirate of Sicily to look at the Principality of Benevento, the Duchy of Naples and the Duchy of Spoleto in the ninth century...
May 17, 2018
017 – Some silly Syracusans, some Saracens and Sicily, plus pirates
827-840 We leave the north for a while and take a look at Sicily. First we have a quick peak at the start of the Arab raids on the island in the early seventh century and then head back to the ninth when Sicily became an Arab...
May 10, 2018
016 – Italy after Charlemagne
800 - 840 We look at what happened up to and after the death of Charlemagne to see what his sons got up to.
May 2, 2018
Special: A load of baloney from Bologna part 2
The second part of a two-part episode on the history of the city of Bologna. Her ewe cover the modern and contemporary eras of the regional capital of Emilia Romagna
April 27, 2018
Special: A load of baloney from Bologna Part 1
This is the first part of a two-part series on the history of the city of Bologna, from pre-history to the end of the Middle Ages.