Showing results by author "Hourly History" in All Categories

Elizabeth Taylor was born to become a legend. By the time she was a young teenager, she was already making news and attracting attention. Taylor would go onto star in movies such as A Place in the Sun, Butterfield 8, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, and Cleopatra, where she played opposite Richard Burton. Her affair with Burton caused a worldwide scandal, and the movie almost ruined 20th Century Fox. Taylor and Burton were married and divorced twice, with the world watching their every scandalous move.

Discover the remarkable life of Geronimo...The legendary Geronimo led one of the last great Apache uprisings against American expansionism. The lands of the Apache tribe comprised what is today part of northern Mexico and the southwestern United States, and Geronimo was one of the last who dared to stand up to the powers that encroached on the Native American way of life. In the end, even the cunning and might of Geronimo had to surrender to the wayward expansion of the west.

Until 1939, World War I was known as “the war to end all wars”, but when Nazi Germany capped its mounting aggression against its neighbors by invading Poland, Europe was plunged into a second global conflict. It threatened the entire continent as well as the far-flung colonial possessions claimed by the French, the British, and the Dutch. German triumphs saw nation after nation fall, until only Great Britain remained defiant against Hitler’s dreams of conquest.

Claudius. Often portrayed as an awkward, disfigured, and clumsy man, Claudius was the unlikely ruler of the Roman Empire from 41 CE to 54 CE. His reign would prove to be one of the longest of the time even though his rise to the throne did not come without opposition. Virtually no-one in Claudius’ family wanted to see him become emperor - only when he turned out to be the last surviving man of the Julio-Claudian dynasty did he ascend to the throne.

In 1963, Stephen Hawking was diagnosed with motor neuron disease and given two years to live. More than half a century later, Hawking had made some of the most significant contributions to our understanding of the universe since Albert Einstein. The world’s most famous physics professor, a best-selling author, and a father of three, Stephen lived his life to its fullest. Bridging the world of theoretical physics with the reach of pop culture, Stephen Hawking became an emblem of human determination and intellectual curiosity.

When Fidel Castro died on November 25, 2016, it seemed as if much of the world didn’t quite know what to make of the revolutionary leader. The images of loyal Cubans in Havana openly crying in the streets stood in stark contrast to the Cuban exiles and their descendants just 90 miles away in Miami, Florida. While Cuban citizens were mourning, Cuban Americans were celebrating; they were laughing, dancing, and drinking to celebrate Castro’s demise. It seems Fidel Castro was just as polarizing in death as he was in life.

The Taj Mahal in Agra is arguably the most iconic image of India. For centuries, the world believed that it was built by Shah Jahan in 1631 to immortalize his love for his wife Mumtaz Mahal. This audio presents the five main historical figures of the Mughal Empire in India and the many details of how the Taj Mahal was built. Listen to stories about: the life of Mumtaz Mahal, considered the jewel of the place; the building of the Taj Mahal, a UNESCO World Heritage Site; the myths, conjecture, and controversy; the 22 locked rooms in the basement; and much more.

There was truly no one like Theodore Roosevelt. From a sickly boy, Teddy (as the world came to know him) would transform himself into the apex of vigor and energy. From husband, father, and rancher to hunter, governor, and president of the United States, Theodore Roosevelt led a most extraordinary life. This was a man who did many things and did them outstandingly well. Roosevelt's willingness to go the extra mile, to put fear in the back seat, were qualities that he saw in his beloved country as well. America is a better place for having known Theodore Roosevelt.

History describes the 872-day Siege of Leningrad as the most devastating siege in history. The German army had made its way to Leningrad before the city had the opportunity to prepare for an assault, and the consequences were lethal. Accompanied by one of the worst famines in history, as well as a brutally cold winter in 1941-1942, the civilians were doomed. It’s a harrowing saga of bravery and brutality, but one that must be told.

This audiobook takes a closer look at who Charles Darwin was, how he lived his everyday life and how influential he became; not just in his own day but into the modern world as well. Find out what interested his incredible mind and how Darwin presented his theories to a yet unsuspecting world. From beetles to butterflies, coral reefs and tropical islands, from apes to humans, learn how Charles Darwin's evidence speaks even to the world today.

The Roaring Twenties was a golden age of economic prosperity and liberal social change. Innovations in numerous industries revived a sluggish post-World War I economy, and mass production methods allowed for the standardized, rapid production of various goods, the most notable of which was the automobile. This audiobook tells the compelling story of this raucous period in history in succinct yet informative detail that is both educational and entertaining.

D-Day, June 6, is one of the most significant dates in the calendar. The 20th century's fate hung in the balance as Nazi Germany had marched across Europe, bringing the blitzkrieg, the Holocaust, and the mad dreams of Adolf Hitler across the bloodied landscape of Europe. In order for the Nazis to be stopped, the Allies had to invade occupied Europe. And invade they did, launching the most massive amphibious landing the world had ever seen.

Mao Zedong was a Marxist revolutionary wishing to overthrow regimes he viewed as imperialist, and yet Mao, often referred to as the Red Emperor, behaved much like totalitarian emperors of China’s medieval past. Mao was a man of intriguing contradiction. This audiobook takes the time to explore them all.

Fought from February to December 1916, the Battle of Verdun was intended to “bleed the French white” and bring their army to the point of collapse. Instigated by the Germans under the command of General Erich von Falkenhayn, it became a war of attrition that would benefit neither side. With its devastating death toll and the appalling number of wounded, the Battle of Verdun is one of the deadliest in history.

When the American Civil War finally drew to an end in 1865, victory for the North seemed to herald a new beginning for African Americans. Emancipation for thousands of former slaves appeared, for the first time, to offer people the chance of full and equal participation in American society. That dream didn't last for long, particularly in the Southern states where new Jim Crow laws prevented African Americans from exercising fundamental rights, including the right to vote.

George H. W. Bush was a fascinating figure. Growing up in a wealthy family, he was driven by a calling to contribute to the greater good from an early age. His journey into adulthood was defined by valiant service in World War II, which laid the groundwork for a distinguished career in public service. He then navigated through various high-profile positions, from serving as a Congressman to holding pivotal roles as a US ambassador, and he was even made director of the CIA.

The Ford presidency took place during a very difficult period for Americans, and he was the steady hand at the helm to ensure they made it through. This book follows Gerald Ford’s life and career from beginning to end.

The empires of the ancient Sumerians, Akkadians, Greeks, Romans, and Chinese were underpinned by slavery, where one person could be owned by another, and their obedience and labor were forced by the threat of violence or even death. Some of these people were prisoners captured during wars, some were sold into slavery to pay debts, while others were born into slavery. In many ancient empires, slaves accounted for anything from one-third to half of the total population.

Alfred Hitchcock’s work is legendary, and although he himself was known as a rather quiet and subdued figure in public, those who knew him privately saw a fiery disposition and unbridled passion lurking just beneath the surface of his placid exterior. Films such as Rebecca, Vertigo, Psycho, and The Birds sky-rocketed him to fame, and have since led many to hail him as the greatest director of all time.

The British Raj refers to the time from 1858 to 1947 when the British Crown directly ruled the Indian subcontinent. During those 90 years, India saw enormous social, political, and cultural upheaval. New systems of education were introduced, and increasing industrialization brought societal change. The British administration also united large numbers of indigenous people, though they were often united mainly by their opposition to the British and their desire for independence.