From Settlement to Superpower

In this episode, we discuss the remarkable life and career of Fray Bartolome de las Casas, Protector of the Indians. We also talk about the debate over the humanity of the Indians, a debate which roiled the intellectuals of Spain and beyond. With a clearer picture of Las Casas's life and the Dominican campaign for the amelioration of the Indians' plight, the stage is set for next episode's recounting of Fray Luis Cancer's tragic attempt to convert the Floridian natives.

A meandering episode for a meandering expedition. This episode covers the expedition of Hernando de Soto, the next in our inglorious series of conquistadors who had tried and failed to tame the North American Continent. Basically, he and his expedition wandered for four years in circles through what is now the states of Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas, and Texas. Eventually, after having realized that he failed, de Soto pretty much curled up and died. The greatest legacy of the expedition was their introduction of pigs to the United States.

In this episode we relate the tragic story of Panfilo de Narvaez's expedition to Florida and the horrible fate which overtook his men. We also discuss the remarkable survival of two characters connected with the expedition - Juan Ortiz, taken captive by the vindictive Ucita, Chief of Hirrihigua, as well as the far more famous Alvar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca, who literally walked his way to freedom, across deserts and in spite of a deck stacked against him. Enjoy!

In this episode, we explore the rivalries and jockeying of the Caribbean conquistadors, who each wished to take their own slice of territory on the mainland. We begin with Diego Velasquez and Francisco de Garay, whose explorations and claims became a serious threat to Ponce de Leon's hold on Florida. After detouring a bit to finish Garay's storyline, we return to Ponce de Leon and his second, fatal expedition of 1521. We conclude the episode with a recounting of Lucas Vasquez de Ayllon's attempt to colonize the coast of the Carolinas, and the fate which befell the first European colony in the United States: San Miguel de Guadaloupe. By 1527 anyone who had a claim on America was dead, leaving the land open for anyone who dared come and take it for himself. Next episode, it will be Panfilo de Narvaez's turn to take a shot at American colonization...

We finally touch the soil of what is now the United States! In this episode we discuss Juan Ponce de Leon and his first voyage to Florida (1513). We also wade into the historical controversies whether or not Ponce de Leon actually discovered Florida and was he really searching for the Fountain of Youth? We also discuss the importance of his lesser known and less romantic discovery - the Gulf Stream.

After recuperating for a month in Tlaxcala, Cortes is ready to resume the offensive. He ravages Tepeaca and prepares his forces for the final assault on Tenochtitlan. When that assault comes, it spells the end of a once magnificent city.
"...And the giants greeted each other thus: 'Do not fall down, for whoever falls, falls forever.'"

Cortes splits his force to deal with Pamfilo de Narvaez, sent by Governor Velasquez to take over his expedition and hang him. He triumphs, only to receive word of an unfolding disaster back in Tenochtitlan. A Spanish atrocity had ocurred, and now the Aztecs were clamoring for vengeance. Montezuma dies, and the Spaniards are ejected from Tenochtilan on "The Melancholy Night" with severe losses. The Spaniards manage to stumble back to Tlaxcala to recover from this defeat. Now, just a month later, their armies march again...

It's a boy!!!! Expect minor delays; thank you in advance for your patience.

Cortes heads over to Cholula, where an Aztec conspiracy leads to a bloodbath. Following this, Cortes moves on to Tenochtitlan itself, where he is received with great honors. It is not long before he takes Montezuma prisoner and has him swear fealty to Charles V. The Spanish accumulate a vast amount of treasure and all is well. Or so it seems...

Cortes is quite a wily character. This episode, he breaks free of Velasquez's control, founds a city, liberates the Totonacs, defeats and then befriends the Tlaxcalans, and utterly mystifies Montezuma and the Aztecs. If you want to see how 4D chess is really played, just look at Cortes.

In this episode we meet the Aztecs: who they were, what they believed, and how their society was ordered. We also introduce the man who will ultimately destroy that civilization, Hernan Cortes, and we explore the backdrop to his expedition to Mexico.

This episode takes a look at the Spanish conquest of the Carribean Islands, with a particular focus on the island of Hispaniola. We read a great deal of Las Casas, who chronicled the abject misery of the natives in his "A History of the Indies".

The Portuguese may have cornered the market on Africa, but they were about to get eclipsed in a big way by their neighbors to the east - the Spanish. This episode describes the story of the Castilian Atlantic, from 1402 through Columbus's discovery of the Americas.

Portugal began the Age of Discovery with a century-long campaign to find a direct sea-route to India. In this episode we discuss the who, what, why, and when of this Portuguese contribution.

A few brief announcements. First off, episodes will now be uploaded at a pace of 1 per every week and a half - two weeks. To compensate, episodes will be longer, more in depth, and recommended reading will be provided. Also, we will do away with the chapter system and go to a simple system of numbering the podcast. Also, a shoutout to Jamie Redfern!

This is it! We're done our introductory podcasts! Today we talk about Elizabeth's war with Spain and the Irish. Next week we are on hiatus - and after that, we turn our attention to American colonization!

Here we are - the long overdue penultimate introductory podcast! This episode, we cover the events of Queen Elizabeth I's early reign, from the Elizabethan Settlement to the execution of Mary, Queen of the Scots. The Armada is coming...

In this podcast Edward dies, and winter comes for the Protestants. Their coup is thwarted and Mary and her Catholics reign supreme. Cranmer bids us adieu, and we read from Foxe's Acts and Monuments.

King Edward VI's rule saw the reformation take a markedly Protestant turn. Get ready for a theology heavy podcast!

Henry VIII was a difficult man...

During the first half of Henry VIII's rule, Wolsey reigned supreme.

In this podcast, we explore the backdrop for the English Reformation. Also, we learn some valuable lessons about scripting and editing. Enjoy!

Welcome to "From Settlement to Superpower".