Hank’s History Hour

The French Revolution is one of the most important events that you will learn about in AP Euro. It completely changed the politics in France and would lead to 20 years of nearly continuous conflict in Europe. Today you will learn about the events that lead to the French Revolution and the first few events of the upheaval. 

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Click to Listen to Chapter 19 Part 1: The Beginning of the French Revolution 

While the scientific minds of Europe were expanding, so were the social reforms and the enlightened musing of its rulers and educated class. You will hear about Voltaire’s caffeine addiction, Soldier King’s hydrophobic son, and a couple of small wars.

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Click to Listen to Chapter 18 Part 2: The Enlightenment

Finally, the Europeans stop believing in superstition and embrace science. You will hear about the beginning of the modern scientific and mathematical era and the strange habits of Sir Isaac Newton.

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Click to Listen to Chapter 18 Part 1: The Scientific Revolution

In this next chapter, we will take a sharp u-turn from the progress of Constutionalism and talk about the total dictatorships of Austria, Prussia, and Russia. Be prepared for kings who throw enemies to ravenous dogs and emperors who cripple clumsy servants, because this is EASTERN EUROPE!

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Click to Listen to Chapter 17: Eastern Europe

The second Ch. 16 Podcast. Constitutionalism is the basis for the American governmental system, but our system didn’t begin with a ruthless, Christian-fundamentalist dictator seizing power, beheading the King, and creating a police state. All hail Oliver Cromwell, Lord Protector of England.

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Click to Listen to Chapter 16 Part 2: Constitutionalism

Alas, another long chapter. This one has been split into Absolutism and Constitutionalism. This Podcast is on Absolutism, definitely the most badass of the 2. You will mostly hear about the Louis XIV, the pompous, overweight, love machine (?) of France.

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Click to Listen to Chapter 16 Part 1: Absolutism

Hey everyone…here is the second Podcast for chapter 15: The Age of Exploration. You will learn about all of the great European explorers, their conquests, and the terrible diseases that they unleashed on the native population. Don’t worry, the Native Americans got their revenge.
Hint: Al Capone died from it…

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Click to Listen to Chapter 15 Part 2: The Age of Exploration

This is the first huge chapter, so I have divided it into 2 podcasts. The chapter begins with the religious wars: the War of Three Henry’s, the Dutch Revolt, and, my personal favorite, the 30 Years War. This was one of the most tumultuous times in the history of the world. The 30 Years War, as you will see, was basically the first World War, with basically every country in Europe fighting against one another. You will see the forming of much of modern Europe, and you will analyze whether or not the religious wars were actually religious or not.

Hint: They Weren’t.

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Click to Listen to Chapter 15 The Religious Wars

Click to Listen to Chapter 14 The Reformation

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The second podcast. I actually really like this one, even though it concerns one of, in my opinion, the most boring topics in European History: the Protestant Separation from the Catholic Church. Not that it was a boring time, but the chapter itself is pretty dull. You will hear about more corrupt popes, good old Henry “Chopped off my wives’ heads” VIII, and some pretty corrupt political dealings. Somewhat religious, and definitely bizarre, this is the Reformation…

I wanted to thank Mrs. Ferron, our awesome AP Euro History teacher at Redondo Union High School, for getting me excited about this class in the first place and for lending me her excellent notes to guide me along on this podcast.

All notes are from the Advanced Placement Edition of A History of Western Society. McKay Hill and Buckler are the authors. The copyright is 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.