Apple News In Conversation ‘The Rest Is History’ hosts on their top moments from America’s past
Dec 4, 2025
Join historians Dominic Sandbrook and Tom Holland as they explore pivotal moments in American history. Sandbrook, known for his narrative-driven storytelling, and Holland, a popular history commentator, discuss why the fall of the Aztecs is a crucial starting point for American history. They delve into Lincoln’s complex character and his exhausting final days, as well as the tumultuous year of 1968, examining its parallels with today's political climate. Their engaging insights and lively banter make history not just informative, but truly captivating.
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When Worlds Collide: Cortés And Moctezuma
- The fall of the Aztecs reads like science fiction: two disconnected human worlds collide with catastrophic consequences.
- Dominic Sandbrook and Tom Holland argue this clash launched European colonialism across the Americas and reshaped global life for centuries.
The Owl Man Moment
- Tom Holland recounts the dramatic image of the Aztec 'owl man' unleashed as a last resort weapon on a causeway.
- The Spanish shot him and, in Holland's view, that moment symbolically collapsed an entire worldview.
History As Ongoing Debate
- Dominic says history is a debate where perspectives constantly get revised by new research.
- He presents multiple viewpoints and lets listeners decide, acknowledging no single definitive answer.
