Bro History

On Today’s episode, we discuss the controversial history of the first Slavic state, the Kievan Rus’.Article discussedTHE PLACE OF THE KIEVAN RUS IN HISTORY:Support on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/brohistory#194\ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Vladimir Putin is building a clone army of “Ancient Scythian Warriors” to invade Ukraine! Well.. according to the internet he is…In the Russian Republic of Tuva (Southern Siberia), archeologists found the DNA of a Scythian warrior frozen in permafrost. The Russian government hinted they would be interested in using that DNA in a “Dolly the Sheep” type cloning experiment.The Scythians were a group of ancient tribes of nomadic warrior type people who were known for clashing with just about every major state in the known world between 900 BC to 200 BC.On today’s episode we discuss, the history of the Scythians, ancient Russia, and the validity of this cloning story.Article discuss: Russia Wants to Clone Ancient Scythian WarriorsSupport on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/brohistory#193 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The “Nuclear Sponge” refers to the hundreds of nuclear missiles spread across Colorado, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, and Wyoming. These ICBMs, are not meant to be launched, but to “absorb” a nuclear attack and spare major population centers.Today we discuss the logic of the “Nuclear Sponge” policy along with the history of nuclear weapons in the U.S.Support on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/brohistory#192 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today’s episode, we explain how the circumstances set by the end of Cold War led up to the current crises between Russia and Ukraine.Support on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/brohistory#191 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“Government by Assassination” was a term used to describe the tumultuous political situation in Japan in the early 20th century. The rise of fanatic nationalism led to a huge of influx of political murders in Pre-WWII Japan. Perhaps the strangest thing about this period was that Japanese society would often venerate the patriotic intent of these assassins.On todays’ episode we discuss the origins of hardcore nationalism in Japan, and what factors led to them showing such tolerance towards radical behavior.Support on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/brohistory#190 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“Gunboat diplomacy” refers to the pursuit of foreign policy objectives through the threat of force. One of the most notorious case studies of “Gunboat diplomacy” is when Matthew C. Perry forced Japan to dismiss their 200 year policy of isolation and start trading with the U.S.On todays’ episode we dive into early U.S. relations with Japan, and what led America to taking a more aggressive foreign policy approach.Support on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/brohistory#189 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The standard narrative when it comes to Japanese nationalism is that they rapidly modernized out of fear of being colonized by the west. One issue with this narrative is that it assumes that nation states arise via diffusion, rather than through a countries own internal societal circumstances.On today’s episode we dive into pre-modern Japan looking for traces of national unity. We discuss shoguns, great unifiers, and Japanese proto-nationalism.Support on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/brohistory#188 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today’s episode we discuss how the “way of the samurai” or bushido, fueled the creation of the imperial Japanese nation state.Bushido is supposedly the value system that governed the behavior of Samurai in feudal Japan. It encouraged them to be loyal, courageous , polite, etc. What’s interesting is that the term “bushido” wasn’t really a thing prior to the 1800s. It was an invented concept used to inspire national identity. Come join us to learn more about how “thinkers” use symbols from the past as a tool to create nationalism.Support on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/brohistorySources: Oleg Benesch – Inventing the Way of the Samurai Inazo Nitobe – Bushido, the Soul of Japan Edwin, Reischauer – Japan: Story of Nation K. Henshall – A History of Japan: From Stone Age to Superpower Bushi-NO: The Myth of the Samurai Chivalric Code John Stuart Mill – Considerations on Representative Government Eric Hobsbawm – The Invention of Tradition Basil Hall Chamberlain – The Invention of a New Religion Episode #187 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today we dive into Classical Japan’s transition from a strong central government to feudalism.During the Heian period, Japan created a court system mimicking the Tang Dynasty of China. Due to high levels of corruption and crony land politics, the Japanese court system gradually deteriorated into a country ruled by powerful private land owners. Today we discuss how this transition applies to Japan’s national identity.Support on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/brohistoryEpisode #186 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today we kickoff our series on the creation of the Japanese nation state.On this episode we discuss the first “peoples” of Japan such as the Jōmon and the Yayoi. In addition, we dive into the origins of the first Japanese kingdoms.Support on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/brohistoryEpisode #185 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices