

Wiser World
Alli Roper
Did you forget your world history, and now feel lost when world topics come up in current events? Designed for busy people who forgot (or never learned it in the first place) and need a quick refresh, Wiser World takes foundational world history and makes it approachable and concise. As a former teacher, Alli Roper wants to remind us of the world's foundational, basic history so we can have the context we need think historically about current events, travel, and global topics. Episodes are published once or twice a month, and consist of 101 episodes (100-ish year deep dives into various countries), Know Before You Go episodes (brief histories for highly-traveled spots), and pretty much any other world-related topic that you wish you'd been taught in history class.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jun 15, 2022 • 33min
13. North Korea 101 (The Last 100 Years in N Korea) - Part 1
A concise, foundational history of North Korea from the early 1900s to mid-1950s. What was the Korean peninsula like before it split into two countries? How did Japan rule Korea from 1910 to 1945? How do many Koreans feel about Japan as a result? How did Korea become divided, and how did the United States and the Soviet Union play into that? What happened during the Korean War? Who is Kim Il-Sung and how did he create a personality cult that’s still alive in North Korea today? We learn the answers to these questions and more in this episode. This podcast is part of the Airwave Media podcast network. Visit airwavemedia.com to learn about other fantastic history and education-centric shows that are created for curious, thoughtful people. Please contact advertising@airwavemedia.com if you would like to advertise on our podcast. You can also support the podcast through Patreon.Sources used in the making of this episode: Source ListTranscript for this episode. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wiserworldpodcast/Website (sign up for email newsletter): https://wiserworldpodcast.com/To join the email list, click on the website link, and it will take you there! Song credit: "Heart of Indonesia" by mjmusics Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 1, 2022 • 36min
12. Perspectives from Taiwan // Jessica Lu and Cassia
How do some Taiwanese feel about reunifying with China? Do they live in fear of an invasion? What is filial piety and how does it affect the young people of Taiwan today? What is it like to get an education in Taiwan? How do Taiwanese treat outsiders? Today I have two guests living in Taiwan answering all these questions and more. Thank you to my friends Jessica Lu and Cassia (last name withheld) for their insights and perspectives. This podcast is part of the Airwave Media podcast network. Visit airwavemedia.com to learn about other fantastic history and education-centric shows that are created for curious, thoughtful people. Please contact advertising@airwavemedia.com if you would like to advertise on our podcast. You can also support the podcast through Patreon.Transcript for this episode. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wiserworldpodcast/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wiserworldpodcastWebsite (sign up for email newsletter): https://wiserworldpodcast.com/Song credit: "Heart of Indonesia" by mjmusics Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 18, 2022 • 46min
10. Taiwan 101 (The Last 100 Years in Taiwan) - Part 1
A brief, concise history of Taiwan from the late 1800s to 1970. This episode covers:
Colonial rule in Taiwan (Portuguese & Dutch, Chinese, Japanese... etc)
Sub-ethnicities within the Taiwanese people — Native Indigenous (many tribes), Hokkien, Hakka, and mainlander
Japanese rule of Taiwan from 1895 to 1945.
Post-WII change from Japanese rule back to Chinese rule
228 Incident in 1947
KMT exile to the island of Taiwan and the repercussions, White Terror
Relations with US, China, and Taiwan
+ more
Notes: - I make the mistake a time or two of calling the "Republic of China (ROC)" as the same as the KMT. The KMT is a political party, while the Republic of China is the name they often call the country of Taiwan, as they moved the headquarters of the ROC over to Taiwan in 1949. The KMT and ROC are different entities, though very intertwined. - I also failed to clarify that some pre-1949 Taiwanese people did indeed join the KMT. Not all KMT members are "mainlanders." This podcast is part of the Airwave Media podcast network. Visit airwavemedia.com to learn about other fantastic history and education-centric shows that are created for curious, thoughtful people. Please contact advertising@airwavemedia.com if you would like to advertise on our podcast. You can also support the podcast through Patreon.--Transcript for this episode Sources used in the making of this episode: Source List Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wiserworldpodcast/Website (sign up for email newsletter): https://wiserworldpodcast.com/To join the email list, click on the website link, and it will take you there! Song credit: "Heart of Indonesia" by mjmusics Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 18, 2022 • 44min
11. Taiwan 101 (The Last 100 Years in Taiwan) - Part 2
A brief, concise history of Taiwan from 1970 to 2022. This episode covers:
Chinese/Taiwanese/US relations from 1970 to 2022
The end of martial law and transition to a multi-party democratic system
The transfer of power from a mainlander (Chiang Ching-kuo) to a native islander (Lee Teng-hui)
The first free elections and subsequent back and forth between KMT and DPP parties
The future of Taiwan—possibilities and concerns
+ more
Notes: - I make the mistake a time or two of calling the "Republic of China (ROC)" as the same as the KMT. The KMT is a political party, while the Republic of China is the name they often call the country of Taiwan, as they moved the headquarters of the ROC over to Taiwan in 1949. The KMT and ROC are different entities, though very intertwined. - I also failed to clarify that some pre-1949 Taiwanese people did indeed join the KMT. Not all KMT members are "mainlanders." This podcast is part of the Airwave Media podcast network. Visit airwavemedia.com to learn about other fantastic history and education-centric shows that are created for curious, thoughtful people. Please contact advertising@airwavemedia.com if you would like to advertise on our podcast. You can also support the podcast through Patreon.--Transcript for this episode. Sources used in the making of this episode: Source ListInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/wiserworldpodcast/Website (sign up for email newsletter): https://wiserworldpodcast.com/To join the email list, click on the website link, and it will take you there! Song credit: "Heart of Indonesia" by mjmusics Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 31, 2022 • 43min
9. China 101 (The Last 100 Years in China) - Part 3
A brief, concise history of China from 1972 to 2022.
Deng Xiaoping leadership, Four Modernizations
Economic reform, Special Economic Zones
Tiananmen Square, 1989
Hong Kong returns to China
90s - 2010s general basics
2014 Umbrella Revolution
Uyghur Genocide
Censorship
Chinese militarization of man made islands, military potential
Disappearances
Chinese yuan
+ more
Note: I pronounced the Chinese currency "yuan" incorrectly. It is supposed to be pronounced something like "you-en". Additional Learning: One Perspective: This podcast episode on disappearances in China Frontline Documentary on Tank Man A transcription for this episode is found here. This podcast is part of the Airwave Media podcast network. Visit airwavemedia.com to learn about other fantastic history and education-centric shows that are created for curious, thoughtful people. Please contact advertising@airwavemedia.com if you would like to advertise on our podcast. You can also support the podcast through Patreon.Source List Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wiserworldpodcast/Website (sign up for email newsletter): https://wiserworldpodcast.com/To join the email list, click on the website link, and it will take you there! Song credit: "Heart of Indonesia" by mjmusics Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 31, 2022 • 41min
8. China 101 (The Last 100 Years in China) - Part 2
A brief, concise history of China from 1949 to 1976. Covers:
First steps of CCP/Mao Zedong consolidating power in PRC
Purges
Great Leap Forward (Mao’s Great Famine)
Cultural Revolution (Red guards, little red book, propaganda, violence, Cult of Mao)
Mao Zedong leadership, legacy, opinions
Beginning of Deng Xiaoping leadership
A transcript for this episode is found here. This podcast is part of the Airwave Media podcast network. Visit airwavemedia.com to learn about other fantastic history and education-centric shows that are created for curious, thoughtful people. Please contact advertising@airwavemedia.com if you would like to advertise on our podcast. You can also support the podcast through Patreon.Source List Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wiserworldpodcast/Website (sign up for email newsletter): https://wiserworldpodcast.com/To join the email list, click on the website link, and it will take you there! Song credit: "Heart of Indonesia" by mjmusics Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 31, 2022 • 38min
7. China 101 (The Last 100 Years in China) - Part 1
Exploring the history of China from the 1850s to 1949, including the Qing Dynasty, Opium Wars, Sino-Japanese Wars, rise of CCP, civil war, and the birth of PRC. Also covers challenges of researching China's history and regional diversity.

Mar 9, 2022 • 30min
6. Ukraine 101 (The Last 100 Years in Ukraine) - Part 2
This episode is a very concise and basic review of Ukraine’s history in the past 100-ish years: Part 1 covers the late 1800s to 1945, and Part 2 covers 1945 - early 2022. In the U.S., we aren’t taught much at all about Eastern European countries, like Ukraine, in school. They are largely mysteries. My hope is that these episodes change that. A transcript for this episode can be found here. This podcast is part of the Airwave Media podcast network. Visit airwavemedia.com to learn about other fantastic history and education-centric shows that are created for curious, thoughtful people. Please contact advertising@airwavemedia.com if you would like to advertise on our podcast. You can also support the podcast through Patreon.SourcesInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/wiserworldpodcast/Website (sign up for email newsletter): https://wiserworldpodcast.com/To join the email list, click on the website link, and it will take you there! Song credit: "Heart of Indonesia" by mjmusics Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 9, 2022 • 39min
5. Ukraine 101 (The Last 100 Years in Ukraine) - Part 1
This episode is a very concise and basic review of Ukraine’s history in the past 100-ish years: Part 1 covers the late 1800s to 1945, and Part 2 covers 1945 - early 2022. In the U.S., we aren’t taught much at all about Eastern European countries, like Ukraine, in school. They are largely mysteries. My hope is that these episodes change that. A transcript for this episode is found here.This podcast is part of the Airwave Media podcast network. Visit airwavemedia.com to learn about other fantastic history and education-centric shows that are created for curious, thoughtful people. Please contact advertising@airwavemedia.com if you would like to advertise on our podcast. You can also support the podcast through Patreon.SourcesInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/wiserworldpodcast/Website: https://wiserworldpodcast.com/To join the email list, click on the website link, and it will take you there! Song credit: "Heart of Indonesia" by mjmusics Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

14 snips
Mar 1, 2022 • 28min
4. Russia 101 (The Last 100 Years in Russia) - Part 2
Dive into the last 100 years of Russian history, highlighting the Cold War dynamics with NATO and the Warsaw Pact. Discover the stark living conditions in the Soviet Union during the 70s compared to the U.S. Explore significant events from Gorbachev's reforms to the rise of Putin, examining the intricate shifts in political power. Learn about the complex U.S.-Russia relations and the current geopolitical tensions, particularly regarding Ukraine, revealing how history shapes today's landscape.