Growing up, I learned very little history.
I suspect this is a failing of the American education system. Even in college–I went to an elite private liberal arts college–I wasn’t required to study any history, and I was under the misimpression that history was learning the names and dates of various monarchs and the wars they fought.
I did have a decent understanding of 20th-century history, mostly because I was interested in politics, and knowledge of modern history is a prerequisite for understanding anything about current politics. I learned it mainly through my own reading.
Over the past couple of decades, I have been trying to fill in the gaps in my knowledge.
I have been doing so through various podcasts. There are several superb history podcasts out there, and I will recommend a few in the coming months.
One interesting thing I have noticed is that the best podcasts I…
