The Apple and The Hero
Forget dusty textbooks!
Join me, Dr. Sara Orfali, a Medieval historian with a passion for storytelling, as I peel back the layers of history in The Apple and The Hero.
This podcast is your gateway to exploring the captivating myths, legends, and heroes that shaped the foundation of European countries - all through engaging anecdotes, thrilling tales, and insightful analysis.
So, ditch the dates and delve into the drama, intrigue, and epic sagas that brought history to life.
Whether you're a history buff or simply curious about the past, tune in to The Apple and The Hero for a captivating journey through the heart of Europe's legendary past!
Episodes
29 episodes
028_Roma Aeterna_Savior or Destroyer_The two Faces of Julius Caesar (Part 2)
And we are at the end of season one! In this last episode we'll see the rising and falling of the great Julius Caesar. Did he want to save Rome, or was his plan to condemn it?You decide!
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39:39
027_Roma Aeterna_Savior or Destroyer_The two Faces of Julius Caesar (Part 1)
Here we are, almost at the end of the first season. We have one last path to thread on, and it's that of one of the greatest names in Roman history: Julius Caesar.His name and his deeds have traversed the centuries intact, and he also picke...
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29:28
026_Roma Aeterna_The Beginning of the End
We're getting closer to the finish line for this deep dive into the Roman history of the monarchy and the Republic.Things are getting chaotic; the dividing lines between patricians and plebeians are getting more and more blurred, and champi...
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26:53
025_Roma Aeterna_Fight for the Mediterranean - The Punic Wars (Part 2)
Drunk on victories Rome had thought itself beloved by the gods. The young Punic general, Hannibal Barca, though, had demonstrated how far from divine graces the Romans really were. With dwindling legionaries and no experienced commander, could ...
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40:08
024_Roma Aeterna_Fight for the Mediterranean - The Punic Wars (Part 1)
With the Samnites beaten and their territory conquered, Rome is finally ready to play the big game. Having gained access to the Mediterranean, the previously landlocked Romans are ready to leave their marks on history and win the title...
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30:30
023_Roma Aeterna_Expansionism and Empty Victories
Now the undisputed ruler of Latium, Rome is finally ready to confront the enemies lying just over her borders. Can she win, or will the Samnites take everything?And why is Pyrrhus, king of Epirus, suddenly sticking his nose in the Italian P...
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33:02
022_Roma Aeterna_Love and Duty
Desperate times call for desperate measures and, sometimes, the only thing needed to get out of a situation is a strong leader. In this episode, we'll follow the lives of Cincinnatus and Camillus, two heroes who gave everything to save...
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37:04
021_Roma Aeterna_The Courage to stop a King
Rome has decided: after exiling the last of the kings, the citizens have chosen a republic as their new government. But trouble is on the horizon as Tarquinius the Proud risks everything to get back the throne that was once his. <...
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32:32
020_Roma Aeterna - The Six Kings of Rome
Love him or hate him, Romulus started Rome on a path to greatness, but he was only the first one.Six other kings followed him, giving Rome its costumes, culture, laws, and religious ceremonies. The Seven Kings of Rome were ...
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41:24
019_Roma Aeterna - The Founding Father
Couldn't get enough of Roman history after last episode? Then welcome back!In the last episode we've started our journey on the Roman cobblestones. We've discovered a link between the mighty Troy and the new power in Latium...
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31:09
018_Roma Aeterna - The Foundation
We're finally here! This episode marks the beginning of a deep-dive into Roman history!We start, like all good stories, at the very beginning where we'll meet the heroes and heroines who were said to have founded one of the bigg...
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32:20
017_The Maid of Orleans - The Birth of a Saint
In this episode we continue with the captivating saga of Joan of Arc.Fresh from witnessing Charles VII's coronation, we now explore the complexities of her continued military leadership.Victories become elusive, political intrigue sw...
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32:59
016_The Maid of Orleans - The Miracle that saved France
This episode plunges us into the extraordinary life of Joan of Arc, a young woman who defied expectations and changed the course of history.Born a peasant girl, Joan claimed divine visions urging her to lead the French army and crown Cha...
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34:09
015_The Blood of Bannockburn
From Outlaw King to King of Scots: The Rise of Robert the BruceThis episode delves into the captivating story of Robert the Bruce, a Scottish nobleman who transformed from hunted outlaw to become King of Scotland and secure the n...
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35:31
014_The Hero with a Brave Heart
From Uprising to Betrayal: The Story of William WallaceIn this episode we will walk into the life of William Wallace, a legendary Scottish warrior who became a symbol of resistance against English rule. This episode explores his rise fr...
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31:05
013_ A Man with Many Crowns - The End of the World
To the Ends of the Earth - Alexander's AdventureIn the final chapter of our Alexander the Great series, we follow the conqueror on his relentless eastward march. Driven by boundless ambition, Alexander ventures deep into In...
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30:23
012_ A Man with Many Crowns - The Conquest of Persia
From Greece to Babylon - Alexander's Conquest of PersiaIn the thrilling second episode of our Alexander the Great series, we witness the clash of empires. Following years of meticulous planning and strategic maneuvering, Alexander embar...
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35:50
011_A Man with Many Crowns - Beginnings at the Macedonian Court
In the first episode of this three-part series, we delve into the formative years of Alexander the Great. Born into the Macedonian court of his ambitious father, King Philip II, Alexander's childhood was anything but ordinary. We'll explore his...
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30:27
010_A Heroic Resistance
In this episode, we delve into a thrilling chapter of European history: the defiance of the Swiss people against the Habsburg dynasty in the 13th century. We'll explore the pivotal Battle of Morgarten, where a vastly outnumbered Swiss force dea...
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32:25
009_The Mystical Pact
On a small piece of parchment and its legend rests the entire country of Switzerland and the mystique which the centuries have afforded to this document have given it almost the same status as a religious relic.Let’s go back to the Middle A...
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36:11
008_The Irreverent Chieftain
“Beware, lest this very spot where we are now encamped get its name from the calamity that shall befall your army and transmit the memory of it to your children’s children!”Bold words, spoken by the chief of a small, almost forgotten tribe ...
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30:38
007_The Fearless Explorers
"Tierra, tierra!"When the lookout from the Pinta yelled that he had seen the coast, little did Columbus and his men know that what seemed 'terra incognita' had been already discovered and colonised centuries before.In this episode we fo...
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42:13
006_The Ruthless Ruler (Part 2)
Choices made by someone else have the power to shape our own lives. Sometimes for better, sometimes for worse. His father's choice had left Vlad III stranded at the Ottoman's court, preparing the soil for the horrors which were to come...
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40:26