“As a Croatian-American, I’ve always wanted to learn more about my culture, but the sources available in English are limited, especially if you want to go before the 1990s. And as important as the 90s are, my family left during the WWI era, so my own ties with the region predate the conflicts of my childhood.
I really like seeing how the Balkans functioned under the various empires and great powers, and how the various nationalist movements began. I appreciate how Alex gets into the history, rather than going “the Romans conquered the region which formed the provinces of Illyria and Dacia... then some Slavs moved in... one, two, skip a few, 1914!” which is how trying to learn about Yugoslav history often goes, at least outside academia.
Very fun, engaging, podcast to stand as a counter to “they just have been fighting for thousands of years” ahistorical takes.”
Happy Japanese Learner via Apple Podcasts ·
United States of America ·
03/04/21