logo
episode-header-image
Dec 2023
39m 7s

The Amish: Origins and Society

History Hit
About this episode

Simple living, plain dress and pacifism. This is not a lifestyle typical of the United States. So how did the Amish come to be in America? Where did this religion come from? And how has their society changed with modernisation?


In this episode, Don and Dr Joseph Donnermeyer journey from the Anabaptist practices of medieval Europe to the faith and farms of modern day North America.


Joseph is a Professor Emeritus in the School of Environment and Natural Resources at The Ohio State University. Specialising in community sociology and rural criminology, he has been researching the Amish for over 2 decades.


Produced by Freddy Chick and Sophie Gee. Edited by Anisha Deva. Senior Producer was Charlotte Long.


Discover the past on History Hit with ad-free original podcasts and documentaries released weekly presented by world renowned historians like Dan Snow, James Holland, Mary Beard and more.


Don’t miss out on the best offer in history! Enjoy unlimited access to award-winning original documentaries that are released weekly and AD-FREE podcasts. Get a subscription for £1 for 3 months with code AMERICANHISTORYHIT1 sign up now for your 14-day free trial https://historyhit/subscription/


You can take part in our listener survey here.


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Up next
Nov 20
What was the Satanic Panic?
<p>Why were more than 12 thousand cases of satanic abuse brought in the 1980s? Was the Prince of Darkness walking among us then? Or did something else cause the panic?</p><br><p>Joseph Laycock joins Don for this episode to discuss the so-called Satanic Panic, from daycares to new ... Show More
36m 30s
Nov 17
What if the Texas Republic survived?
<p>In 1845, the Republic of Texas stood at a crossroads. In our history, they chose to join the USA… but what if they chose another path? Was this even possible? What impact would this have had on life within Texas? And how would it have impacted its neighbours?&nbsp;</p><br><p>T ... Show More
41m 32s
Nov 13
The Hurricane Betsy Conspiracy: New Orleans
Did New Orleans' officials bomb the levees protecting the Lower Ninth Ward in 1965?When Hurricane Betsy swept through the Atlantic Basin, it killed at least 76 people, led to a 10 foot storm surge, and was the first tropical cyclone to cause $1 billion worth of damages.It also le ... Show More
37m 56s
Recommended Episodes
Nov 2023
Babylon
<p>The urban cultures of ancient Mesopotamia formed the foundation for so much of our modern world. Nowhere exemplifies this better than the city of Babylon, which was the cultural seedbed for the Greek and Roman civilisations that in turn left such lasting legacies.</p><br><p>On ... Show More
34m 12s
Aug 2023
How The North Turned Christian
<p>Christianity's inroads into the pagan north of England began with the marriage of Æthelburh&nbsp;of Kent to King Edwin of Northumbria.&nbsp;A condition of their marriage was Edwin's conversion to Christianity.&nbsp;But most of the things we know about this period come from the ... Show More
43m 12s
May 2024
Origins of the Normans
<p>Because of William the Conqueror’s victory at the Battle of Hastings in 1066, the Normans have remained a familiar and important name in British history.&nbsp;But who were they?&nbsp;And how did they come to change culture across the European continent?</p><br><p>In this expla ... Show More
43m 42s
Aug 2023
Polyamory: From Mormons to 60s Counterculture
<p>The polyamory movement has a long and interesting history. It takes in Pilgrims meeting Native American Indians, Mormons having their take on it, and a modern version born from 60s counterculture and the civil rights movement.</p><br><p>But what beliefs underpin this lifestyle ... Show More
43m 29s
Nov 2023
Ancient Goddesses of Sex and War
<p>Sex and death are often intertwined: one is the start of creation, the other is the end.</p><br><p>And as we’ll learn in today’s episode, ancient battlefields were the setting of intimate acts, too. One on one, heart pounding, adrenaline pumping and picking out a partner to…en ... Show More
32m 1s
Jun 2022
HS2: Digging up the 'Dark Ages'
<p>An extraordinary discovery has been unearthed by archaeologists working alongside the HS2 rail project. The find, made at an undisclosed location near Wendover in the Chilterns, consists of a 5th-6th century burial site that has been described as one of the most important post ... Show More
1h 5m
Feb 2024
Greek Myths: The Furies
<p>The gods and goddesses of Ancient Greece have been written about for thousands of years. From their home atop Mount Olympus, they reigned over the land, sea and sky. The course of human history was shaped by the whims and wishes of these deities, and the Furies were no excepti ... Show More
20m 26s
Nov 2023
Life on the Medieval Coast
<p>The popular BBC television series <em>Villages by the Sea</em> explores coastal life through the centuries. Its presenter Ben Robinson is an archaeologist with the fantastic job of exploring lost villages and uncovering their secrets, including those that give an insight into ... Show More
41m 8s
Aug 2023
Eleanor Aquitaine: The Life of a Medieval Badass
<p>You would think that a woman who was queen several times, commanded armies and was possibly the most powerful woman in medieval Europe would need no introduction…yet here we are.</p><br><p>On today’s show we’re joined by author and new co-host of the History Hit podcast Gone M ... Show More
43m 53s
Jan 2024
The First Irish
<p>Over 10,000 years ago, many believe Ireland was a place where hunter-gatherers roamed. A place where the earliest human communities exchanged prizes of the hunt and crafted primitive tools to aid their survival. But what if their interactions with each other were more sophisti ... Show More
40m 53s