In this episode, I invite you to travel along the Spice Road and discover how these mysterious spices, which were high-luxury goods for centuries, were brought to India, the Middle East, and Europe. From the expansion of Austronesians to the Age of Discovery and Portuguese navigators, we explore what spices are, where they came from, and why they were in suc ... Show More
Sep 13
Historical Mystery Stories: Secrets of the Druids, Lost Cities, Forgotten Gods (Sleep Documentary)
As long compilations of episodes that can accompany you for several hours were requested, we put this new one together. This episode consists of three main topics: - Mysteries of Celtic culture, especially the druids: who were they and what was their role in Celtic societies? - A ... Show More
3h 5m
Aug 30
History of Alexander the Great | Documentary for Sleep
Alexander the Great is a name that sounds almost more legendary than real. In tonight's episode, we will talk about his time, his life and his conquests. Born from King Philip II of Macedon and Olympias of Epirus, educated by Aristotle, Alexander takes the lead of the League of C ... Show More
1h 20m
Apr 2015
Episode 203: The Middle Eastern Roots of Spices and the Early Globalization of Food
On this week’s episode of A Taste of the Past, host Linda Pelaccio takes listeners on a vivid and far-ranging journey across time and space on the ancient spice trades with Dr. Gary Nabhan. Talking about his new book, “Cumin, Camels, and Caravans, A Spice Odyssey,” Gary draws on ... Show More
30m 59s
May 2022
Spices, Their Histories, Part 1
<p>Let's take a sleepy tour of the spice cabinet and the origins of allspice, chilies, cinnamon, and cloves, with a pinch of insight into faking spices with brick dust. Useful!</p> <p> </p> <p>Help us stay 100% listener supported! All supporters in May will be entered into a draw ... Show More
48m 43s
Oct 2022
Spices, Their Histories, Part 2
<p>Let's relax with more from one of our most requested books, hear the histories of ginger, mustard, nutmeg, and mace, and learn how to fake them all. Looking at you, naughty Connecticut!</p> <p> </p> <p>Help us stay 100% listener-supported and ad-free for all!</p> <p>Patreon: < ... Show More
51m 43s
Jun 2023
Spices, Their HIstories, by Robert O. Fielding (Part 3–Conclusion)
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style= "mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;">Let's finish our tour of the sleepy world of spices, learn about grains of paradise (my favorite medieval spice), and reveal the connection between saffron and…crocodiles? Sure, w ... Show More
44m 29s
Jan 2024
The Silk Road: everything you wanted to know
The Silk Road is one of the most famous trade routes in history, a vast interconnected network along which not only goods but ideas, knowledge and culture flowed. Sam Willis joins Rebecca Franks to discuss its remarkable history and answer listener questions on the subject, spotl ... Show More
32m 14s