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
Jul 26
Greek Mythology: The Odyssey (Soft-Spoken Sleep Story, Improved Version)
In this episode, I tell you the story of the Odyssey, and as in previous mythology videos I discuss a few historical and literary aspects. If you want to know about the lotus-eaters, the cyclopes, the sirens, Aeolus, Circe, Scylla and Charybdis, Calypso, and many more things, rel ... Show More
1h 15m
Jul 19
Neolithic Revolution: How Agriculture Was Invented
In this episode, I tell you about the transition from the nomadic lifestyle of hunters and gatherers to the sedentary life of the first agricultural communities. We will examine the theories that explain this change, how it took place, and its consequences. Some of these conseque ... Show More
1h 5m
Jul 12
Review of the Periodic Table of Elements (13 to 29), Bedtime Sleepy Science
In this science talk for bedtime, I review the periodic table of the elements methodically and explain in simple terms plenty of phenomena and concepts about chemistry and physics (for example in this episode: the timeline of the discovery of elements, why there is quite a lot of ... Show More
1h 3m
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